Central Local Courthouse & Holding Cells Incl. Interiors, Forecourt & Central Ya

Item details


Name of item:	Central Local Courthouse & Holding Cells Incl. Interiors, Forecourt & Central Ya
Other name/s:	Central Police Station; Sydney Central Local Court House
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Law Enforcement
Category:	Police station
Primary address:	7 Central Street (And 98 Liverpool Street), Sydney, NSW 2000
Local govt. area:	Sydney

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
7 Central Street (And 98 Liverpool Street)	Sydney	Sydney			Primary Address
98 Liverpool Street	Sydney	Sydney			Alternate Address

Statement of significance:


	The Sydney Central Local Courthouse has aesthetic significant as an important element in the streetscape of the immediate area. It is significant as a fine and largely intact example of the Federation Free style used in an important government building, and as an important design of the Government Architect W L Vernon. It is a fine example of the classically inspired courthouses which were designed by the Government Architects Office through the second half of the nineteenth century. It has significance as the first Police Court within the State Justice System and then the first Petty Sessions Court. The building is historically significant as an important element of the Sydney Central Local Courthouse Complex, and as a working example of a courthouse in close association with a Police Station. The Police Court which was first set up by Governor Macquarie in the early years of the colony has had a long and continuous association with the system of law and justice in New South Wales. High Significance:Form, scale and detailing of the exterior and interior of courts one and two and vestibule, including; pressed metal ceilings, marble flooring and fireplaces, joinery fixtures and fittings, ceiling roses, roof lanterns and clerestory windows. Medium Significance:Main office area, court four form and scale; including all original materials. Low Significance:Court three form and scale, north corridor. The Sydney Central Local Courthouse Police Station has significance as an important element of the Courthouse Complex. It has aesthetic and historic significance as a rare and largely example of an inner city Police Station adjoining a police Court, which retains the interiors of some cells with original finishes and fittings. The Police Station is not the oldest in the city but is significant for its continuing use as a Police Station from the 1890s. It has social significance as part of the system of law and justice dating from the beginning of the colony, and is significant as a working (if reduced use) example of a Police Station adjoining a Courthouse Complex. High Significance:External form composition, materials and finishes. Cast iron gates and balconies, sandstone entry archway. Internal layout and planning of cells retaining original tiling and fixtures. Medium Significance:Terrace at east boundary - form, scale and finishes.
	Date significance updated: 05 Jan 06
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Station: Unknown (possibly W L Vernon); Courthouse: J. Barnet; completed by W.L. Vernon
Builder/Maker:	Unknown
Construction years:	1893-1893
Physical description:	The Central Local Courthouse is located on the northern side of Liverpool Street. It is largely a single storey symmetrical building, with a central block of two storeys, constructed of smooth dressed sandstone blocks with prominent horizontal joints. The facade is embellished with classically derived carved decorative elements. The Liverpool Street facade is dominated by a central porch with an arched colonnade to either side, framing windows and providing a secondary access to the building. The forecourt of the building is terraced featuring carved sandstone balustrading with bronze light fittings, wrought iron gates and fencing, and a grand sandstone staircase. The interior spaces consist of a tall vestibule, and a number of court rooms with offices and chambers located on the first floor. The original detail and decoration of these spaces is also based on the classical theme. The Court House is connected to the Police Station via a subterranean walkway. The Liverpool Street facade is dominated by a projecting entrance porch symmetrically placed featuring a broken pediment decorated with the British Coat of Arms. The pediment is supported on a series of piers with Doric columns defining the entry. Flanking the porch are arched openings. Internally, the courtrooms and vestibule feature decorative pressed metal ceilings and roof lanterns or clerestory windows. Category:Group of Buildings; Individual Building. Style:Federation Free Classical. Storeys:2 + Basement. Facade:Sandstone. Side/Rear Walls:Sandstone. Internal Walls:Plastered brick. Roof Cladding:Terra cotta tile, slate tile, steel sheeting. Internal Structure:Loadbearing walls & timber beams. Floor:Timber joists & boards, marble, carpet.. Ceilings:Pressed metal, plasterboard, plaster, canite.. Stairs:Timber staircase to western upper storey chambers. Concrete staircase to eastern office and storage space.. Sprinkler System:Yes. Lifts:None. General Details:The building is generally in good condition having recently undergone restoration work. There is some rising damp and water damage in northern wall of north corridor between courtrooms and cells. The Central Police Station is located to the rear of the Central Local Courthouse with access from Central Street at the rear. The rendered brick building features an 'L' shape plan with wrought iron balconies in the inner angle. The roofline rakes back from the external walls on a single pitch with galvanised gutters and downpipes. The internal facades of the building are plain rendered brick but the facade to Central Street is broken into three bays with the centre bay recessed, featuring pilasters and entablatures in a simplified classical style. The prisoner entry from the rear street is defined by a pair of stone columns supporting an entablature with the words "Central Police Station" raised on the surface. Heavy cast iron gates close off the vehicular entry and a heavily bracketed door is located to each side of the gates. Access to the cells, located at the rear of the courthouse, is via a doorway to the right of the entrance, whilst access to the Police Station building is from the left. AirConditioned:Yes FireStairs:External A small scale two storey terrace is located east of the courthouse on the boundary. This building is also rendered brick with a simple facade and timber double hung windows. There are two timber doors with glazed highlights, one with a bracketed awning. Category:Individual Building. Style:Federation Free Classical. Storeys:3 + 4. Facade:Rendered masonry. Side/Rear Walls:Rendered masonry. Internal Walls:Plastered brick. Roof Cladding:Metal sheeting. Internal Structure:Loadbearing walls & timber beams. Floor:Timber joists & boards.. Stairs:Timber staircase and external steel frame fire stair.. Fire Stairs:External. Sprinkler System:Yes. General Details:The building is generally in fair condition externally. An internal inspection of the building was not permitted..
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Station: Intrusive Elements:Modern furnishing fixtures and fittings. Courthouse: Intrusive Elements:Modern furnishing fixtures and fittings, interior fitout of court three.
	Date condition updated:11 Nov 08
Modifications and dates:	1893
Further information:	Station: High Significance: External form composition, materials and finishes. Cast iron gates and balconies, sandstone entry archway. Internal layout and planning of cells retaining original tiling and fixtures. Medium Significance:Terrace at east boundary - form, scale and finishes. Heritage Inventory sheets are often not comprehensive, and should be regarded as a general guide only. Inventory sheets are based on information available, and often do not include the social history of sites and buildings. Inventory sheets are constantly updated by the City as further information becomes available. An inventory sheet with little information may simply indicate that there has been no building work done to the item recently: it does not mean that items are not significant. Further research is always recommended as part of preparation of development proposals for heritage items, and is necessary in preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments and Conservation Management Plans, so that the significance of heritage items can be fully assessed prior to submitting development applications.


Current use:	Police Station and Courthouse
Former use:	Police Station and Courthouse

History

Historical notes:

The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters.

With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney.

(Information sourced from Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani )

The first Police Office was set up by Macquarie and was designed by Greenway as a market house. It was constructed on the present site of the Queen Victoria building but was altered during construction to house the Police Office and a small courthouse. The building was altered by Mortimer Lewis in 1837. In the 1880's, when the city markets moved to the Haymarket site, the Police Court was relocated and given a new building in Liverpool Street. The building was designed by James Barnet. It was finally completed under the direction of W L Vernon in 1893. The police court was held in the nearby Oddfellows Hall during this time (1880's-93).

The Sands Directory shows the site at 98 Liverpool Street owned by a Mrs Graham in 1880 and from 1881-86 owned by Mrs M. Lock. Originally the site housed a tannery then later a soap factory, which was demolished between 1887 and 1892 to make way for the construction of the Police Courts. A section of land to the south of the Courthouse previously owned by the Levy family, was resumed on the condition that the land would remain vacant. No occupant was recorded on the site between 1887 and 1892. In 1893 the construction of the new Central Police Courts building was complete with Francis S Isaacs presiding as Justice of the Peace. As a result of the site having been used for a number of functions, remnants of previous structures remain below the existing Courthouse. Court Three was constructed in the 1920's over the footings of a cottage that previously occupied the site. In 1986 a general refurbishment of the Courthouse reduced the number of courts housed on the site from seven to four. The interior spaces underwent a restoration program and a series of subterranean plant rooms and tunnels were constructed connecting the Courthouse and Police Station. The building was awarded the RAIA Greenway Award for Restoration in 1987.

The Police Station buildings were constructed to the north of the Police Court building in 1893 but the architect is unknown. A series of tunnels were constructed connecting the Courthouse to the Police Station cells. A small terrace house on the eastern boundary of the site is still used by the station and the main building is largely empty with the Police Station no longer working from the site and only the cells still in use to temporarily accommodate prisoners on their way to court.

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Courthouse is significant as an important element of the Sydney Central Local Courthouse complex and a working example of a courthouse in close association with a Police Station. It has significance as the first Police Court within the State Justice System and then the first Petty Sessions Court. Has historic significance at a State level. The Police Station building is significant for its use as a Police Station from the early 1890s, and as an important element of the Courthouse Complex which dates from the late nineteenth century. It is significant as a working (if reduced use) example of a Police Station in close association with a Courthouse. Has historic significance at a State level.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Courthouse is significant as the site of many previous occupations prior to the construction of the Courthouse. Has aesthetic significance at a State level. Cultural:The building has aesthetic significance as an important element in the streetscape of the immediate area. It is significant as a fine and largely intact example of the Federation Free style used in an important government building, and as an important design of the Government Architect W L Vernon. It is a fine example of a classically inspired courthouse designed by Government Architects Office through the second half of the nineteenth century. The Police Station building is significant for the remaining early holding cells associated with the police station and court. Has aesthetic significance locally. Cultural:The Police Station is significant as an important element of the Courthouse Complex. It is a largely intact example of the Classical style used in a central city police station.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Court is significant for its continued association with the system of law and justice in New South Wales dating from the early years of the colony. Has social significance at a State level. Has social significance locally.The building has aesthetic significance as an important element in the streetscape of the immediate area. It is significant as a fine and largely intact example of the Federation Free style used in an important government building, and as an important design of the Government Architect W L Vernon. It is a fine example of a classically inspired courthouse designed by Government Architects Office through the second half of the nineteenth century. The Police Station is significant as part of the system of law and justice dating from the beginning of the colony. Has social significance locally.The Police Station is significant as an important element of the Courthouse Complex. It is a largely intact example of the Classical style used in a central city police station.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The Court building is significant as the first purpose built Police Court and first Petty Sessions Court in the state. The Police Station is a rare example of an inner city Police Station adjoining a police Court , and contains the interiors of some cells retaining original finishes and fittings.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Courthouse is representative as an example of the Federation Free style used in a courthouse. The Police Station is representative as an example of the Classical style used in a Police Station.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

General: A conservation plan should be prepared to guide the future works, use and maintenance of the place. The form and scale of the building, and detailing of the external facades should be retained. Other uses may be permitted provided significant and relatively intact internal fabric is not adversely affected. There should be no changes which adversely impact on the external fabric or break through or alter the roofline. Surfaces never intended for painting such as the sandstone facades and timber detailing should remain unpainted, whilst surfaces such as render or timber which were originally painted should continue to be painted in appropriate colours. Courthouse: Exterior: Surviving significant fabric such as the sandstone elements and detailing, windows and window openings, terracing, palisade fencing, cast iron gates, sandstone entry and staircase should be conserved. Where early fabric has been damaged or concealed by later work should it should be restored to recover significance. Features of high significance should not be altered. Window and door openings should not be enlarged or filled in, and any replacements should be similar to the original detail. Interior: The form, scale and detail of significant internal spaces such as the vestibule, and courts one, two and three should be conserved. All original joinery, furniture and fittings of the courts, marble fireplace surrounds, original pressed metal ceilings and ceiling roses, timber joinery, black and white marble flooring, and the original west timber staircase, should be retained. Modification of the interior may be acceptable provided significant features are not adversely affected. Intrusive elements such as the modern fixtures and fittings should be removed. Significance should be recovered by the reconstruction of the early interior of court three. Police Station: Exterior: Surviving significant fabric such as the sandstone elements and detailing, cast iron gates and balconies, windows and window openings, and sandstone entry archway should be conserved. Early fabric which has been damaged or concealed by later work should be restored to recover significance. Window and door openings should not be enlarged or filled in and replacements should to the original detail. Interior: Significant internal features should be retained. Interior layout, planning and finishes of the remaining original cells should be restored. Internal alterations to the cell block may be acceptable, provided significant features including the original form, are conserved. Further modification to the interior of the Police station which has already been altered, may be acceptable provided extant significant fabric is not adversely affected. Intrusive elements such as the modern fixtures and fittings should be removed.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012	I1707	14 Dec 12
Heritage study

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Title
Oral History		Wayne Vine, Security Officer.
Written		Prelim. Heritage and Conservation Register, Vol. 1, A-K.
Written		Sands Directory 1880 - 1892
Written	Anita Heiss	Aboriginal People and Place, Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	2424125

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