Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court, Romanesque court building in Melbourne, Australia
The Former Melbourne Magistrates' Court is a Romanesque-style courthouse on the corner of Russell Street and La Trobe Street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It has dressed limestone walls, copper-clad turrets, and rows of semi-circular windows grouped along its facade.
The building opened in 1914 and served as Melbourne's main lower court for around 80 years before a new courthouse replaced it. After closing, it was absorbed into a nearby university campus and given a new purpose.
Inside, a historic canopy from the old Supreme Court was relocated here and can still be seen today. The original timber fittings and heavy benches in the courtrooms give a clear sense of the weight this place once carried.
The building is part of a university campus today, so access to the interior is limited to guided tours or open event days. The exterior along Russell Street is visible at any time and gives a good sense of the overall structure.
Bullet holes from a bombing attack are still visible in the brickwork near the old main entrance. The marks have never been repaired, leaving a physical trace of an event that shook the city.
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