FOSTER COURT HOUSE & POLICE STABLES (FORMER)

The former Foster Court House and police stables, designed by the Public Works Department and constructed in 1889-90, at 33 Station Road, Foster. 
The former Foster Courthouse is based upon a standardised design used by the Public Works Department for small country towns in the late 19th century. The building is in weatherboard with single double hung sashes of domestic scale and form. It has a central gable flanked by lower symmetrical half gable side extensions towards the back of the main courtroom, which would have contained the Judges' room and the Clerk of Court's office. The larger window and former entry to the front has been altered by a recent flat roofed entry with toilets to the sides. In front of this stands a steeply gabled entry porch. A further gabled section has been added at the rear. The building is very basic and exhibits no special features. The former front verandah has unfortunately been lost.

The former Foster Court House and police stables are of local historic significance to South Gippsland Shire.

As the first building in the Shire constructed by the Public Works Department the Court House is highly important in demonstrating both the early importance of Foster as a local commercial centre following the 'gold rush' to this area, as well as the beginnings of government and community facilities in the Shire. As the only surviving evidence of the first police station in Foster, the former stables are important for their ability to further illustrate and assist in interpreting the history of this site. (AHC criteria - A.4, B.2, D.2)