Work to restore the historic Maitland Court House will begin later this month after a $1.1 million upgrade for the site was announced yesterday.
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Included in the project will be a replacement roof, airconditioning upgrade, disability access and fire safety improvements, fixing of internal cracks, repainting and carpeting, landscaping and the replacement of underground pipes.
Work on the left and right wings begins this month with the courthouse to close between November and February to allow major restoration work to be completed.
The court’s sittings will be transferred to East Maitland Court House while Maitland is out of action.
Maitland MP and Environment and Heritage Minister Robyn Parker secured the money for project, with the Department of Environment and Heritage describing Maitland Court House as “an outstanding and grandly designed Federation free classical building”.
Maitland Historical Society member Ruth Trappel said it was fantastic that the government was spending money to preserve the heritage-listed building.
“Absolutely, it really is wonderful that they’ve decided to do this,” Mrs Trappel said.
“To spend that kind of money is very welcome.”
The Maitland Court House was originally planned for the site of Maitland Town Hall but was instead erected in its current location in 1895.
Local historian Peter Bogan said that while Maitland Court House wasn’t the oldest in the area, it had still seen its share of sights.
“The courthouse at East Maitland is older,” Mr Bogan said.
“I suspect a fear of flooding is why they would have moved the site from town hall to where it is now. But in the ’55 flood 90 blokes were trapped in the courthouse and had to be rescued.”