Old Court House, Wollongong History

History of the Old Court House, Wollongong and the Government Reserve

Time Line of the Main Aspects of the History of the Old Court House, Wollongong 

 

1830             Military Barracks moved from the site at Red Point (Port Kembla) to the Government Reserve;

1854             Further expenditure or maintenance on old Police and Court buildings stopped;

1856             Illawarra Mercury reports that the court house “is still in the same rascally broken condition”;

1857             New Court House designed by Alexander Dawson and constructed  by William Stoddart;

1858             First hearing in the 'New Court House' on 1st February presided over by Charles Throsby Smith, no opening ceremony;

1866             Room for witnesses added on south eastern side adjoining Magistrates Office;

1858 - 1885  Court House not only used for criminal and civil cases but also licensing and registration of land deeds and various official ceremonies;

1885             Role as a court house ended with the opening of the New Court House in Market Street;

1885 - 1901  With the opening of the Railway the centre of the Town moved further west and the role of the Old Court House changed to that of

                     a Customs House for the Government of the Colony of New South Wales;

1887             The Customs Office was moved from Brighton Lawn to the eastern side of the main part of the Old Court House;

1901 - 1902  Customs transferred to the Commonwealth and facilities moved to Port Kembla due to the decline in importance of Wollongong

                     Harbour;

1902 - 1922  Transferred to Commonwealth Defence control and was used as an Army Drill Hall by the No.4 Company Garrison Artillery followed

                     by the 37th Illawarra Infantry, C Company (37th disbanded in 1922);

1922 - 1942  34th Battalion (Illawarra Regiment) headquarters and area army office (34th disbanded in 1942);

1938             Building was extended to include the offices and kitchen on the eastern side of the building. Old Customs House moved to current site;

1942 - 1947  Area Army Office, used by a variety of service - women's services, AWAS, etc as a drill hall;

1947 - 1950  Used by the 3rd Battalion, (Werriwa Regiment) D Company as a drill hall, (3rd Battalion Headquarters in Canberra);

1950             34th Battalion (Illawarra Regiment) reformed;

1950 - 1962  Headquarters of the 34th Battalion (Illawarra Regiment) of the Citizens Military Forces. (disbanded at end of national service);

1962 - 1971  Used by the 3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (1971 changed to 4th Royal NSW Regiment and moved to Gipps St

                     depot);

1971 - 1973  Used by the University of New South Wales Regiment (Wollongong Detachment);

1974 - 1998  Sea Scouts (forerunner of the Naval Reserve), TS Albatross;

1998             Naval Reserve moved out to their new Headquarters on Lake Illawarra;

1998             Wollongong City Council took over responsibility for the building and the site;

1999             Volunteers restored the building with the help of a NSW Heritage Grant, Wollongong City Council and the National Trust;

1999 -  2016 Home of the National Trust Illawarra Shoalhaven Branch with community use of the building managed by The Old Court House

                     Management Committee Incorporated.

2016             Illawarra Shoalhaven Branch office closed.

2016 - >>>> Management of the old court house continues by the Old Court House Management Committee.

 

 

From the "Archaeological Zoning Plan, Old Court House, Built 1858, Corner Cliff Rd and Harbour St Wollongong NSW"

Prepared for the Old Court House Management Committee, February 2002 by Meredith Hutton:

 

 

Court House Site

 

     The Old Court House site is the residue of the 'Government Reserve' selected in 1815.  Initially, the government land extended to present day Robertson Street in the south and Lang Park in the east.  Charles Throsby Smith's grant rxtended from the western and southern borders of the reserve.  The land was used for a series of military, police, judicial, customs and gaol functions, however, in 1919 the government buildings within the Reserve, excluding the Old Court House complex, were demolished and their sites subdivided

 

Military Stockade and Early Court Facilities - 1829-44

 

     In 1829, Lt. John Fitzgerald Butler and a small party of soldiers which constituted all the military in the Illawarra, relocated from Red Point to Wollongong.  This move marked the beginning of the development of this area as the main commercial and administrative centre for the Illawarra district and the name Wollongong first appeared in the Australian Almanac at this time.

 

     Lieutenant Butler and his detachment set up a temporary camp opposite C.T. Smith's house and to the immediate south of  Brighton Beach some time during 1829, whilst the Barracks were built.  The soldiers barracks and Commandants residence were built by convicts whe were sent as a gang of tradesmen and included stone masons, carpenters, plasterers and splitters.

 

Butler lived, slept and held court in a small tent.  All builders who came down, though they were prisoners of the Crown, lived in huts by themselves on the sand bank.

 

     New military barracks were officially opened on 27th July 1830 and included the Commandant's residence and Barracks for the soldiers of the garrison, a smaller watch house and flagellator's residence.  This watch house was on the approximate site of Lt. Fitsgerald's (Butler) tent court house of 1829 thought to have been located in the vicinity of Lots 8 & 9 DP 11509, to the south of the study site.  Stewart also mentions the presence of a small wooden building located behind the Commandant's residence.  This was used as a temporary Court Hous and Post Office.

 

     In 1835, a brick court house referred to as the Old Red Police Court, was built by the contractor Mr George Brown.  It faced westward, fronting Harbour Street.  It had an attached lock-up and three solitary cells to replace the small wooden structure in the south-western corner of the original compound.

 

     On Wednesday, 3 June 1835, W.N. Gray, Police Magistrate at Wollongong, gave evidence to the New South Wales Leislative Council Committee on Police.  He described the government buildings at Wollongong as follows:

 

                 "There is a lock-up house now building at Wollongong, which is nearly finished and will contain two rooms and a hall.  There are

                 three cells attached.  There is also a Court House there, containing one Court room, a room for the seconds and a room for the

                 lock-up keeper, who is also a scourger.  All these buildings are in one enclosure, surrounded by a twelve feet paling [fence].

                 The court house is a brick building with a stone foundation.  The lock-up is a strong log building, also with a stone foundation."

 

     It can be surmised that upon completion of the 1835 building program, the military and police compound at Wollongong comprised the following structures:

 

Court House

Fronting Harbour Street.  Of brick construction and stone foundation.  Comprising three rooms - court room, room for seconds and room for lock-up keeper / scourger.  Constructed 1835.  This replaced Lt Fitzgerald's tent court house of 1829 and wooden court house of 1830-35.

 

Lock-up House

Behind (east) of court house.  Of split timber slab construction with stone foundation.  Comprising two rooms and a half (also described as three rooms or compartments).  Constructed 1835.  Enclosed within the court house complex.

 

Three Cells

Brick construction with walls of brick and swamp mahogany.  Located east of court house and next to the lock-up.  Enclosed by 12 foot high paling fence in compound with court house and lock-up.  Constructed 1835.

 

Commandant's / Magistrate's Residence

Of wood construction, with two chimneys.  Located east of lock-up and cells and fronting the Wollongong Harbour.  Constructed 1829-30.

 

Soldiers' Barracks

Of wooden construction, with single brick chimney.  Located east of Commandant's residence and fronting the Wollongong Harbour.  Constructed 1829-30.  Of similar size and construction to the Commandant's residence.

 

Watch House

Of wooden construction, with two rooms plus room for sourger.  Located east of soldiers' barracks.  Constructed 1829-30.  This later acquired a stone addition and had stone chimneys.

 

Stables

No details (wooden construction?).  Located east of watch house.  Constructed 1829-30.

 

Tradesmen's Huts

No details (wooden construction?).  Located east of the stables, near sand dunes.  Constructed 1829-30.

 

Court House / Post Office

Small building of wooden (weatherboard construction, 8-10 feet wide.  Located on the south-western corner of site.  Constructed 1829-30.  Replaced by 1835 court house building.

 

     At the end of 1844, with initial work on the development of Wollongong Harbour and breakwater completed, the 99th Regiment and convict work gangs departed Illawarra and the military stockade at Wollongong Point was broken up.

 

     The buildings formerly occupied by the military at Brighton Beach were utilised by the local police establishment, whilst the temporary wooden buildings associated with the military stockade located on the point at Flagstaff Hill were sold off and removed.

 

     In 1889 a new police station and watch house opened in Market Street, next to the 1887 (current) Court House on Church Hill.  This complex replaced part of the function of the old buildings in Harbour Street, though the precise date at which the latter were completely abandoned is unclear.  A newspaper report at the time referred to the Harbour Street buildings in the following terms:

 

             ".... Those who have seen the present apology for those necessary buildings [police station and lockup] adjoining the Customs House (now Old Court House), will admit, that the new buildings have not been erected before they were wanted."

 

     The government buildings within the Reserve at Wollongong Harbour were the focus of all police, military and government administrative business in the district.  The government establishment and the burgeoning town of Wollongong were very much centred upon the harbour and its immediate environs during the first half of the nineteenth century.  This focus would change with the removal of the military in 1844 and the subsequent development of commercial buildings around Market Square and south towards Crown Street.

 

                                                        -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The following information was researched from primary documentation held at the Archives Office NSW, Land and Property Office NSW and Wollongong City Library.  Numerous secondary resources were used, particularly The Conservation Plan for the site.

 

The 1858 Court House:

 

     By 1854, letter record the unfit condition of the Harbour Street Court House and it was referred to as a 'tottering Temple of Justice'.  A series of complaints by local magistrates brought the inadequacies of the building to the attention of the Colonial Secretary.

 

     A report dated 1855 stated that the Court House was ina very dilapidated state and unfit for use, while the watch house, Government Cottage, Old Mounted Police barracks and Police Stables were also in a very dilapidated state.

 

     A departmental memo dated 25/5/1855 suggested that an estimated 2000 pounds be put in next years budget for a new court house.  The judiciary may not have know about the budget allocation, or decided to maintain the pressure to secure a new Court House, because they were not silenced.

 

     A letter was sent to the Colonial Secretary later in 1855, signed by J. Shoobert J.P., R.J. Hopkins J.P., and D. Williamson Irving J.P., stating that the Police Office and Harbour Street Court House had a leaking roof, a portion of the ceiling and all of the verandah ceiling had fallen down and a verandah post had also fallen down.  Furthermore, the building was too small; the clerk of petty sessions had no press to put away books and only 12 people could stand and/or fit in the body of the room.  They described the building as an eyesore.  Things did not improve and a subsequent letter dated 15/9/1856 explained that high winds blew down three verandah posts and entry was dangerous.

 

     Finally, in 1857 plans were made to build a new Court House and the Harbour Street building became vacant.  Despite its shabby condition the Government considered  how to reuse the early Court as late as 2/May/1862 and again three years later the building was assessed for possible reuse as a residence for the lockup keeper.

 

     The surviving plans and specifications for the proposed Court House are for a more complex building than was built.  There is no discussion of this contained in the Conservation Plan for the site.  None the less, the resultant building, designed by Alexander Dawson, is a fine example of early Victorian architecture and it reflected the growing prominence of Wollongong as a regional centre.

 

     Initially, it was proposed to build the 1858 Court House adjacent to the Hrbour Street Court House.  However, C.T. Smith esq. J.P. wrote to the Colonial Architect dated 19/3/1857, requesting the Court House be built at the corner of the Police Paddock fronting the sea.

 

     This reference to the Police Paddock is the clearest indication of the earlier use of the study site.  The recollections of Alexander Stewart concurred with this as he stated that 'where the Gaol and Customs House (Old Court House) stand was the Police Paddock, the police using it for grazing their horses.

 

     In May 1857, William Stoddart, builder/carpenter/contractor of Dowling Street Woolloomoolloo, Sydney, won the tender to build the sandstone Court House for £1250.  This was substantially below the £2000 that had been allocated for the building in the budget.  The completed cost was £1893-15-4, still within the budget.

 

     The location of the building was not finalised until after William Stoddart arrived to commence construction.  The Colonial Architect, Alexander Dawson then approved the local Magistrates request to have the sandstone Court House build facing Cliff Road and Wollongong Harbour, rather than fronting Harbour Street, so it could produce a favourable impression on visitors arriving by steamers.

 

A letter to the Department of Lands and Public Works date 14th July 1857, states that:

 

     "the site of the Court House was to be identified by the Surveyor General who was to identify the location on a map.  This eventuated in a plan titled 'Plan showing situation of the New Court House Wollongong', dated September 1857.  This plan shows that the building was located 24 feet from the Cliff Road boundary (wharf frontage) and 71 feet from the Harbour Street boundary.  Since these measurements were made the Harbour Street boundary has moved westwards (see plan page 23).

 

     The building was ready for occupation in January 1858 and the Illawarra Mercury printed the following description of the sandstone Court House at its official opening:-

 

     "The Bench of Magistrates sat in the new Court House Wollongong, for the despatch  of business on Monday last.  No ceremony marked the occasion from the ordinary sittings.  A brief description of the appearance and  arrangements of the building, inside and out, may not be uninteresting to our readers.  The Court Room itself is a spacious one, being 33 feet long by 20 feet wide.  At the further end on a platform, elevated one foot from the floor, is the Bench, the front being of plain cedar panels surrounded with neat beading and about 3 feet 6 inches high.  On the right hand side and immediately outside of the Bench is the witness box, also raised to the same level as the Bench and on the left hand side, against the wall and a few feet from the Bench, is the Reporter's desk.  Both of these boxes are panelled in the same style as the Bench, the panelling being varnished in all cases.  Immediately  below the Bench, a large table is placed, at which the Clerk of the Court and the legal gentlemen sit.  At about 13 feet from the front of the Bench, a railing about 4 1/2 feet in height crosses the room, outside this space allotted for the public.  There is an opening in the centre of this railing, giving access to the floor of the Court, at the right hand side of which a prisoner's dock will be erected, of about 3 1/2 feet long and 2 1/2 feet deep; the dock will be of open railing.  Both inside and outside of this railing comfortable seats have been placed for the accommodation of suitors, witnesses and other persons in attendance on the Court.

 

     In the centre of the side walls of the Court Room, two fire-places have been built with chimneys running up, mainly for the purpose of strengthening the wall.  The otherwise blank appearance of the wall at the back of the Bench has been relieved by making two semi-circle arches reaching to the ceiling, each of about 8 feet in width; the space between which is occupied by a pillar surmounted by a neat cornice; on the outside of these arches, two small pillars appear capped in a similar manner to the larger one.

 

     Light is given to the Court Room by two large and wide windows, with semi-circular tops, on each side and two smaller ones on each side of the entrance from the portico at the front.  It is intended to erect a screen immediately opposite and inside of the front entrance for the purpose of breaking the current of air; this creen will be 9 feet high and 6 feet 3 inches long and will be made of panelled cedar.  Ventilation is secured by an aperture in the centre of the ceiling and by the windows lifting up from the bottom or lowering down from the top.

 

     The Magistrates have a comfortable room at the back of the Court Room, with an entrance through a small lobby, which has a door onto the right hand side of the Bench.  On the left hand side of the Bench is another door opening into a similar lobby from which access is obtained to a room devoted to the use of the Clerk of the Court which will be fitted with presses, &c. for the keeping of public documents, this room is also entered by a door from the back.  In both these rooms are fire-places and they are each 14 feet by 12 and 11 feet high.

 

     The appearance of the building from the outside is very neat, if not imposing.  The front is to be approached through folding gates, each wing of which will be 3 feet wide, from which a gravel path will be made to the building.  The front of the building itself displays considerable taste in its design and care to its architecture.  Across the entire front, 20 feet, extends a portico 6 feet deep.  This is formed by 3 semi-circular arches, or about 6 feet span each, supported by 2 square stone pillars; at the top of each is a very tasteful capping.  The building presents its gable to the front and this gable, from the top of the portico to the roof, is a pediment of plain stonework around the outside of which runs a deep cornice of stone.  Inside of this presents a bare appearance, which would be greatly relieved by placing a coat of arms or some such device in the centre; at present the painter has endeavoured to fill the blank by painting a few circles in the centre of it.  The whole of the outside, with the exception of the front, has been stuccoed and coloured.  The front has been painted a stone colour.

 

     There are three chimneys, one on each side and one at the back, each of which is surmounted by a cornice of a very pretty design and appearance.  There are no out-buildings as yet to the Court, but it is intended, we believe, to erect the necessary ones for the comfort and convenience of parties attending the court.

 

     Altogether, we think we are correct in saying that this structure will be found equal to the wants of the district for some time to come, even if District Courts should be held here, as it is expected and hoped, will be the case before long.  We are aware that the greatest care has been bestowed on the erection of the building; by and under the direction of Mr Stoddart, the contractor, Mr Dawson, the Colonial Architect, has frequently inspected the work during its progress with the utmost attention, with the desire to make the building creditable in appearance as well as adapted to the purposes for which it was intended."

 

    Since this description the building has undergone repairs and additions.  In 1866 a witness room was added on the south east corner and a door was created between the Magistrate's and Clerks offices.  The rear verandah may also date from that time.  Stables and a WC were also constructed to the south of the main building.

 

     The site continued to function as a district court until 1885 when the current Court House was built on Church Hill, marking the transfer of the town centre.

 

     The Old Court House then came under State control and was used by the Department of Trade and Customs as  Customs House between 1885 and 1903.  The circa 1880's weatherboard Customs Office was moved from Brighton Lawn to the site in 1887.  By 1902 the site had been subdivided from the Government Reserve and transferred to the Commonwealth.  The Customs Officer, Mr Fraser, wrote to the Collector of Customs on 24 March 1904 explaining that he had moved his books to his office at his residence in the Pilot's cottage on Flagstaff Hill and the Customs Office (Old Court House) was vacant and 'none the better for standing idle'.  The Defence Department took over the site on 6 July 1904.

 

     A plan of the site for the No.4 Garrison Artillery and dated 7 April 1905 shows lean-to-roofs and timber flooring in the area between the relocated weatherboard Customs Office and the main building.  The Court House and Customs House furniture was removed at this stage.

 

     On 11 June 1927, W.J. Charlton applied to the Commanding Officer of the 34th Battalion to lease the grounds to agist his pony for 12 shillings per year.  This was approved, however Charlton did not ultimately require the site and the lease papers were returned.  The correspondence indicates that the Old Cout House grounds were not being used at that time.

 

     The Army used the site as a Drill Hall.  A plan titled Old Customs House Wollongong (date illegible, circa 1920's), shows a miniature rifle range in the western.  There is a Firing Mound at the northern end, a central line of fire delineated and five firing areas marked out along the southern fence line.  This plan also shows the corner fence line to follow a curve and lie within the actual site boundary.

 

     The 3rd Battalion, Werriwa Regiment occupied the site during the Second World War.  Three class rooms and general office were added along the eastern side in 1938 which altered the eastern windows and fireplace.  This extension also necessitated the second relocation of the former weatherboard Customs Office that had been moved from Brighton Lawn.

 

     Between 1950 and 1973, the site was occupied by the 34th CMF Battalion.  The original slates on the main roof were replaced with corrugated asbestos sheets.

 

     Photographs show two Norfolk Island pine trees, placed either side of the narrow cement front path.  These pines appear to date to those planted on Brighton Lawn, circa 1880.  They outgrew their location and were removed circa 1960.  In their place there was a 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft gun on display to the west of the front path and a flag pole to the east.

 

     The CMF were followed by the T.S. Albatross Naval Cadets, called Sea Scouts, who occupied the site from 1974 to 1998.  During the Cadets occupation a number of alterations were made to the building including the enclosure of the back verandah to accommodate bathroom facilities, the sewer was connected, the floor in the former Magistrates room was replaced and a partition wall built in the former Witness room to provide a canteen.  Also the southern roof area was re-slated.  The yard area which appears to have been grassed throughout the history was surfaced with bitumen and was used for car parking, equipment storage and drill.

 

     During the late 1990's the Wollongong City Council negotiated with the Navy to find a new location for the Sea Cadets, so the Old Court House could become available for community use.  The site was transferred to the Wollongong City Council for $1.00 but Council also contributed $100,000 to the Department of Defence to accommodate the Sea Cadets next to the Illawarra Yacht Club on the shores of Lake Illawarra.

 

Weatherboard Customs Office:

 

     The former weatherboard Customs Office is now located in the south eastern corner of the Old Cout House Site.  It was moved in 1938 to allow for the construction of Army class rooms and office.  Prior to that, this structure was located on Brighton Lawn.  An early Customs 'Station' was applied for by F. (?) R. Cole, Officer of Customs, in a letter to the Colonial Architect dated 22 September 1865.  Cole requested a 'wooden 8 feet square and 8 feet high box with sloping shelf fixed across it for writing on, to be used as a temporary office'.  He also requested pigeon holes.

 

     It is not clear if this modest request was provided, but the 1880's plan of the area, showing the encroachment of sand ,does not record a Customs Office although the extant structure was apparently built at about that time amidst local objections to it siting on Brighton Lawn.  The 1885 Plan depicts a rectangular Customs House with a verandah across the eastern end on Brighton Lawn.

 

     This building was moved to the Old Court House Site in 1887, two years after the Market Street Court House was built and the Old Court House changed to a Customs House under State control.  It was placed to east of the Court Room on the Old Court House Site.  The building was turned , so that the verandah faced westward toward the building and was enclosed.  A new brick chimney was constructed at the opposite end which was on the eastern boundary and therefore close to the Gaol wall.

 

     The building was moved again in 1938 to allow for the extension of the main building, which was under Federal ownership and occupied by the Australian Army.  At this time the former weatherboard Customs House was used as an Officers Mess, accessed through its enclosed eastern verandah via a door in the former Magistrates small porch.  It is not known what type of path existed, however by circa 1890 the area between the buildings had been roofed and a timber floor installed in the western section.  The infill was removed in 1905.

 

     In 1938, only the main weatherboard section was relocated and it was placed on brick piers and a new brick chimney was built.  Alterations including re-roofing, the installation of a kitchenette, relining the interior, new timber floor and skirtings, replacement door and removal of the timber shutters.

 

     Other Out Buildings:

 

     The Conservation Plan dates the outside privy and screen to circa 1860.  There were no out buildings associated with the Old Court House at its opening in 1858 though the provision of 'conveniences' was expected to follow.  Stables were also requested in a letter from the Bench to the Colonial Architect dated 22 March 1866, as Magistrates frequently rode to the Court and there was no shelter  for horses in bad weather.

 

     However it is unclear if the extant WC dates to that early phase.  The 1885 plan shows stables located to the south of the main building and a WC southward and eastward of that, aligned to the centre of the Old Court House.  It is difficult to determine distances on these plans as they have been reproduced, however it is possible that both of these structures were located beyond the current souther boundary and within the land used for the circa 1890 entrance lane to the Gaol.  This places their sites the neighbouring residential property No.3 Harbour Street.

 

     The 1887 Birdseye View of Wollongong shows a small out building, possibly a privy, located against the eastern boundary and northward of the back fence.  This places it in the vicinity, though northward of the present location of the former Weatherboard Customs Office.  The area behind the main building, where the Stables and Privy are located on the 1885 plan is out of view in this illustration.

 

     The Plan of the Gaol and Customs Reserve, Wollongong, October 1890 doesn't show either stables or the WC.  Instead there is an entrance to the Gaol from Harbour Street that separates the Old Court House site from the earlier Police complex section of the Government Reserve.

 

     During 1902 the parcel of land containing the 1858 Court House was subdivided from the New South Wales Government Reserve containing the 1829-35 buildings and transferred the the Commonwealth of Australia for use as a Customs House.

 

     The Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board plan dated 1913 shows a small slightly rectangular structure in line with the south western corner of the Old Court House as well as  a larger rectangular structure adjacent to the east.    The former, weatherboard Customs Office is in the pre 1938 location to the east of the main building.  The viewed copy of the plan is notated but illegible.  The smaller structure is likely to be the extant WC, possibly re-using some building materials from the earlier structure.  The specifications for work to be carried out on the site in 1905 requires the old closet to be filled and consolidated, concreted over and new pan style fittings installed.  This helps to date the extant structure to this location pre 1905.  This in combination with the alienation of the land to the south for use as an entrance to the gaol indicates that the extant privy dates to circa 1890.  The adjoining structure is thought to have been the wood shed that was constructed post 1902 and removed 1983.

 

     Boundary Changes:

 

     The Government Reserve was subdivided in 1902 to separate the Old Court House Site, for transference to the Commonwealth Government.  This resulted in a lane way being created between the Old Court House corner site and the 1829-35 complex of buildings.  In 1919 the Gaol and the 1829-35 buildings were demolished and subdivided into allotments.  The extant lane was created along the eastern boundary of the 1858 Old Court House Site.

 

     The Old Court House Site itself has undergone several minor boundary changes at the corner of Harbour Street and Cliff Road.

 

     The earliest fence depicted is a timber post and triple rail fence around the Government Reserve.  The fence forms a square corner at th now Harbour and Cliff Road intersection.

 

     Once the Court House was built, the section of fence in front of the building and the neighbouring 1859 Gaol was upgraded to a high picket fence of dressed timber with capped, square posts.  The post and triple rail fence was left across the western part of the site, although the '1887 Birdseye View' '"54" depicts a picket fence to the Harbour Street corner.  However the site appears truncated  and does not sheo the full of the western yard.

 

     By 1885, the fence had been rounded at the corner and the Harbour Street fence line lay within the original Government Reserve boundary line.  In 1839, the timber picket fence was replaced with a park rail and wire mesh fence, 4 feet high.  The fence line squared off the rounded corner, leaving the splayed corner alignment that is evident today in the present cyclone wire paneled fence, erected during the 1970's, when the Sea Scouts took occupation of the site.

 

     An undated, early pencil sketch drawn by Elliott, shows a protrusion to the west, at the south western corner of the original Government Reserve.  If the western most point of this protrusion was taken as the 191/20 subdivision alignment, that may account for the descrepeny in the measured distance between the Old Court House building and the western boundary at the time of construction - 71 feet and now 80 feet. 

 

     Demolition 1919 & Residential Development 1920:

 

     The old Harbour Street Police buildings became obsolete in 1889 when the police quarters moved to Church Street,  The subsequent use of the old convict-era is unknown however, during 1919 the 1829-35 government buildings at Harbour Street, along with the 1859-60 Gaol complex were demolished as part of the State Government's Brighton Housing.  A collection of photographs in the Wollongong City Library shows the Gaol during demolition, though no views of the buildings to the south are known

 

     The site was subdivided into 10 allotments (DP 11509 Lots 1-10) and cottages erected during 1920-1, with the last completed in June 1921.  Some of the material from the old buildings were used in the new cottages.

 

     Historical Summary of the Government Reserve:

 

     The buildings associated with the 1829-35 Military and Police Stockade establishment within the Government Reserve near Wollongong Harbour were located within and adjacent to Lot DP 11509, (No.9) Harbour Street, Wollongong.  Buildings known to have been erected on the site during the period 1829-35 included:

 

     1829-30     Commandant's Residence - wooden and stone structure

     1829-30     Military Barracks - wooden and stone structure

     1829-30     Court House / Post Office - wooden structure

     1829-30     Watch House - brick and stone structure

     1835          Court House - brick and stone structure

     1835          Lock-up - brick and stone structure

     1835          Prison Cells - brick and wooden structure

 

     These buildings associated with the early convict / military / police establishment were demolished prior to, or during 1919-20.  Archaeological supervision of minor trenching for foundations during the redevelopment of No.9 Harbour Street in 2001 recorded that sandstone foundations of the 19th century structures have survived in good condition with only limited disturbance.

 

     1858          Sandstone Court House

     circa 1858  Stables and Privy - located to the south of the current site

     1859 / 60   Gaol

     Pre 1885    Fence line curved at Harbour St and Cliff Rd intersection

     1887          Relocation of weatherboard Customs Office abutting 1858 Court House

     Pre 1890    Entrance to Gaol from Harbour Street and relocation od Stables / Privy

     1938          Relocation of Weatherboard Customs Office to present site.

     1938          Fence line splayed to current alignment at Harbour St and Cliff Rd intersection