AGY-4822 | Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions

Full description

Courts of General and Quarter Sessions were formalised in New South Wales in 1824 under the provisions of an Act for the Better Administration of Justice in New South Wales, 1823. (4 Geo.IV c.96). Records indicate that a similar, informal system of justice existed before that date.

Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions was held at the Court House, Sydney until 1 February, 1842 when all future Quarter Sessions for the Town and District of Sydney were directed to be held in the New Court House, at Darlinghurst (1). Records indicate that the Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions may have become known variously as Sydney and/or Darlinghurst Court of General and Quarter Sessions.

Initially there was no district structure of the Court which met as required to hear less serious criminal matters

In 1858 (2) the Courts of General and Quarter Sessions were arranged into districts. The Sydney Court was placed in the Sydney Division, comprising the Sydney Police District (city and metropolitan). An alteration to the Districts, creating six new Districts, occurred in 1861 (3) when Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions was placed in successive districts of Metropolitan and Coast District; Metropolitan and Hunter District; Metropolitan, Suburban and Hunter District until 1902 and finally the Metropolitan District from 1903 until 1973.

The dates of hearings at the Sydney Court were proclaimed in the NSW Government Gazette.

The court ceased on 1 July 1973 when Courts of General and Quarter Sessions were abolished and the district courts took on the Criminal as well as the civil jurisdiction. The Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions became a court in the District Court Criminal and Special Jurisdiction, Sydney and Central Division.

Endnotes:
(1) NSW Government Gazette 1 February, 1842 p.198.
(2) NSW Government Gazette 9 December, 1858 pp.2173-2174.
(3) NSW Government Gazette 16 July, 1861 p.1531.

Reference:
Law Almanac, NSW Government Printer. 1882-1973
Government Gazette, NSW Government Printer. 1832-1973