Edward Braddon Commonwealth Law Courts
Building, Hobart
former Trades Hall
Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts
Source: Environmental Resources Management, 2013
Finance ID
Number
190461038
Commonwealth
Heritage List
(CHL) Place ID
Number
106152
Current Status
(including CHL
Place ID Number)
The former Trades Hall Building is included on the Commonwealth Heritage List
as Edward Braddon Law Courts (Site ID#106152).
The former Trades Hall Building has been identified as an item of State
Significance and is included on the Tasmanian Heritage Register as part of the
Family Court of Australia (former Trades Hall) (Site ID#2259).
While not individually listed as an item of Local Significance, the former Trades
Hall Building is covered by the City of Hobart’s Planning Scheme as amended in
January 2008. The Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts fall within ‘Heritage Area
No. 2’
Ownership
The Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts Building is managed by the Department
Record last updated 15 January 2015 |
1
of Finance on behalf of the Commonwealth.
The current tenants are the Federal Court of Australia, The Family Court of
Australia, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Fair Work Australia.
Location
The Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts Building is located at 39-41 Davey
Street, Hobart, approximately 200 metres south of the Hobart City Centre. The
building is located on Lot 1, Deposited Plan 249737.
Location of Hobart Law Courts
Source: Environmental Resources Management, 2013
Description
The former Trades Hall Building was constructed in the 1840s as a residence for
John Leslie Stewart, and by the 1920s it was occupied by the Trades Hall. It is three
storeys in height and was constructed with Old Hobart brick in the Victorian
Regency style. The brickwork has since been cement rendered with string courses
added to give the appearance of sandstone.
In the 1980s, the former Trades Hall Building was incorporated into the new
Commonwealth Law Courts complex. At this time rear additions to the building
were removed along with all windows, internal walls and floors and the roof. Half
of the western wall was demolished and reconstructed and new reinforced
concrete floors were inserted, along with a new roof supported on new steel
framework. The original entrance stair from Davey Street was removed and an
equitable access ramp was constructed, including some changes to the Davey
Street boundary fence. It is likely that as a result of this redevelopment any
archaeological evidence of former buildings such as the Caretakers Cottage and
Fuel Shed have been destroyed.
Today only, the external brick walls survive as original elements of the building,
along with early masonry and the cast iron fence along Davey Street. There is no
original internal fabric. Stucco was applied to the exterior of the building in the
1920s and this finish remains on the building.
Record last updated 15 January 2015 |
2
South elevation of the former Trades Hall Building with the 1984 Law Court Building to the rear and
immediate right. Source: Environment Resources Management, 2013
Landscape Setting
Despite the extensive changes the former Trades Hall Building retains its earlier
form and its fenestration pattern along the Davey Street façade and provides a
dominant element in the Davey Street streetscape.
View from 41-43 Davey Street and Davey Street
Source: Environment Resources Management, 2013
Heritage Objects
and Collections
The reception features a bronze coat of arms, which was commissioned from
local Hobart artist, Steve Walker in 1984. A coat of arms is also found in the
Hearing Room and Court Room One features a Huon Pine coat of arms.
L to R: Bronze coat of arms by Hobart artist, Steve Walker on the wall behind reception;
and Huon pine coat of arms located in Court Room One.
Source: Environment Resources Management, 2013
Record last updated 15 January 2015 |
3
History and
Summary of Uses
Pre 1788 The stretch of foreshore on which Hobart was built formed part of the
territory of the South East Tribe, who are more specifically known as the
Mouheneener (Austral Archaeology 1996). Little is known of the Mouheneener as
their land was one of the first areas to be occupied by Europeans in the early
nineteenth century when settlement was initially established in Tasmania.
1804 Worried that the French might try to establish a colony on the island
(Tasmania) Governor Philip Gidley King sent Lieutenant John Bowen, with a party
of 49, including 35 convicts, to establish a settlement on the Derwent River.
Late 1804 Hobart town is established. The first recorded interment at St David’s
Park (opposite subject site) is undertaken.
1813 Governor Macquarie commissions surveyor James Meehan to set out a grid
system to aid the development of Hobart. Davey Street (then called Pitt Street) is
marked out at this time. 1827 Hobart is recorded as having a population of 5000.
The port supplies the town with an active whaling and sealing industry. The Port
was used by ships from Europe, China, Batavia, Singapore and the United States.
1830 Sealing trade disappears.
1840 Ship building commences.
1847 Earliest known occupation of the site. John Leslie Stewart is recorded as
occupying Trades Hall building constructed of local brick, running the site as part
of a Brewery complex until 1860.
1863 The building is now owned by millionaire W.J.T Clarke.
1870’s Leasee Alexander Ireland is recorded as using the building to house a
Collegiate school for boys.
1875 The building is owned and occupied by Samuel Travers while he establishes
the Hobart Real Tennis Club on the adjoining parcel of land.
1899 39-41 Davey Street is used as a Girl’s Industrial School.
1900s Use of steam vessels sees demise of Hobart’s ship building industry.
1924 39-41 Davey Street becomes the Trades Hall and a caretakers cottage is
constructed on site for the amount of £ 1,095.
1925 A weatherboard fuel shed was erected on 41 Davey Street for the sum of
£20.
1968 Hobart Trades Hall Council became the Tasmanian Trades and Labour
Council.
Early 1970s Hobart Trades Hall Council moved to new premises.
1974 The Trades Hall is acquired by the Commonwealth Government.
Late 1970’s Plans commence for the construction of the Hobart Law Courts.
Originally these plans included the demolition of the former Trades Hall Building
but intervention by the National Trust provided for its retention.
1980s Construction of the Hobart Law Courts commences changes to the former
Record last updated 15 January 2015 |
4
Trades Hall Building included replacement of the original basement; the roof; the
chimneys; and the western elevation. Figure 3.4 and 3.5 demonstrate the layout of
the building prior to these changes. The current floor plan is shown at Figure 3.6.
1984 Hobart Commonwealth Law Court is opened by Attorney General, Senator
Gareth Evans.
1988 Former Trades Hall Building was included on the Tasmanian Heritage
Register.
2009 Heritage Assessment of Edward Braddon Law Courts undertaken by ERM
identifying potential Commonwealth heritage values.
2011 Edward Braddon Law Courts entered in CHL (Site ID #106152).
Source: Environment Resources Management, 2013
The Trades Hall Building as a Collegiate School.
Source: Environment Resources Management, 2013 –
via Archives Office of Tasmania No date Reference, Number NS1013/1/1747
Statutory Heritage Values
Gazetted
Statement of
Significance Commonwealth
Heritage List
As suggested by the Department of Finance:
Criterion A Processes
The Trades Hall Building component of the Edward Braddon Commonwealth
Law Courts provides an insight into the early commercial development of the
second oldest city in Australia. Externally it retains a number of features that
mark it as an early building that had a range of commercial functions as the
settlement became established.
Criterion B –
Rarity
The Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts do not fulfil this criterion
Criterion C –
Research
The site has been continuously developed since the 1840s. While the former
Trades Hall Building remains, this has been substantially modified internally,
The former Trades Hall component of the Edward Braddon Commonwealth Law
Courts has been assessed as having heritage significance for its historic and
social significance and for its representative architectural values. The former
Trades Hall Building is of importance to the community for its ability to
demonstrate the early commercial development of Hobart town, as an example
of a Victorian Regency commercial building and its townscape contribution.
Record last updated 15 January 2015 |
5
with no archaeological remains surviving on site due to the 1980s phase of
development which involved extensive work in increasing the depth of the
basement. Therefore it is highly unlikely to yield information which would
contribute to our knowledge of the site or the development of Australia.
Criterion D –
Characteristic
Value
The Trades Hall Building component of the Edward Braddon Commonwealth
Law Courts is an example of the Victorian Regency style of architecture. The
integrity of the façade allows the building to continue to be read as an example of
Victorian Regency architecture.
Criterion E –
Aesthetic
characteristics
The former Trades Hall building is valued by the community for its townscape
values and for its ability to demonstrate the principal characteristics of the
Victorian Regency style of architecture. The integrity analysis confirms that the
exterior of the building continues to contain several key indicators of this style of
Australian architecture.
Criterion F –
Technical
achievement
The Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts do not fulfil this criterion
Criterion G – Social The former Trades Hall building is important to the community for its townscape
Value
and architectural values, which contribute to their sense of place. The
importance of the place to the community is reflected in the National Trust’s
involvement in retaining the building through redevelopment of the site.
Criterion H –
Significant people
The Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts do not fulfil this criterion
Criterion I Indigenous
tradition
The Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts do not fulfil this criterion
Source: Environment Resources Management, 2013
Additional information
Property Access
The foyer is publically accessible to the public following a security screening
process.
Consultation
Department of Finance (Finance) consulted with Hobart Commonwealth Law
Courts Building, Building Manager and Hobart City Council, Administration
Officer, Planning Department.
Any additional consultation with other interested parties should include the
Compliance, Environment and Heritage team, Department of Finance.
Conservation
Documents/
References
Environment Resources Management (2013), The Former Trades Hall, Hobart
Commonwealth Law Courts Heritage Management Plan, Department of Finance.
More information
For further information regarding Hobart Commonwealth Law Courts, please
contact the Department of Finance.
Record last updated 15 January 2015 |
6