200th anniversary of Australia's oldest courthouse

5 December 2022

A commemoration ceremony marking the 200^th year of Windsor Courthouse, Australia’s oldest courthouse, has been held in Windsor today.

The Windsor Courthouse, which sits on the lands of the Darug people, has functioned as a court in the NSW judicial system since 1822.

Attorney General Mark Speakman described the 200-year commemoration as a milestone event.

Mr Speakman said the NSW Government is committed to ensuring the courthouse remains fit for purpose and retains its historic character.

“This building has stood in the centre of the Windsor township for 200 years, as the focal point for the administration of justice in the Hawkesbury valley,” Mr Speakman said.

“When this building first opened in 1822, convicts were still being transported to Australia and Governor Lachlan Macquarie had not long returned to Scotland.

“The courthouse, which was commissioned by Governor Macquarie, was designed by a former convict, architect Francis Greenway, and built by William Cox, using convict labour.

“Francis Greenway designed a number of significant buildings, many of which are still in use today, including Sydney’s Supreme Court King Street building and the Hyde Park Barracks.

“William Cox was also responsible for construction of the road from Sydney to Bathurst and St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor.”

Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston said the courthouse has been upgraded over the years to meet modern justice needs.

“Most recently, the NSW Government has completed upgrades to the existing safe room and remote witness room to help empower domestic and sexual violence survivors and vulnerable witnesses to give their best evidence in court. Additional restoration and landscaping works to preserve the building’s unique heritage have also been carried out over the past month,” Ms Preston said.

“It is wonderful to be here today celebrating and commemorating this moment in time. Windsor Courthouse has stood the test of time, administering justice in our community for more than 200 years and will continue to do so for many more years.”

Note for Editors:

Windsor Courthouse is built in the Georgian style and still has the original cedar joinery from 1822.

It is considered the most complete Greenway design that is still existing.

It was originally constructed for about 1,800 pounds.

Around 1900 a postcard was printed showing Windsor Courthouse, with a message that read: “Well and faithfully put together, like all Macquarie’s work, and still good for many years.”

Download media release: 200th anniversary of Australia's oldest courthouse (PDF, 236.9 KB)