Since the opening of the Old Court House, Wollongong on 1 February 1858 it has had "five lives".  Below is a socially based history of the period covering the five lives of the Old Court House.

 

History is often dry and colourless because it relates facts, dates and the content of organisational documents.   On the other hand stories about the people brings colour to that history and gives an insight into their thinking, standards and beliefs. 

 

Read and enjoy the stories below but resist the temptation of judging the people concerned.  Please remember it is equally unfair to judge the past using today's standards as it would for us to be judged use the standards of the past.

 

CONSTANTLY BEING REVIEW AND UPDATED

 

1. Court House 1858 to 1885

 

The newspapers of the period give an interesting insight into what happened to the ordinary and the extraordinary people who lived at that time.  It is often very clear to the reader that the language, the event and the attitudes were very different then, than they are now. 

 

The Court House was used not only for court sessions but also for events of a social and administrative nature.  One of these occurred shortly after the first court session of 1 February 1858.  On 1 April 1858 the court was used for the issuing of blankets to the original owners of the land and their families.  Expressed this way it sounds mundane and uncontenscious to our ears, however if the language of the headline to the article were used it would elicit a very different reaction.  The Empire (a Sydney newspaper of the day) reported, on Tuesday 6th April 1858 from an article in the Illawarra Mercury of Monday 5th April, the following - "Blacks Blanket Day"   Read the words to notice how different attitudes were from both the perspective of the reporters and the aboriginals present at the occasion.

 

The difference in attitudes from today with regard to the use of bad language was highlighted in a prosecution of a man for the use of the word "By Christ" and the use of the penalty where "a number of boys frequently standing about the streets who used improper language, and that the Court was determined to put a stop to it."  In order to create a deterrent the magistrate imposed a fine of 20 shillings plus costs or in default of paying this 7 days in gaol.  Read the report from the Court of Petty Sessions from the Illawarra Mercury of Thursday 29 May 1862.

 

Industrial Relations has certainly changed from the days of the literal application of the employment relationship being "Master and Servant".  "A half-caste youth known as Prince Albert was brought up charged with absconding from his hired service.... After being two days in the complainant's employ he absconded, taking an half-caste girl with him.  The defendant denied having entered into an agreement, but the bench found him guilty and sentenced him to three days imprisonment in Wollongong Gaol."  Read the account in the newspaper article in the Illawarra Mercury of Monday 3, March 1862.

 

Complaints against members of the bench or the perception of magistrates by members of the public is not new, especially in relation to the poor. In The Australian of Monday 26 December 1842 a letter from George Underwood Allen, dated 15 December 1842, was published.  There is considerable of emotion in the letter and among other comments Mr Allen referred to the "licentious conduct of magistrates".  You will also notice very different expressions and words are used in formal letters (for example - "May it Please Your Excellency"; "Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant"; and "vituperations")

 

Problems with the magistracy also feature in the early newspapers.  "Corrupt and Inefficient Magistrates" forms the title of an article in the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser of Thursday 13 February 1840.

 

Out of the mists of time the Old Court House has discovered its own colourful character.  This discovery was revealed by the relative of a visitor to the Old Court House.  John Lloyd Smith.  John was tried, convicted and sentenced at the Old Court House for a fourth time in 1860, again for forging and uttering forged cheques.  He was sentenced to five years plus two years hard labour on public works.  Learn more about John Lloyd Smith and his escapades.  Click on the following link John Lloyd Smith - Ne’er-do-well or victim of circumstances? and read his story, the work of Lyndall Nairn, the product of her extensive research.

 

2. Customs House 1886 to 1902

 

Unfortunately there is very little information from this period of the life of the "Old Court House".  No doubt continuing research will uncover snippets, and as they turn up they will be added.

 

 

 

3. Drill Hall 1902 to 1973

 

    -  No.4 Garrison Artillery

 

The full title of the Garrison Artillery Company was  the "Number 4 Company Australian Garrison Artillery"

Prior to this it was also known as the Wollongong-Bulli Volunteer Artillery Half Companies.  Further information can be obtained by visiting the Wollongong Smith's Hill Fort website.

 

During the the life of the No.4 Company Garrison Artillery there were highs and lows. 

 

In May 1912 the members of the Garrison excelled in a big gun firing competition in Sydney (Big Gun Practice). 

 

Later that year in August there was conflict leading to the resignation all the members of the company (Gunners Resign)

 

 

 

 

 

 

    - 37th Infantry Regiment (Illawarra) C Company - 1908 to 1922

 

Wollongong's relationship with the 37th Infantry Regiment started with Lt. John Fitzgerald Butler in 1829 who with a small party of soldiers, which constituted all the military in the Illawarra, set up camp on Flagstaff Hill.

 

Later the Headquarters of the 37th Infantry Regiment was at Kiama and it had four Companies spread through the district.  The companies were as follows:

 

      A Company - Dapto, Albion Park, Kiama, Jamberoo, Berry, Toolijooa, Nowra and Milton

      B Company - Helensburgh, Cawley, Lilyvale, Oxford, Clifton, Scarborough, Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul and Bulli

      C Company - Wollongong, Kembla Heights, Mt Kembla, Figtree, Unanderra, Port Kembla, Keiraville and Mt Keira

      D Company - Woonona, Bellambi, Corrimal, Balgownie, Tarrawanna, Fairy Meadow

 

C Company used the Old Court House as its drill hall from 1908 to 1922. 

 

Our historical records and photographs include a photo of C Company taken outside the Old Court House

 

 

 

 

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    - 34th Battalion (Illawarra) Regiment (Headquarters) (Area army office) - 1922 to 1942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    - Area Army Headquarters (various wartime units) - 1942 to 1947

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    - 3rd Batallion (Werriwa Regiment) D Company (HQ Canberra) 1947 to 1950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    -  34th Batallion (Illawarra Regiment) (Battalion Headquarters) 1950 to 1962

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    - 3rd Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment 1962 to 1971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    - University of New South Wales Regiment (Wollongong Detachment) 1971 to 1973

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Naval Cadets (operating as TS Albatross) 1974 to 1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Wollongong City Council, a heritage listed building, operating as a Heritage and Environment Centre 1998 to .....

    Home of the:

    *  Old Court House Management Committee Inc. - maintenance of the heritage listed building 1998 to ......

    *  Illawarra Shoalhaven Branch of the National Trust of Australia (N.S.W.) Office with employee whose duties included

       the management of bookings of the Old Court House from 1999 to 2016;

    *  Old Courthouse Management Committee Inc. full management of  the venue 2016 to ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early newspaper articles were sourced from the digitised newspapers in 'Trove' of the National Library of Australia website.