Hay Courthouse

Item details


Name of item:	Hay Courthouse
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Law Enforcement
Category:	Courthouse
Primary address:	Moppett Street, Hay, NSW 2711
Local govt. area:	Hay
Hectares (approx):	0.04047

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Moppett Street	Hay	Hay			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Attorney Generals Department - Department of Communities and Justice	State Government

Statement of significance:


	Hay Courthouse is a fine, representative example of the style of public buildings designed by Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The building is an early example of his use of the Arts and Crafts style in public buildings and was the first courthouse built by the newly created Government Architect's Branch under Vernon. Hay Courthouse has been associated with the provision of law and justice in the town since 1892 and is the third courthouse built in the town. The residential scale of Hay Courthouse demonstrates the more inclusive, civic approach to governing and the administration of justice adopted by the NSW Government in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The courthouse, which is set back from the street in landscaped grounds, makes an important contribution to the civic precinct of Hay.
	Date significance updated: 12 Oct 10
	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:	WL Vernon
Builder/Maker:	Brown & Young
Construction years:	1892-1892
Physical description:	Hay Courthouse is an attractive public building with Arts and Crafts influences. The design, which is influenced by the dry, hot climate, has a dominating roof line and enclosing verandah supported on bick columns with decorative brick arches. The main hipped roof has a centrally placed feature hip with a coat of arms and a hipped entrance roof clad in copper. (Schwager Brooks 1993) Other accommodation: General office, staff, Judge/Magistrates chamber, jury room, sherriffs office. Construction: Hay Courthouse is constructed in face brick with decorative brick detailing to the verandah and tiled gable hipped roof. Interior materials: Joinery, marble Exterior materials: Brick, tiles, timber.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Good. (March 07)
	Date condition updated:12 Oct 10
Modifications and dates:	Minor interior alterations. (1920) Minor alterations, slate roof replaced with tiles, timber panelling replaced. (c1962) Remediation works. (1972 and 1992)


Current use:	Courthouse
Former use:	Courthouse

History

Historical notes:

Hay Courthouse was constructed in 1892 to a design by Colonial Architect Walter Liberty Vernon.

Construction of the first courthouse at Hay, supervised by Henry Shiells, was completed by 1860. This courthouse also housed the Lands Office. Rev JJ Hally conducted religious services in the first courthouse in Hay. A meeting was held in 1872 to discuss the issue of the building being too small for its various functions and to press for a new gaol and courthouse. By 1874, the existing building was becoming dilapidated and was too small.

The second courthouse (now occupied by the Hay Shire Council Chambers), designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet, was erected in 1876 and was opened in 1877. Within a short period of time there were complaints about the building and it was declared unsatisfactory. A swap was effected with the Athenaeum and court proceedings were held in the Athenaeum from about 1885. Further complaints about the condition of the former Athenaeum building resulted in steps being taken to erect a new courthouse for the town.

Hay's third courthouse was designed by Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon and was opened in 1892. Hay Courthouse was the first courthouse to be designed by Walter Liberty Vernon after he had been installed as Government Architect within the NSW Department of Public Works.

Minor interior alterations were made to the building in 1920. Since its construction, there had been many complaints relating to heating issues, particularly during the winter period. In the 1960s alterations were finally made in an attempt to improve heating within the building.

Remediation works were carried out in 1972 and again in 1992, to repair the structural movement of the fabric that was occurring, caused by the shrink/swell characteristics of the clay soil in the area.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Local government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	(none)-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Administration of justice-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Hay Courthouse has been associated with the provision of law and justice in the town since 1892. The extant building is the third courthouse built in the town. The building was the first courthouse built under Walter Liberty Vernon as Government Architect. The residential scale of Hay Courthouse demonstrates the more inclusive, civic approach to governing and the administration of justice adopted by the NSW Government in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Hay Courthouse is associated with Walter Liberty Vernon, Government Architect of New South Wales from 1890-1911, and was the first courthouse built following his promotion to the position in the newly established Government Architect's Branch..
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Hay Courthouse is an attractive public building with Arts and Crafts influences set in landscaped grounds. The building displays significant features associated with adapting European architectural styles to the local climate, including low hipped roofs and deep verandahs. Hay Courthouse is a building of high quality design and composition and an important element of the town's civic precinct..
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Hay Courthouse is likely to have significance for the local community as a long-standing civic institution of the town.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Hay Courthouse is an early example of the Arts and Crafts style used in public buildings in New South Wales.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Hay Courthouse is a fine, representative example of the style of public buildings designed by Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The building is an early example of his use of the Arts and Crafts style in public buildings.
Integrity/Intactness:	Highly intact with a high level of integrity.
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.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	NSW Department of Commerce	2007	Condition Assessments GAP Analysis Court House Report: Hay
Written	Peter Freeman Pty Ltd	1988	Hay Court House Conservation Management Plan, Vol 1, Report
Written	Schwager Brooks and Partners Pty Ltd	1993	Department of Courts Administration: Preliminary Heritage and Conservation Register

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

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	State Government
Database number:	3080068

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