Collection 1372 - Albury Court House

The Albury District Court was established on 9 December 1858 within the South-Western District, utilising the boundaries of the Albury Police District. (1)

The District Court Act of 1858 (22 Vic No 18) was assented to on 12 November 1858, replacing the Courts of Requests, with jurisdiction in civil cases where the values of the property involved did not exceed £200. (2)

The court performed the function of an intermediate court between the Small Debts and Supreme Courts. Sittings occurred at least twice each year in major country towns, with cases normally heard by a judge, but could include a jury if the amount in dispute exceeded £100. (3)

The District Court Act 1973 (Act No 9, 1973) (4) abolished the existing District Courts and Courts of Quarter Sessions and the District Court was reconstituted as a single Court with both criminal and civil jurisdiction throughout New South Wales. (5)

References
(1) NSW Government Gazette, 9 December 1858, p.2173
(2) NSW Government Gazette, 12 November 1858, p.1899
(3) Official Yearbook of NSW, 1966. pp 380-1
(4) NSW Government Gazette, 8 June 1973, p. 2158
(5) The District Courts Act, 1973 s. 8 and s.9

The Albury Court of Petty Sessions was created on 21 December 1846 under the provisions of s.17 of the Offenders Punishment and Justices Summary Jurisdiction Act of 1832 (3 Wil.IV No.3). (1)

Matters relating to the licensing of premises for the sale of liquor were dealt with by the court until 1 March 1883 when a separate system of licensing courts was established. After 1924 the Court resumed responsibility for routine matters in relation to liquor licensing while Albury Licensing Court (1924 - 1983) and the Licensing Court of New South Wales after 1983 dealt with the more complex licensing issues. (2)

The Albury Court of Petty Sessions was abolished on 31 December 1984 when the Local Courts Act 1982 (Act No.164, 1982) abolished all Courts of Petty Sessions and replaced these with Local Courts. (3)

Endnotes

1. NSW Government Gazette No.106, 22 December 1846, p.1603.
2. Agencies 4001, 4002 and 3835.
3. Local Courts Act 1982 (Act No.164, 1982) s.9; NSW Government Gazette No.178, 21 December 1984, p.6296.

The Albury Court of General and Quarter Sessions was proclaimed on 6 July 1859 with its first? sitting on 8 November 1859. (1) The Court was originally within the boundaries of the Southern District (2) but was transferred to the South-Western Division by 7 July 1862 (3) where it remained until the system of Quarter Sessions was discontinued.

The role of the Court of Quarter Sessions was to hear less serious criminal cases.

The Albury Court of General and Quarter Sessions was abolished on 1 July 1973, along with all Courts of General and Quarter Sessions. The district courts took on the criminal as well as the civil jurisdiction.

References:
(1) NSW Government Gazette 6 July 1859, page 1511
(2) NSW Government Gazette 7 December 1858, page 2173
(3) NSW Government Gazette 15 July 1862, page 1267
(4) NSW Government Gazette