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COURT HOUSE
179 MANIFOLD STREET AND 4 MCNICOL STREET CAMPERDOWN, CORANGAMITE SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.
Victorian Heritage Register
CAMPERDOWN COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
CAMPERDOWN COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
CAMPERDOWN COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
CAMPERDOWN COURT HOUSE SOHE 2008
1 camperdown court house front view apr1984
camperdown court house entrance jul1984
camperdown court house facade detail sep1997
camperdown court house front elevation
camperdown court house rear view jul1984
camperdown court house plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Camperdown Court House was constructed in Medieval Gothic Revival style in 1886-7, to the design of Public Works Department architect GBH Austin as a replacement for an earlier timber court house of 1858-9. The Court House was closed in 1990, after which court cases were transferred to the modern court complex at Colac. The building is in good repair having been restored and adapted in 1993-4 for a new use as a retail outlet and tourist information centre. It remains substantially intact although the original court furniture apart from the magistrate's bench has been removed and placed in storage in Melbourne. The inventive polychromatic brick design and artificial stone mouldings are enhanced with decorative elements derived from medieval architecture in a manner characteristic of the High Victorian Secular Gothic movement in Great Britain. It features a truncated pyramid roof with iron cresting. The building follows a traditional plan which includes a spacious entry arcade, a lofty well-lit court room with the original Barristers' and Clerk's offices on the east side, and the Magistrate's and Jury rooms on the west. Camperdown Court House is an important component of the public buildings precinct in Manifold Street that also includes the Post Office, Shire Offices and Memorial Clock Tower.

How is it significant?
The Camperdown Court House is historically and architecturally important to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The Camperdown Court House is historically important for its role as a functioning court house for over 100 years, and as the focal point for the administration of justice in the Camperdown district. Its prominent position in the public buildings precinct of Manifold Street adds to its significance.

The Camperdown Court House is architecturally significant as an outstanding example of constructional polychromy in brick and artificial stone, and is renowned in the context of Victorian public buildings for the stridency of its contrast. The fusion of classical court house planning concepts with High Victorian Gothic imagery is also unusual. The Court House is a noteworthy and innovative example of the work of GBH Austin, and is a striking building within a handsome public buildings precinct.

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    • Permit Exemptions

      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:

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
      (Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
      Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)

      General Conditions:
      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.
      Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of
      alterations 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 alteration shall cease and the
      Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
      If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director,
      all works shall be in accordance with it.
      Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or
      rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
      Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the
      responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the
      responsible authority where applicable.

      Exterior
      Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
      Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting,
      wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.
      Installation or repair of damp-proofing by either injection method or grouted
      pocket method.
      All works other than additions to the adjacent office building and toilet
      block addition.

      Interior
      Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or
      painting does not remove evidence of the original paint or other decorative
      scheme.
      Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor
      coverings.
      Installation, removal or replacement of curtain track, rods, blinds and other
      window dressings.
      Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the
      hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted artworks.
      Refurbishment of bathroom and toilets including removal, installation or
      replacement of fixtures.
      Installation, removal or replacement of ducted, hydronic or concealed radiant
      type heating provided that the installation does not damage existing skirtings
      and architraves and provided that the location of the heating unit is
      concealed from view.
      Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring provided that all
      new wiring is fully concealed and any original light switches, pull cords,
      push buttons or power outlets are retained in-situ. Note: if wiring original
      to the place was carried in timber conduits then the conduits should remain
      in-situ.
      Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in the roof space.
      Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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