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RUSHWORTH COURT HOUSE
77 HIGH STREET RUSHWORTH, CAMPASPE SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
RUSHWORTH COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
RUSHWORTH COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
RUSHWORTH COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
1 rushworth courthouse rushworth front elevation nov1984
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Statement of Significance

What is Significant?
Constructed in 1877 to the design of F.M. Hynes and William Wardell of the Public Works Department, the Rushworth Court House occupies part of the former Police Camp Reserve (1853) and was an addition to the original court house (1857).

Gold was discovered in Waranga in July 1853 and a police camp was established in August by William Willoughby, Assistant Gold Commissioner, at the southern end of High street bounded by Horne and Hyde Streets; it was the first settlement of the area. Willoughby was later joined by Richard Hengist Horne, an English poet and government official who is believed to be responsible for renaming the area Rushworth. In 1857 a small timber gabled building was constructed as the first court on the site and consisted of a public office and magistrate's room at the front and four administration offices at the rear. It was sited north of the existing building along two thirds of the exterior wall. A log lockup was built in 1854 and the first police building was constructed in 1864 for only £30 with a brick chimney added in 1867. A police station occupies a portion of the former reserve and was built 1887 and replaced in 1977 by the current brick building located north of the court on a portion of the original court house site.

The Rushworth Court House is a simple Italian Renaissance Revival stuccoed masonry building with decorative eave brackets and string courses. Centrally positioned basalt steps and an arched doorway entrance lead in to a single volume court room containing panelled magistrate's bench, clerk's and jury docks and arcaded bench seat barriers. Located high above the court room on the northern and southern walls are four double hung sash windows. King post trusses support a timber lined gable ceiling. A transverse skillion addition at the rear was constructed in a similar design to the main court following the demolition of the 1857 structure prior to the construction of the first police station and contains magistrate's and clerk's rooms.

The Rushworth Court House is the only surviving nineteenth century building remaining on the former Police Camp site.

How is it Significant?
The Rushworth Court House is of architectural, archaeological and historical significance to the Sate of Victoria.

Why is it Significant?
The court house is architecturally important as an outstanding example of the conservative Italian Renaissance Revival practised under William Wardell at the Public Works Department. It is possibly the only intact example of such simplicity and austerity remaining in Victoria.
The site of the Rushworth Court House is of archaeological significance for its potential to produce archaeological evidence related to the early police camp and original courthouse.
The Rushworth Court House is of historical significance for its association with the judicial system from the gold rush era, commencing as a police camp reserve (1853) joined by courthouse (1857, rebuilt 1877) and police buildings (1864, 1887 and 1977).

(Online Data Upgrade Project 2007)

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    • Permit Exemptions

      RUSHWORTH COURT HOUSE - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.

      General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and planall works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.

      General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      RUSHWORTH COURT HOUSE - Permit Exemption Policy

      DRAFT - NOT YET APPROVED BY HERITAGE COUNCIL

      The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the heritage significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. Works other than those mentioned in the permit exemptions may be possible but will require either the written approval of the Executive Director or permit approval.

      The cultural heritage significance of Rushworth Court House lies in its architectural, historical and archaeological values. The registered land has historical archaeological significance for its potential to provide evidence relating to the use of the site as a police camp from the 1850s. Any works affecting the disturbance of below ground components of the site are subject to the Executive Director's approval.

      Any changes to the place other than those listed in the permit exemptions will be subject to permit approval.

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