A HISTORIC Mount Gambier landmark will receive a $60,000 facelift to conserve its exterior, with its pink dolomite walls dating back to 1864.
The Old Mount Gambier Courthouse, which remains in close proximity to both the Mount Gambier Police Station and modern courthouse on Bay Road, is one of eight historical state properties to share $500,000 from the SA Heritage Grants Program.
The heritage-listed site joins the iconic Glencoe Woolshed – which has received a $10,000 state grant – as beneficiaries of a joint decision by the State Government and National Trust of South Australia to redirect the six-figure sum previously earmarked for the refurbishment of Ayers House on North Terrace into multiple projects.
Mount Gambier National Trust branch chair Nathan Woodruff said the funding came at a perfect time, with external maintenance a growing priority.
“The trust can now look after the building while using the funds we have raised for events and presenting the building’s history to the community,” Mr Woodruff said.
“Hopefully funds can help take care of a few headaches and hassles which are involved with looking after a building over 150 years old.”
Officially opened in 1865, the building served as the region’s district courthouse until the transition to the newer court premises started over 1974/75.
The National Trust was granted use of the building as a public museum in 1975.
“The height and the way the building has been constructed is iconic of the era and how they used visual elements as a deterrent,” Mr Woodruff said.
“The front of the building has the windows stoned-in and there are signs that you just did not want to end up in there.”
With plans of weddings, further bus tours and live music performances planned, Mr Woodruff said the trust also wanted to encourage schools to use the contemporary facility for classroom learning.
“We aimed to hold mock trials in early years but that has since dropped off,” he said.
“We would like to rejuvenate the idea into a package which could be delivered to schools in the region.
“We want to make use of the courthouse’s history but still teach things which are very much relevant today.”
Diversifying its uses, Mr Woodruff said the courthouse will be used in the upcoming Fringe Festival Mount Gambier for a second time this year.
“Last year we lit the site up in blue and this year we will be hosting bush poetry featuring writer Adam Lindsay Gordon’s work,” the branch chair said.
“The two poets presenting the poetry said they loved it as a venue because of the way the court chamber was laid out and they could be in and among the public while presenting.”
Branch vice chair Willie Davidson said it was not only important, but essential the building continued to be maintained.
“This building is the only heritage-listed building open to the public in Mount Gambier,” Mr Davidson said.
“We are preserving something the public has full access to, along with their children and grandchildren.”
“As it is open to the public, it does have to meet certain parameters of safety, so we do need to continue up-keeping, while ensuring the building stays as original as possible.”
Believing Mount Gambier had already lost too much of its heritage, secretary and treasurer Neville Moody said he hoped people could see value in the old courthouse, unlike the original Mount Gambier Hospital.
“The old hospital is a classic example and it was the ‘heritage’ building in Mount Gambier, but nobody could see the value in it,” he said.
“Posts always come up on Facebook of it and everybody always says what a shame it was to lose it.
“Australia has a very short history as far as buildings go and if we keep demolishing them, we are never going to have historical buildings.”
Mr Moody said the building was particularly important as court cases heard in the building were attached to parts of how law, culture and morals had changed in Australia.
“Some of the stories, people would shake their head at today,” he said.
“There was a girl who was put in jail for a couple of days because she left her employer without a few weeks’ notice.
“We do not wish to change the building in any way, so we have to come up with ideas on ways we can use the space to its best ability.”
Mr Moody said the branch was grateful to have received funding and believed it was due to the site now being owned by the trust.
“We believed one of the funding issues was, because the government previously owned the building; it was hard to get funding,” he said.
“At the moment top priorities surrounding exterior work include painting, woodwork, verandah post replacement and fixing overflowing box gutters.
“There are also serious water issues and significant problems with the ceiling in the main court chamber and judge’s room which also need attention.”
