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King Street Courts Sydney

Court Room

King Street Courts Sydney

Designed as Australia’s first law courts by Francis Greenway for Governor Macquarie, what became the King Street Courts were originally intended as a school. The original law courts were redesigned as St James Church and subsequently the adjoining school was repurposed as courts.

Completed in 1828, the final building differed significantly from Greenway’s original plan and suffered from damp, overcrowding and insufficient roof support. Over several decades these defects were addressed and the courts still operate today.

We visited as part of Sydney is Open and were able to see each courtroom. Volunteers stationed throughout the building, let us gain an insight into the building and its operation.

One courtroom still has a bullet hole when someone on trial wrested a gun from a guard. The gun discharged and the man made a getaway. Not surprisingly gun security was improved and egress from the courtrooms tightened.

The room where prospective jurors waited still has the wooden barrel from which numbers were drawn to select jurors.

Restoration of the courthouse, has resulted in a modern courthouse while maintaining its historical significance.

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Paterson New South Wales

Old Courthouse Paterson

Travelling to Paterson From Singleton

Paterson is not far from where we live in Singleton in the NSW Hunter Valley, so we took a leisurely drive there via Gresford when we had a free morning. On the way we stopped at Gresford for a coffee at the Crossroads Café which is a nice quiet peaceful location. 

Webber's Creek Bridge on the Way To Gresford
Webber’s Creek Bridge on the Way To Gresford
Crossroads Cafe and General Store Gresford
Crossroads Cafe and General Store Gresford

Paterson

When we reached Paterson we had a look at the Railway bridge over the Paterson River from Wharf Park. The park is next to an old church  and opposite the Court House Museum and a great place to start exploring the town. The court house is a nice old building well maintained presentable with some great photo opportunities. The town has some old buildings that are interesting to have a look at, so wander around the Main Street and have a look. We walked around St Paul’s Anglican Church and the cemetery out the back to view the graves some of which are very old and from the 1800s. Unfortunately many are in a state of disrepair with fallen headstones and damaged tiles and brickwork. This town has a nice country vibe about it, very relaxed with friendly locals. well worth the visit.

Driving Home

The drive home through the rural countryside was relaxing, but the countryside looked very brown because of the current drought.

To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.