Supreme Court Building

The Queensland Supreme and District Courts initially served the needs of the entire colony of Queensland but did not occupy a purpose-built building until one was constructed by Petrie in 1879. With the population and economy of Queensland steadily growing, the need for new accommodation for the courts could no longer be ignored. At the time of separation in 1859, the site currently occupied by the Brisbane City Hall had been reserved for the new courthouse.

The first Colonial Architect Charles Tiffin had prepared ‘dignified and imposing’ plans for this site, however, this expensive proposal was not pursued. By 1874, a more modest proposal was favoured. The site of the original Convict's Hospital & Surgeon's Quarters in George Street had become available for redevelopment because of the relocation of the Brisbane Hospital to Herston in 1867. The task of designing a courthouse for this site was entrusted to Tiffin’s successor, colonial architect FDG Stanley, who designed an elaborate neoclassical building with three arcaded wings in the shape of a T which radiated from a central tower.

The design was well received but was still too costly until Petrie worked with the Government to value manage the design and be awarded the contract to construct the building in 1875 for £33,000. Construction finished on 6 March 1879, when the old court was then moved from the old convict Prisoner's Barracks in Queen Street.

This magnificent building was unfortunately seriously damaged by an arsonist in 1968 and was subsequently demolished in 1976. Demolition was favoured as it allowed for Adelaide Street that terminated at George Street to be continued through to North Quay. A new Supreme Court was constructed on the same albeit smaller site in 1976 and operated there until the Government sold the site in 2013 and the court demolished to make way for Shayher's Brisbane Quarter development in 2015.

Client: Queensland Government Year: 1879