A $687,000 facelift for Courthouse

Narrabri’s historic courthouse is to receive a $687,000 facelift, the biggest upgrade for decades.

Work to be done will improve fire safety, security and a general restoration.

Narrabri’s is one of seven courthouses across the Barwon electorate to be funded from the NSW Government’s $9 million investment in fast tracking the delivery of courthouse and corrections facility upgrades across regional NSW.

“Carrying out renovations during the period of reduced court sittings in place to help manage the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic makes sense because fewer disruptions mean the work can be completed faster,” said NSW Attorney General Mr Speakman said.

The imposing Narrabri courthouse is one of the town’s very few colonial era buildings, officially described as ‘a Victorian Free Classical’ public building.

The courthouse dates from 1888.

Monthly court hearings were held in the famed Greyhound Inn before Narrabri had a courthouse.

In 1863, a Court of Petty Sessions had been established in Narrabri. A courthouse, lock up and police quarters were completed in 1865 to a design by colonial architect James Barnet.

By the 1880s, it was decided that the original 1865 courthouse was inadequate for the needs of Narrabri.

A new courthouse was commissioned in 1886, designed by Barnet and built by FA King in 1886-88 at a cost of £3,245.

The original courthouse continued to be used as a public office, Clerk of Petty Sessions and the Police Office. The building is now used as the Office of the Clerk of the Court.

Later additions designed by Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon were made in 1911 by the local builder AJ Hulbert.

Further additions and alterations were made in the 1960s and 1980s.