Latrobe City Council was thrilled to announce the official opening of Traralgon Court House Heritage Works on Wednesday 31 July, to showcase the preservation and regeneration of the courthouse located at Franklin Street in Traralgon.
Council held the opening event alongside the Friends of the Court House volunteers, to officially exhibit the heritage-listed historical courthouse to the public.
The Traralgon Court House is a historic treasure of Latrobe City. The striking, red-bricked Traralgon Court House and Post Office complex has stood proudly on Franklin Street for 138 years. It remains a staple of local historical pride that locals and visitors alike see frequently while in the bustling heart of Traralgon, despite its numerous transformation and restoration efforts over the years.
As part of the planned works, key maintenance actions were conducted to prevent further deterioration as well as improvements to toilet facilities and building accessibility. This included repainting the main court room with restoration to the original colour, repair of original dormer vents, fixing of damaged cast iron guttering and downpipes, as well as carpet replacement.
Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Councillor Darren Howe, thanked local community group, Friends of the Traralgon Court House, volunteers and local tradespeople for their dedication in restoring and repurposing the Traralgon Court House.
"The Friends of the Traralgon Court House are a hard-working committee who are dedicated to the community. In collaboration with Council, they have achieved so much in the past eight years to sanctify and preserve the cherished Court House historical site," said the Mayor.
"I know so many of the volunteers, past and present, are incredibly proud of what they have achieved for the community and Council is grateful for this.
"Local tourism plays a vital role in boosting the local economy, and we hope to see the Traralgon Court House live on not only as a staple of local history but also as a place where community can find connection and sanctuary."
The Mayor also said Council was proud to support the restoration works, contributing over $600,000 towards the efforts.
"History is just as important as the future. Over the years, the Traralgon Court House has seen many legal hearings, beginning from 1886 during its construction," said the Mayor.
"This includes the Court of Petty Sessions and Magistrates Court, the Children's Court, Insolvency Court, followed by the County Court and Common Law Registry. Finally, in 1982, the Traralgon Court House was registered on the Victorian Heritage Register and has remained a heritage-listed site since then."
As a way of highlighting Victoria's diverse heritage places and the stories and history behind them, the Heritage Council Victoria has commemorated the Traralgon Court House with a Heritage Council plaque. The plaque offers anyone passing by the chance to learn more about the rich heritage of the Traralgon Court House.
The restoration means the Court House has a new life that'll see it become a thriving community hub for many years to come, with the possibility to host weddings and offer a space to showcase the creativity across the region.
The community can already enjoy artwork on display at the Traralgon Court House as part of the Young at Art exhibition, which is open until Saturday 10 August.
