The Eltham Court House is Eltham's oldest public building. It was classified by the National Trust in 1977. In 1857 five Eltham residents petitioned the licensing magistrates of the Heidelberg district asking for better police protection, including from itinerant gold prospectors who turned to crime when their quest was unsuccessful. In response the Eltham Courthouse was constructed in 1860. Over the years it has also been used for other activities, including for electoral polling purposes, inquests, early meetings of the Eltham Roads Board and even as an overflow classroom. This type of localised solution is characteristic of the self-reliance preserved in Eltham today. The court house is an important symbol of the spirit which makes Eltham distinctive as a community. The Eltham Courthouse is historically significant because its construction was intended to emphasise the centralised control over law and order in the Colony of Victoria in the wake of the 1852 Snodgrass committee report on the Victorian police force and the resulting Police Regulation Act (1853). The nature of the Court House planning and use of architectural devices make the building's function easily interpreted. The arrangement of rooms, with public entry and clerical rooms to the rear, and the use of raised floor levels throughout these spaces to signify relative rank is easily perceived. The distinction in entries, public, magistrate and person-in-custody, and the existing court furniture enhances appreciation of this building. The Eltham Court House is one of only two intact examples in the state of this simple design with projecting entry. The building is of architectural significance because it retains intact early features. These include use of handmade bricks, simple decoration, roof trusses, timber ceiling boards, original windows, doors and associated hardware and a collection of court furniture. Additions to the court house have been done in a manner which did not interfere with the fabric of the original building. Typical cases heard before the Court of Petty Sessions included financial debt, straying livestock, theft, assault, drunkenness, public disorder, truancy, motor vehicle offences, unregistered animals and failing to have children attend school, or be vaccinated. The courthouse operated for over 120 years before it closed in 1985. In April 2021, Nillumbik Shire Council authorised restoration of the building and furnishings. The extensive works required for the total restoration of this highly valued heritage building was undertaken by Ducon Building Solutions and other specialist contractors. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Victorian Heritage National Trust of Australia (Victoria) State significance Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p65 A demand for better police protection resulted in the building of the Eltham Courthouse and the police residence beside it. In 1857 five Eltham residents petitioned the Heidelberg district licensing magistrates. They pointed out that Eltham had two hotels, a population of about 1000, and many strangers employed on the public roads. Yet the nearest police were at Heidelberg eight miles (12.8km) away, or at the Caledonia Diggings 21 miles (33.7km) away.1 Subsequently the courthouse and then the police residence, near the corner of Main Road and Brougham Street, were built in 1859/60. The courthouse is Eltham’s oldest public building and the National Trust classified it in 1977. It ceased operation in 1984 and has since been used by local groups. There are only six other known examples of similar small brick country courthouses in Victoria . For £536, a Mr Duncan built the courthouse – a neat, narrow, oblong building with handmade orange bricks. Its gabled roof and porch are covered with brown slate tiles and it has 12-paned windows. Inside, the roof is peaked and the courthouse is still ventilated by oblong slits near the ceiling. Most of the fine carved timber and upholstered furniture is original. The original prisoners’ door, now permanently closed, led from the police station to the dock. Builders, Langridge Wright and Witney built a timber police station (since demolished) and a brick residence to its north,2 for £1150/7/-. Built around the same time were the lock-up behind the residence, also later demolished, and the two-storey orange brick stables. The former police residence also has a brown slate roof and handmade bricks. The front veranda roof is made of corrugated iron, as is the roof of the back weatherboard extension. The application for police protection was approved within a few months and police operated from a cottage rented at ten shillings a week and owned by William Jarrold. This was probably the one at the corner of Main Road and Dalton Street called Jarrold or White Cloud Cottage. In 1858 a second constable was appointed to Eltham following a fight at the hotel. The timber police office a replica of which was built in the early 1990s is at the building’s side. The lock-up was demolished following the relocation of the police to a new station in about 1952. The residence has been used as the Eltham District Historical Society centre since 1997. Records show court cases were held at Eltham before the courthouse was built, but the location is unknown. Some court cases were not very different from those today. In 1891 a man was charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse and was fined ten shillings. The courthouse was used for other purposes during its long history. It was probably used as a polling place as indicated by old photographs of election-day crowds outside. The Eltham Road Board met there from the early 1860s until 1868 when the Board transferred to Kangaroo Ground. During the same period the Road Board Secretary used the courthouse as an office until 1867 when it was transferred to his home at Wingrove Cottage. The courthouse was also used as an overflow classroom for the Dalton Street school in 1875. The two buildings can further link us with Eltham’s early days through Police Department correspondence. The first constable-in-charge was George Reid. In 1860 a letter to The Argus newspaper signed ‘A Sufferer’ declared the Eltham police were not active enough in their duties. The writer suggested that the ‘very snug’ police quarters were too comfortable, and he detailed various incidents including one of an alleged break-in to the Road Board Secretary’s home. But the Board Secretary, C S Wingrove, wrote to the Police Department refuting The Argus letter saying he had received full co-operation from Sen. Constable Peter Lawler.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, eltham court house, main road

Sepia toned photograph. Photograph No.9: View of the Camp Reserve as seen from the Court House (Two Copies)N.J. Cairetopic, mining, battery

Photograph No. 14. Sepia photograph of view of East end Pall Mall from the Court House. (Two Copies) Nicholas CaireN J Caireplace, landscape view, golden square

Group of People in Old Court House

The Kew Historical Society, founded in 1958, is one of the oldest continuing historical societies in the Greater Melbourne region. From its beginnings, the Society has mounted exhibitions and/or displays, in early days in shop windows and in community spaces located in the Kew City Hall (later Kew Library), and since 2010 at the Kew Court House. Exhibitions typically coincided with the annual Kew Community Festival in March, but after 2013 evolved into three new exhibitions yearly at the Kew Court House. Smaller displays continue to be mounted in the Kew Library. A series of born digital photographs of an exhibition mounted at the Kew Court House and or Kew Library in 2014 involving photographs and artefacts from the Kew Croquet Club, the Kew Football Club, the Kew Golf Club, the Green Acres Golf Club and the North Kew Tennis Club. kew historical society - exhibitions, exhibition - sport in kew (vic)

Donated by Mr Greg Thomson, a former resident of Rutherglen. This is a duplicate of the photograph on record no. 2504.004.Black & white reproduction, unframed, laminated. This reproduction is of the Rutherglen Court House prior to 1905. It was built in 1864 and in 1905 further extensions were made to the front of the buildingOn back of photo: "Court House Rutherglen, prior to 1905"rutherglen court house, court house, buildings

Four interiors of the Bendigo Court House, dated Sept 1997 12A, 12 C & 12 D interior of court room 12B entrance detail of lead light door and ssurroundEdith Lunn

Digital imageskoroit, moyne shire, court house, court, legal, law, justice

The barrel was used in the Wodonga Court House as part of the selection process for jurors. It was a standard issue barrel used throughout Victoria. It was retrieved from the ruins of the court house which was destroyed by fire. It was then donated to the Wodonga Historical Society. The timber display stand was made and donated by Jake Tooley, a Wodonga Historical Society member, The Court House was situated in the Customs Store building alongside the Wodonga Police Station in 93 High Street. (The house where the Police Station was had originally been the home of the Customs Officer). In early 1964, the court house building was burnt beyond repair and furniture and other property destroyed. The cause of the fire was never found. The Police Station was lucky to survive but only because of the efforts of the local Fire Brigade. After the fire, the court was held first at the old Fire Station premises near where the Wodonga Post Office is near Woodland Grove, then it moved to a vacant building in Mitchell Street which was later turned into a Child Care Centre. Foundations for the new court house in Elgin Street were laid in October 1965 Local significance due to its use in the Wodonga Court House and its survival of a major fire. State significance as it documents a procedure used in the Victorian Court and Legal system Cylindrical metal-iron barrel painted black with writing stenciled on the front in white The timber mount was made for storage and display is not part of the original object,Inscription on Barrel "WODONGA./ Jurors in use./ Special"wodonga court, jurors, selection, legal system, fire

Black and white photograph showing front of Eltham Court House and adjoining former police residencecourts, court houses, police, police stations, main road, eltham

Colour photograph of a foundation stone "This stone was laid by the Mayor C.C. Shoppee M.L.A. 21st August, 1903"camp street, arts academy, c.c. shoppee, former ballarat court house, foundation stone

Photograph of the Ballarat school of Mines (Former Circuit Courthouse), Ballarat Gaol and Wesley Church (later Ballarat School of Mines Museum).ballarat, ballarat school of mines, ballarat gaol, ballarat circuit court house, wesley church, supreme court hotel, lydiard street south

east ballarat town hall, east ballarat court house, gardens, building, public

Fragments of paper that have been removed from the ink bottle. Some printed text is visible. Handwritten text is illegible and written in a different orientation.OHMS: Officer Charge of Police archaeology, historic building, ballan court house

Stawell West Ladies Book Launch at Pleasant Creek Court House in c 2004 Series of photographs. Photo 1). Jim Melbourne, Cynthia Bodey & Keith Haymes. Photo 2). Author Jim Melbourne signing copies. Photo 3). Ron & Wendy Maddocks, Pat Boag, Marg Rasche. Betty Smith & Dawn Miller. Photo 4). Ron & Wendy, Pat, Marg, Betty & Alan Miller, Marie van Leeuwen (standing), Keith & Elwyn Haymes. Photo 5). Seven of the above mentioned people. Photo 6). Elwyn, Hazel Smith, Lorna Keller & Heathe Wood visitor & sister of Lorna. Photo 7). Ten of Previously noted people. Photo 8). Heather, Elaine McCracken, Mary Kent, Irene McDonald (standing) & Marg McIntosh. The appears to be 2 photos listed in the catalogue worksheet but not in the photo album. A series of 6 colour photographs of a book launch of Stawell West Ladies Axillary History 1957 to 2003. The book launch was held on 19th April 2004 at Pleasant Creek Court House. c 2004. In the Museum catalogue worksheet there is reference to 8 photos and only 6 are in the Album. stawell

Laminated newspaper article - Bendigo Advertiser Friday November 27, 1987. "Bendigo's Upper Court is the jewel. Within the Bendigo Court House, the upper court is used for both Supreme and County Court sittings. Detailed description of the fittings, purpose and use of the upper court room. newspaper, bendigo's historic buildings, bendigo law courts

Framed image of the former Ballarat Court House (later the Ballarat School of Mines). Image 737.3 is negative print.

Court House receipt N. 74342. 04/10/1938 received from R. Randall the sum speciefid below, being the fee paybble for application for permit extended hours unlicensed premises under the provisions of the licensing act. pais 2 shilling 6 pence. signed by the Clerk of Courtsorganisation, union, a.f.u.l.e

From file notes: Built in 1858, formerly the Hare & Hound before renamed 1861. Now known as St Kilda Inn.109 Barkly Street, St Kildablack and white photograph poor conditionWritten on hotel: "Mason's Hotel, Carlton Ale. Court House Hotel Carlton Bitter. Jack Frost Beer, Electrically refrigerated.

8517.1 - Architectural/Design plan of the Korumburra court house and attendant "Fuel Shed". Colour painted. Various notes and marks in pensil and ink; a lot of tapoe holding it together.

Building historyB/W photo interior of Buninyong Court House, prior to restoration, Feb. 1986, with Shire Secretary Alan Helyer discussing plans with Deputy Engineer Bob Wiseman.Identification on reverse.buninyong, courthouse, sgire council

Court House Patrick Street 1878B/W front angled view of substancial Two story brick building, with three archways and wrought iron fence, to either side of the archways. This builing is the current courthouse.Victorian Views. C. Herbert, Photo. Stawell 1878stawell building, courthouse

Front of Pleasant Creek Court Housestawell

Rear of Pleasant Creek Court Housestawell

Presentation of Restoration Plaque (Pleasant Creek Court House)stawell

Pleasant Creek Court House in derelict condition 1974stawell

Street Scene - Longfield Street (Opposite Court House) 1997stawell