Beverley Courthouse 1897-2019
Until 1897, there was no courthouse in Beverley - all court proceedings took place in York.
Prior to 1861 when Police Constable Thomas Edwards was posted to Beverley, the Police made weekly patrols from York. By 1869 a new police station was built on Hunt Road. In 1911, the Police Station and Quarters provided for two families, the police station office, lock-up and exercise yard, and stables and continued their functions until the new Police Station was built at a different site in 1983.
The Beverley Courthouse was constructed in 1897 with the Northam contractor SS Leonard utilising local stone, for a contract cost of £1891.
Courthouse was attended by the Resident Magistrate from York and local Justices of the Peace. It held court every second Tuesday of the month. In 1946, the duties of Clerk of Courts included Commonwealth Savings Bank Agency and the Beverley Districts Lands Department and registrar.
In 1988 the site of the Courthouse was subdivided from the former Police Station and Quarters.
Beverley Courthouse was designed in the Federation Free Classical style by George Temple Poole who also designed the original Beverley Post Office (1892-1914 demolished) (No.9), and the 1894 Beverley School (No.3).
George Temple Poole was appointed by the British government as a supervisor for the Public Works department in 1885, he became head of department in 1889, then assistant-engineer-in-chief and Principal Architect, Western Australia in a period of rapid urban development during the gold boom. He designed a 'series' of public buildings that contributed to the development of the Australian architectural response to environment and circumstances, providing a unifying style to the public buildings as government established its presence throughout Western Australia. He was a prominent Freemason, Anglican and member of the Weld Club, an important member of the Perth establishment.
The Beverley Courthouse was the principle building in the view of law and order and a prominent building in a town making a bold civic statement. It is built of local stone to a standard design, that is the same as nearby towns of Northam and Toodyay (both brick constructions).
The former Beverley Court House, in association with the Police quarters are recognised as a place of State significance on the Western Australian Heritage Council’s Register of Heritage Places.
Prior to 1861 when Police Constable Thomas Edwards was posted to Beverley, the Police made weekly patrols from York. By 1869 a new police station was built on Hunt Road. In 1911, the Police Station and Quarters provided for two families, the police station office, lock-up and exercise yard, and stables and continued their functions until the new Police Station was built at a different site in 1983.
The Beverley Courthouse was constructed in 1897 with the Northam contractor SS Leonard utilising local stone, for a contract cost of £1891.
Courthouse was attended by the Resident Magistrate from York and local Justices of the Peace. It held court every second Tuesday of the month. In 1946, the duties of Clerk of Courts included Commonwealth Savings Bank Agency and the Beverley Districts Lands Department and registrar.
In 1988 the site of the Courthouse was subdivided from the former Police Station and Quarters.
Beverley Courthouse was designed in the Federation Free Classical style by George Temple Poole who also designed the original Beverley Post Office (1892-1914 demolished) (No.9), and the 1894 Beverley School (No.3).
George Temple Poole was appointed by the British government as a supervisor for the Public Works department in 1885, he became head of department in 1889, then assistant-engineer-in-chief and Principal Architect, Western Australia in a period of rapid urban development during the gold boom. He designed a 'series' of public buildings that contributed to the development of the Australian architectural response to environment and circumstances, providing a unifying style to the public buildings as government established its presence throughout Western Australia. He was a prominent Freemason, Anglican and member of the Weld Club, an important member of the Perth establishment.
The Beverley Courthouse was the principle building in the view of law and order and a prominent building in a town making a bold civic statement. It is built of local stone to a standard design, that is the same as nearby towns of Northam and Toodyay (both brick constructions).
The former Beverley Court House, in association with the Police quarters are recognised as a place of State significance on the Western Australian Heritage Council’s Register of Heritage Places.