Law Courts, 192-228 William Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Law Courts, 192-228 William Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 110143
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2023:__________________________________________________DATE: 1875-1884;ASSOCIATIONS: Victorian Colonial Government;DESIGNER: A L Smith (later Smith & Johnson);BUILDER: Pearson and Downie________________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H1514Statement of SignificanceLast Updated: 02/12/1998The law courts exude the solemn and majestic atmosphere associated with the law. The are one of the most finely designed and executed buildings in Australia. The court rooms are expressed on the facade by rows of doric pilasters and exhibit a variety of fine quality interiors with fine light pilasterwork and superb dark cedar fittings. Other notable features include the corner vestibules, the arcade to William Street, the carriageway with its iron lamps, the court yard and verandah and the statue of justice.Library of the Supreme Court (1877), William Street, is also on the Victorian Heritage Register, H 1477 and the Register of the National Estate (Registered, 2/11/033/0151).HO510 Law Courts PrecinctHO757 Law Courts & Library of the Supreme Court, 192-228 William Street and 459-505 Lonsdale Street, & 462-498 Little Bourke Street,MelbourneRef No H1514 & H1477__________________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites sources 80,159;_______________________________________City of Melbourne online mapsSupreme Court:A Court and Legal complex of sandstone and bluestone. Designed by Alfred L Smith and Arthur E Johnson in the Academic Classical style. Built between 1874 and 1884. Features a cupola over the Supreme Court Library.Established by Victorian legislation in January 1852, the Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior Court in the State, divided into two sections - the Court of Appeal and the Trial Division._______________________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Record 34984 Clark, John James; Smith & Johnston VIC Public Buildings 1861-78, John James Clark, employed in Public Works Department in charge of, & detailed Smith & Johnson's Melbourne Law Courts. Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Journal July 1915 p 117alsoAlfred L. Smith & Arthur E. Johnson- Illustration of the Law Courts, Melb.Illus. Perspective. Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Journal May 1934 FrontispieceArthur Johnson of Smith & Johnson- designed the Law Courts executed by J. J. Clark, then Peter Kerr Vic. + Met., ii, 522A.L. Smith-Won competitive design for new Law courts, Melbourne. Argus 22.8.1878, p 6A.L. SMITH Design of new Law Courts - William, Little Bourke & Lonsdale Sts. Illus. Perspective. A'asia Sketch 9.8.1873 p 88Smith & Johnson Carried out Melbourne Law Courts. Building Engineering and Mining Journal 13. 7. 1895, p 222A.L. SMITH Design for new Civil Law Courts, cnr William, Lonsdale, and Little Bourke Sts, awarded first prize. Illus. Perspective. Illustrated Australian News 12.8.1873 pp 138-139Reed & BARNES- Awarded second prize in design competition for new Civil Law Courts, cnr. William, Lonsdale & Lt. Bourke Sts. Won by A.L. Smith Illus. Perspective. Illustrated Australian News 12.8.1873 p 139_______________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1873The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil (Melbourne, Vic. : 1873 - 1889)Saturday 9 August 1873 - Page 88https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60606867 illustTHE NEW LAW COURTS.In presenting to our readers an engraving [of the design selected for the new Law courts, it is not necessary that we should narrate the circumstances connected with them that have since been the subject of inquiry. The issue of the inquiry has been to confirm the original preference for the design of Mr. A. L. Smith, and the conduct of Mr. Johnson in aiding Mr. Smith in the preparation of the design was found to be improper, but not to be corrupt, or to have any interested motive. Coming to the designs themselves, we find that, according to Mr. Smith's design, the new court-houses will cover a large area of ground in an elevated part of West Melbourne. The front will be over 100 yards long, viz., on the east aide of William-street, from Little Bourke-street to Lonsdale-street. As the buildings form a square, they will have a depth of over 100 yards. There will be entrances from the three streets which the buildings abut upon, and from a narrow street which will be opened along the east side of the block. The first thing which strikes the observer as he glances at the designs is the immense dome which rises into view in the centre of the 'block. It dwarfs the pretty tower which Mr. Smith has placed over the middle entrance, and seems to Tender it superfluous. The new court-house , as seen from the three streets, will be two stories high,(but the part which faces the narrow road on tm- mot side will have a basement story below and an extra story above. Provision has been made for eight courts. A court has been placed at each angle, and two courts on the north side, whose windows look into Lonsdale-street and two on the south side, with windows looking into Little Bourke-street.The principal two corners have been allotted in the design to the Equity Court and the Practice Court. Along Lonsdale-street are the Banco Court and the spare court, and at the far corner the County Court. Along Lonsdale-street are the two nisi prius courts, and at the corner the Insolvent Court. The designer proposes to place the master in equity and the sheriff in possession of the offices on the ground floor, in front, and to set apart the rooms overhead for the use of the judges. The rear block will be occupied by the registrar-general, the prothonotary, the titles office, &c. At the top will be the messengers' and housekeepers' quarters, and the kitchens.The inner parts of the building, where important business is to be transacted, have been sheltered from the heat and noise by means of arcades in front and down the two sides. The principal arcade has Doric columns on the ground floor, and Ionic on the upper floor. The tower, which springs from the vestibule, displays the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders in succession. It runs up to a height of 8Oft or about 20ft short of the dome in the centre. Figures placed on the dies of the attics, and principally on the courts at the angles, give the top of the building a pointed appearance, and diversify the outline. The principal entrance opens into a vestibule, which is connected with a long corridor, parallel to William-street The offices of the master in equity and sheriff open into it. Staircases lead from the corridor to the judges' chambers above. Each of the courts has its own suite of rooms. The public entrances to the courts are in Lonsdale-street and Little Bourke street ; none of them in William-street. The courts at the angles are all 50ft. square; the other courts are rectangular— i.e., 50ft. by 35ft. Mere spectators have been excluded from the floor of the court. They have been provided with accommodation- in a gallery 35ft. by lift, at the end of the court opposite to the bench. The bench will be rendered ornamental with cedar fittings. There will be high windows in the wall, with panellings between them. ' The ceiling is to be covered with pendentives. The description of one court will answer for the whole ; but one or two have, not needed to be provided with jury-rooms. The form of the roofs appears to have a good deal to do with proper ventilation. The upper parts have been isolated— in the words of the architect— to secure ventilation upon all sides. All divisions of the top story will have a double ceiling. The courts, we should mention, possess great loftiness... with their numerous vestibules, areas, passages, and verandahs, enclose a quadrangle 136ft. wide. In this quadrangle an important edifice has to be erected. It can hardly be described as square, for the walls on the first floor are rounded at the place where sharply-defined corners usually occur. The ground floor is to accommodate the barristers and attorneys, and to contain refreshment rooms. Overhead will be the library— a large circular room, with small consultation-rooms grouped round it. The library will contain a gallery. It will be lighted by means of the dome. 'When fitted up with lifts and speaking tubes,' says the report, 'the library will contain every convenience for supplying books to-the courts which radiate from it.' One of the rooms is intended for the Law Institute, and the mention of the institute reminds us that apportion of the floor of each court has been marked off for 'law students.' Space has been left in the quadrangle for a garden. The dome is 'classic.' It will be surrounded with Corinthian columns, and it will be 50ft in diameter. The height of the dome from the ground floor will be 100ft. The erection of the buildings will take at least two years from the time that the contract is let. The designer was to be allowed several months to prepare the working plans. The public need not look forward to the completion of the new courts immediately. However expeditiously they may be built, they will not he finished before they are neededhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198573806`LAW COURTS SCANDAL'Board of inquiry hears that Arthur G Johnson an officer of the Public Works Department sketched a proposal for the law courts then out for competition and sent it on to his best professional friend of 19 years outside of the department, A L Smith, who worked it up as the prize winning entry. Johnson claimed no pecuniary interest…stated he had submitted to Wardell's instructions over the years and did so when asked to report on the competition entries…until 1866 PWD officers could do freelance work…he had worked with A L Smith on a number of projects including the `artistic side' of the Eastern market 3 years hence with no payment. Johnson had studied the new Westminster Courts as an example that could be adapted for Melbourne…Wardell had received 17 February 1873 a request from the Institute of Architects that no PWD officer aid in the competition entries.. Wardell stated that he did not believe Johnson acted corruptly. Law Courts evolved from rough plans from the Solicitor General developed by Wardell assisted by Johnson- this design did not resemble the winner..see also https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5865927 John James Clark gives evidence, termed as a draftsman and clerk of works with the PWD.and https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5854485 JJ Clark accused by Smith of conspiring with Reed & Barnes over Law Courts design.1878https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220443055The Law Courts.The select committee of the House of Assembly, appointed to inquire into the circumstances attending the signing of the contract for the erection of the new Supreme Court buildings, met on Tuesday, at the Parliament-houses. Present: Messrs. Richardson (chairman), Dixon, Langridge, Bosisto, A. K. Smith, Zox, and MacBain. Mr. John James Clark, architect of the Public Works Department, recalled, handed in several schedules prepared by him by request, and explained that the list, attached to the conditions issued to competitors, provided for eight courts and ninety-nine rooms. The accepted plans contained a provision for eight courts, and ninety-nine rooms, a more extended accommodation being given to messengers and others, and to the library. There was no provision for a strong-room or lock-up. A plan was prepared by the architects and submitted, in September, 1873, and this was the one carried out. ... The responsibility for the alterations rested with the architect, as Mr. Wardell and the Minister, in a minute written by the former and endorsed by Mr. Fraser, re fused to formally authorise them. Mr. Wardell cautioned the Minister against sending the plans back to Mr. Smith, as sanctioning the alterations, but Mr. Fraser directed that it should be done in any case1880https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5980643THE MELBOURNE LAW COURTS.TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.Sir,-Referring to the letter of Messrs Pearson and Downie, contractors, in your issue of Tuesday, re new law courts buildings, we notice an allusion to some defect that occurred in the stone vaulting of arcades to the William street front and almost in the same sentence connecting the failure with the author of the design. We, as the designers of the new law courts, feel called on to point out that the stone vaulting in question is entirely associated with the Public Works department, as our design for the same vaulting was described to be executed in brick and cement. By your inserting the above we shall feel obliged —Yours &c.,SMITH and JOHNSON, Architects. Western Market Buildings, Dec. 9.1936https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244884478State of the Melbourne law courts 1936`Melbourne Law Courts, one of the most sedately impressive examples of Ionic and Corinthian architecture in the Commonwealth, are suffering from financial starvation. Exterior and interior walls are crumbling and cracking; downpipes corroded by nature and neglect, are in a deplorablecondition...Maintenance of the Law Courts is a most costly and difficult problem.But when one considers that they were completed in 1884 at a cost of about £310,000, and are valued today at £2 million (site included), it follows that justice cannot be done without an adequate maintenance fund...'Noting also that `In style, Melbourne Law Courts have much in common with the historic Four Courts, Dublin, which were blown up in the 1922 "Battle of the Four Courts."
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 110143 | 1 PDF : 2,498 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |