Goulburn Court House, Victorian courthouse in Goulburn, Australia

Goulburn Court House is a rust-red polychrome brick building with sandstone facing, designed by James Barnet and Edward Rumsey and built by David Jones from 1885 to 1887. Its symmetrical plan centres on a copper dome over an octagonal base, with arched colonnades along the wings and pediments bearing the New South Wales Coat of Arms. Two courtrooms, each about 15 by 9 metres, have public galleries reached by stone stairs.

Goulburn's fourth courthouse was designed by colonial architect James Barnet with his assistant Edward Rumsey, and built by Bathurst contractor David Jones between 1885 and 1887. It took 30 months and cost 24,593 pounds. The third courthouse, designed by Mortimer Lewis in 1835 and built in 1847, became the Crown Lands Office in 1888. The stone dwarf wall and iron picket fence were added in 1900.

The courthouse serves as a gathering space for the community, with public galleries that reveal preserved cedar woodwork and decorative plaster details throughout its interior spaces. These crafted elements reflect how the building was designed to impress and communicate authority through careful aesthetic choices.

The building is located at 4 Montague Street and remains fully accessible to visitors interested in exploring its spaces or attending public events. Plan your visit with the active courthouse function in mind, as some areas may have restricted access during court proceedings.

The surrounding courtyard features mature trees and decorative iron gates with stone piers, forming part of a largely unchanged Victorian civic complex. This cohesive ensemble is rare because similar courthouse precincts often lost their original gardens and gateways over time.