Old Courthouse, Heritage courthouse in Liverpool, Australia
The Old Courthouse is a sandstock brick building on Bigge Street constructed with Colonial Georgian design and sandstone foundations throughout its base. Decorative timber verandahs wrap around the structure, defining its distinctive appearance.
Built in 1820 on the grounds of former convict barracks, it served as both a jail and a court center for over 120 years. This shift from prison to courthouse reflects how judicial infrastructure evolved in early colonial New South Wales.
The land holds deep roots with the Darug people, particularly the Cabrogal clan, who inhabited this area long before European arrival. Today the building stands as a reminder of this foundational connection between the original inhabitants and what came afterward.
The building is open to visitors during set hours so you can walk through and see the historical architecture firsthand. It is worth checking ahead which areas are accessible, as some parts may be closed for conservation work.
Ongoing archaeological digs at the site continue to uncover artifacts from the original convict barracks, revealing pieces of early colonial life. These discoveries help piece together the physical evidence of the past that lies beneath the current building.
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