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WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSE
193-195 TIMOR STREET WARRNAMBOOL, WARRNAMBOOL CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
1 warrnambool court house gillies street warrnambool front view jan1983
h01674 warrnambool courthouse plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Warrnambool Court House, a simple bluestone and brick structure, was built in 1870-71 by the Public Works Department. Originally the building comprised a centrally located court room with two rooms for clerks on the western side and separate rooms for magistrates, barristers, and prisoners on the eastern side. The court house furniture was purchased in 1871, specifically for this court house. Many other country courthouses were supplied with furniture from a centrally ordered store of items.

The building today is largely the result of substantial alterations and additions to the north elevation made in 1889 to the design of J. H. Marsden, architect of the Public Works Department. The design in the Victorian Free Classical style featured a highly decorated projected entry, arcade and gabled roof. The 1889 extension included an enlarged court room in the centre of the building; new passageway and jury room to the east; an arcade and relocation of the stairs to the north; and a new library and waiting room to the west side. Major alterations in 1967 involved the addition of a second court room and related rooms.

How is it significant?

The Warrnambool Court House is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

Warrnambool Court House is historically important as a reflection of the strength and optimism of the major Victorian coastal township of Warrnambool in the late 1880s, which resulted in the 1871 court house building being regarded as not only inadequate for the town, but much too sombre and unattractive for its times. The building is also historically important as an example of the work of the prominent Victorian Public Works Department architect J. H. Marsden, whose drawings for the building?s 1889 alterations have largely contributed to its present form. Although Marsden may have produced his Warrnambool drawings under direction, he later designed many important public buildings in Victoria, including the Melbourne Teachers? College (1888) and Carlton Post Office (1883). As the Warrnambool Court House court room is unusually intact, it is historically important for its potential to illustrate the development of legal infrastructure in the regional centre of Warrnambool during the late nineteenth century. Warrnambool Court House is also significant as a key element in a major precinct of related public buildings at Warrnambool which includes a Customs House (1860), Post Office (1874), Watch House and Police Station (1883), Police Stables (1884), Sergeants? Quarters (1887), and Drill Hall (c.1870).

Warrnambool Court House is architecturally important as a representative example of a Victorian Free Classical style court house with projected entry, arcade and gabled roof. It is one of six surviving buildings in this group which were all erected between c. 1880 and c. 1890, and is typical of the Victorian Free Classical style in its free interpretation of classical elements. The timber fretwork at Warrnambool is also typical of later examples in this group which displayed Federation Style details. The substantially intact court room is noted for its opulent display of original timber joinery and for the remaining furniture dating from the period of construction.

See 2008 Site Monitoring Event and initial surveyfordetails of the Court House furniture collection.

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    • History

      WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSE - History

      Furniture. The Public Works Department Contract let in 1871-72 no. 60 was for furniture for the new court house at a cost of £96.7.6. This was unusual as frequently court house furniture was bought centrally and sent out to various courthouses as required rather than being specially designed or chosen for a particular court.

      Permit Exemptions

      WARRNAMBOOL 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 the Executive Director 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 Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by Heritage Victoria 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

      WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSE - Permit Exemption Policy

      Permit Policy

      The exemptions policy recognises that the building retains a high level of integrity. The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. The exterior of the Warrnambool Court House is of prime importance within the government precinct. The interior is important as it reflects its use as a court: it retains original fittings and fixtures as well as some original furniture, including the table and chairs in the court room and the press lectern which has graffiti inscribed over the years by members of the Warrnambool press. Alterations that impact on the significance of the exterior and interior are subject to permit applications.

      Repairs to the furniture should be carried out by a trained artisan.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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