The Old Court House

Perth’s oldest building, the Old Court House situated in Stirling Gardens, was built in 1836. The court house represents the colonial presumption that British law would prevail over Aboriginal customary law.

 
Limited government funds dictated a functional building. Designed by Henry Reveley, it is constructed from local materials including limestone walls, jarrah floorboards and roof beams and sheoak shingles. The distinctive Doric entrance in Classic Greek Revival style was a later addition.

Since 1987 the building has housed Australia’s first law museum, the Old Court House Law Museum, and forms part of the Supreme Court buildings and gardens precinct.