The First Court House

First Courthouse in Ryde

Style

Simple Victorian Rustic Gothic, single storey sandstone

Year started

1863

About The First Court House

The First Court House in Ryde was in use between 1863 and 1923. For a short time in 1879 it was used as the Council Chamber. Since 1923 it has been used by St Anne’s Church.

The Court House was constructed by George Miller Pope and leased to the Justice Department. Pope was an Acting Clerk of the Justice Department in 1863. He became Guardian of Minors, Clerk of Petty Sessions, Deposition Clerk, Justice of the Peace, and later Town Clerk. His family operated the first Ryde Post Office in a building on the north side of this Court House from 1846 until 1905.

The Ryde Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages was attached to the south side of this building. These extensions were demolished in the 1930s and the building is presently used by Young Life Australia, a Christian youth charity.

Location

42 Church Street, Ryde 2112  View Map

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