MAGISTRATES COURT
325-343 RUSSELL STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
'What is significant?
The former Magistrates Court was built by Swanson Brothers between 1911 and 1913 to the design of Public Work's Department architect George B H Austin. The two storey court sits on a massive plinth of rock-faced Batesford limestone. Dressed limestone faces the brick, Gippsland marble and iron construction with interior joinery of blackwood. Roof materials are variously slate, corrugated iron or steel. Built on the site of the earlier Supreme Court, the building retains fittings from the earlier court including the Gothic canopy that judge Sir Redmond Barry sat under during the trial of Ned Kelly in 1880. The architectural style is Norman, otherwise known as the French Romanesque. The facade is a composition of gables, towers, turrets and arches. The main entrance sits on the prominent corner site of Russell Street and Latrobe Street and is an intricate symmetrical essay in the Norman style rising as a tower. It consists of copper clad turrets and grouped semi-circular headed windows over an entrance of five nested jamb shafts on squat Romanesque columns. The spreading staircase is of a basalt stone. The main entry vestibule rises to a drum over the marble staircases. The three principal court rooms have hammer beam roofs and consistent Norman detailing to the wall panels, the docks and benches. Within the internal fabric is a late version of the patented Tobin tube ventilation system.
How is it significant?
The former Magistrates Court is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
The former Magistrates Court is architecturally significant for the adoption of the Norman or French Romanesque style. The style was considered appropriate for a court of law. The revival of the pure Norman style of Romanesque had associations to the underlying ancient heritage of English law and contrasted strongly to the American Romanesque developed in the late nineteenth century by the American architect HH Richardson, a style which itself had found a strong resonance in Victoria.
The former Magistrates Court is historically significant for its long and continuous association as a site of law court buildings, from the erection of the old Supreme Court in 1843 to the closure of the current building in 1994. The retention of furniture and fittings from the old Supreme Court contributes to the understanding of a continuous legal process. The site has been the setting of many historically significant trials, including at the old Supreme Court the Eureka rebels in 1855 and Ned Kelly in 1880, and in the former Magistrates Court several cases against Leslie (Squizzy) Taylor in the 1920s.
-
-
MAGISTRATES COURT - History
Associated People: Sir Redmond Barry
Eureka Rebels
Ned Kelly
Leslie 'Squizzy' TaylorMAGISTRATES COURT - 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:Pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Heritage Act (1995) and in respect to the above-registered place / object, the Executive Director hereby DECLARES EXEMPT THE OWNERS NEED TO OBTAIN A PERMIT TO CARRY OUT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CLASSES OF WORKS OR ACTIVITIES, SUBJECT TO ANY CONDITIONS PRESCRIBED HEREUNDER:
The following works are to be carried out in accordance with the principles of the Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (The Burra Charter)
All replacement / re-instatement works are to be based on verified documentary evidence.
a)External works
Clean exterior facade with soft water non-abrasive system, repoint walls and parapets as required, repair facade render, repaint all windows/external joinery, repair crack at LaTrobe St entrance with injection method
b)Glazing works
Replace “same with same”
c)Internal works
Repair wall cracks, internal render, etc, rectify rising damp (method to be approved by Heritage Victoria), rectify falling damp (see Roof plumbing works above), repair drummy plaster, reinstate original finishes (painting, skirtings, architraves, floor tiling, etc), repair drummy floor tiles, reinstate varnish finish to timber ceiling linings/panels, remove non-original carpet, remove non-original timber podium structures, remove non-original timber shelving, remove non-original suspended ceilings and associated cornices, remove non-original door furniture (handles, closers, etc), remove non-original window encasements, remove non-original roller blinds, polish fixed and loose furniture
d)Services/Conduits/etc
Remove non-original inactive services; relocate and conceal exposed (surface mounted) required services, remove fluorescent light fittings and associated services, remove non-original light fittings and associated services, remove non-original floor fixed wiring, remove non-original switchboards and associated wiring, conduits, etc, remove non-original fire hydrant cabinets, remove non-original metal air conditioning vents in walls, remove non-original wall heaters, remove non-original PA speakers, remove non-original sink curtains, remove non-original air conditioning units, remove non-original hot water cisterns
CONDITIONS:
1. This exemption shall remain in effect for ten (10) years from the date of issue by the Executive Director.
2. Exempt classes of works or activities are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the registered place / object. However, if other previously hidden original or inaccessible details of the object or place are uncovered, any works that may affect such items shall immediately cease. The Executive Director shall be notified of the details immediately to enable Heritage Victoria representatives to inspect and record the items, and for discussion to take place on the possible retention of the items, or the issue of a modified approval.
3. If there is a Conservation Policy and Plan approved by the Heritage Council or Executive Director, all works and activities shall be carried out in accordance with that Policy and Plan.
4. Nothing in this Declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exempt alterations provided work has not commenced on the alteration.
-
-
-
-
-
FORMER CARLTON AND UNITED BREWERYVictorian Heritage Register H0024
-
ROSAVILLEVictorian Heritage Register H0408
-
MEDLEY HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0409
-
'NORWAY'Boroondara City
-
1 Mitchell StreetYarra City
-
-
Tours involving this place See all tours
13/09/16
Old Melbourne Gaol - Magistrates Court - Drummond Terrace - Medley Hall - Royal Exhibition Building And Carlton Gardens (world Heritage Place) - Royal Terrace
Public contributions
Tours involving this place See all tours
13/09/16
Old Melbourne Gaol - Magistrates Court - Drummond Terrace - Medley Hall - Royal Exhibition Building And Carlton Gardens (world Heritage Place) - Royal Terrace