The ACT Magistrates Court originated from rather humble beginnings as the Court of Petty Sessions. The Court was established in 1930 becoming the Territory's first court with Acton House the Territory's first courthouse.Prior to the Court’s opening in November 1930, Territorians were forced to travel inter-state to Queanbeyan, Goulburn or Cooma to have their legal matters heard. Such an arrangement, according to the Solicitor-General and Secretary to the Attorney-General’s Department of the day, Sir Robert Garran, was far from ideal and “full of legal pitfalls”.Under the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 State or Federal Courts had jurisdiction to settle legal disputes arising within the Territory. Due to the small number of matters that went before the Police Court in Queanbeyan and the District Court this situation initially worked well though eventually issues arose concerning the length of time it took to travel from Canberra to Queanbeyan - or with respect to serious criminal cases, to Goulburn or Cooma - as well as the expense that such travel entailed. Resolving these problems would - in part - eventually result in the creation of court facilities in Canberra.Source: This is an extract from the company's own website.
The ACT Magistrates Court originated from rather humble beginnings as the Court of Petty Sessions. The Court was established in 1930 becoming the Territory's first court with Acton House the Territory's first courthouse.Prior to the Court’s opening in November 1930, Territorians were forced to travel inter-state to Queanbeyan, Goulburn or Cooma to have their legal matters heard. Such an arrangement, according to the Solicitor-General and Secretary to the Attorney-General’s Department of the day, Sir Robert Garran, was far from ideal and “full of legal pitfalls”.Under the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 State or Federal Courts had jurisdiction to settle legal disputes arising within the Territory. Due to the small number of matters that went before the Police Court in Queanbeyan and the District Court this situation initially worked well though eventually issues arose concerning the length of time it took to travel from Canberra to Queanbeyan - or with respect to serious criminal cases, to Goulburn or Cooma - as well as the expense that such travel entailed. Resolving these problems would - in part - eventually result in the creation of court facilities in Canberra.Source: This is an extract from the company's own website.
The ACT Magistrates Court originated from rather humble beginnings as the Court of Petty Sessions. The Court was established in 1930 becoming the Territory's first court with Acton House the Territory's first courthouse.Prior to the Court’s opening in November 1930, Territorians were forced to travel inter-state to Queanbeyan, Goulburn or Cooma to have their legal matters heard. Such an arrangement, according to the Solicitor-General and Secretary to the Attorney-General’s Department of the day, Sir Robert Garran, was far from ideal and “full of legal pitfalls”.Under the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 State or Federal Courts had jurisdiction to settle legal disputes arising within the Territory. Due to the small number of matters that went before the Police Court in Queanbeyan and the District Court this situation initially worked well though eventually issues arose concerning the length of time it took to travel from Canberra to Queanbeyan - or with respect to serious criminal cases, to Goulburn or Cooma - as well as the expense that such travel entailed. Resolving these problems would - in part - eventually result in the creation of court facilities in Canberra.Source: This is an extract from the company's own website.