About this objectBuilt in 1882 by Government Architect James Barnet the courthouse served the community for 7 decades before ceasing formal operations in the 1950s.
The Carcoar Court House houses a rare collection of intact and well-preserved court room furniture. The furniture is displayed in situ and is thus well-provenanced. Also contributing to the collection’s provenance, documents held by the CDHS record the protracted but ultimately successful efforts by the Carcoar community and the then Lyndhurst Shire Council to retain the Court House’s furniture and fittings.
This collection is historically significant as it provides evidence for judicial practices during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The furniture remains in very good condition and is an aesthetically pleasing testament to the quality of nineteenth century carpentry. As an integral component of the Court House’s court room, the furniture has remained a focal point for the Carcoar community since its installation. The ongoing social significance of the collection is highlighted by the successful mid-twentieth century campaign for its retention, the display recording its use in the 2004 film Jessica, and its continued use as a local museum display.
The collection is well-provenanced as the components remain on display in their original context and historical documents record the controversy surrounding its retention in situ. As a museum display, the furniture and fittings have significant interpretive potential, both in relation to the evidence for past practices that they provide a valuable physical past experience for visitors of today.
