AGY-4337 | Central Police Office Court of Petty Sessions (1832-1947) Central Court of Petty Sessions (1947-1982)

Full description

The Central Police Office Court of Petty Sessions was created on 30 September 1832 under Section 17 of 'An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws for the Transportation and Punishment of Offenders in New South Wales, and for defining the respective powers and authorities of General Quarter Sessions, and of Petty Sessions; and for determining the Places at which the same shall be holden; and for better regulating the Summary Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace; and for repealing certain Laws and Ordinances relating thereto' (Act 3 William IV No.3). (1) The Court of Petty Sessions replaced the Sydney Bench of Magistrates.

From 3 October 1888 the Central Police Office Court of Petty Sessions was temporarily transferred from George Street Sydney to the Oddfellows Hall that had recently completed in Castlereagh Street Sydney and was known as the Temporary Central Police Office. This arrangement continued during the erection of new premises for the Central Police Office in Liverpool Street. (2) Court proceedings commenced in its new permanent building known as the New Central Police Office from 1 September 1892. (3)

From 1 July 1947 the Court was renamed Central Court of Petty Sessions. (4) 

The Central Court of Petty Sessions, within the Metropolitan Petty Sessions District, was abolished under the Justices Act 1902 (Act No.27, 1902) on 31 July 1982 and its records were to be removed to the Court of Petty Sessions, 302 Castlereagh Street, Sydney on that date. (5)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.31, 3 October 1832, p.318; Act 3 William IV No.3 s.17.
2. NSW Government Gazette No.595, 18 September 1888, p.6559.
3. NSW Government Gazette No.609, 26 August 1892, p.6906.
4. NSW Government Gazette No.72, 13 June 1947, p.1380.
5. NSW Government Gazette No.113, 27 August 1982, p.3913.