Barraba Courthouse repairs completed

Important repair work completed at heritage-listed Barraba Court House

The future of the historic Barraba Court House located north west of Tamworth is bright after the NSW Government completed $270,000 in remediation work to repair and protect the local landmark from weather damage while maintaining its heritage and character. The Barraba Court House was constructed in 1881 and is believed to be the first commercial brick building in the town. The project, funded by Crown Lands and carried out by JNC Group Indigenous Contractors, used materials that maintained the building’s original character to ensure it kept its heritage appeal.

Upgrade work primarily focused on replacing roof sheeting, gutters, downpipes, fascia, barge boards, eaves boards, verandah posts, and gables with similar materials matching the original building. A new stormwater system was also installed to help protect against water damage.

The Barraba Court House is one of the oldest buildings in Barraba and is a locally heritage-listed site that was a functioning court for many years. It also served as a police residence with an adjoining police station. The court house is one of a small handful of buildings that date back to the town’s gold rush era and has stood the test of time for about 143 years.

The maintenance work carried out by Crown Lands will ensure the building remains weather tight against the elements for years to come, preserving an important piece of local history and giving the Barraba community time to figure out how it wishes to use the site in the future.

Nandewar Historical Society Vice Chair Adrian Hagan said the court house is a rich part of Barraba’s history. “It’s a unique building that contains an old court room, magistrate quarters, two bedrooms and even a few prison cells. When you visit, it’s like stepping back into the past,” Mr Hagan said. “It’s very important this building is maintained. There’s a long way to go but this funding from Crown Land is a great first step and will hopefully see this local gem restored to its former glory.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said Barraba Court House is one the oldest buildings in Barraba and was in need of urgent maintenance. “This work, funded by the NSW Government and carried out by a local Aboriginal contracting firm, will preserve this wonderful piece of Barraba history,” Mr Kamper said. “Crown Land plays a vital role in heritage and environmental conservation as well as providing open space for recreation and land for community buildings.”