Category Archives: Courts
Supreme Court 1828 – 1831
In 1819 Thomas Bigge had been sent to New South Wales by Lord Bathurst to examine the effectiveness of transportation as a deterrent to felons. He was to investigate all aspects of the operation of the Colony, including the judicial … Continue reading
Supreme Court 1824 – 1828
May 1824 was a significant month in the evolution of the administration of justice in Van Diemen’s Land. After 20 years of being a dependency of the colony of New South Wales, the first step towards independence was about to … Continue reading
Prelude to the creation of the VDL Supreme Court
From the early 1600s to 1782 Britain was able to send criminals to its colonies in America. However, the War of Independence put an end to that arrangement and the Government found itself in need of an alternative destination to … Continue reading
Magistrates – 1803-1824
The background to the operation of the justices of the peace in Van Diemen’s Land goes back to 1787 and the First Charter of Justice for the Colony of New South Wales. This document provided that Justices in New South … Continue reading
Vice Admiralty Court 1787-1812
In 1787 the First Charter of Justice provided for the establishment of courts of justice in the Colony of New South Wales to deal with criminal and civil matters. In addition to the Letters Patent issued to set up these … Continue reading
Posted in Courts, NSW
Tagged Andrew Miller, Arthur Phillip, Francis Grose, Henry Brewer, Henry Waterhouse, John Hunter, Richard Atkins, Robert Ross
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Governor’s Court 1814-1823
The Second Charter of Justice abolished the Civil Court of Judicature in the Colony of New South Wales and, by Letters Patent 4 February 1814, established three new civil courts, two in New South Wales and a third in Van … Continue reading
Lieutenant Governor’s Court Van Diemen’s Land 1815-1823
In July 1812 the House of Commons published the Report of the Select Committee on Transportation; The Committee had been set up to inquire into the effectiveness of sentences of transportation and other matters in the Colony of New South … Continue reading
Court of Criminal Jurisdiction 1788-1823
From 1788 to 1823 criminal cases in the Colony of New South Wales were heard in the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Established through the First Charter of Justice as a court of record, its powers and functions were regulated by … Continue reading
Court of Civil Jurisdiction 1788-1814
When the British flag was unfurled at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip proposed toasts to the King, the royal family and the success of the Colony of New South Wales, a penal settlement primarily created to … Continue reading
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