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Former Essendon Court House

Other Names Moonee Ponds Court House ,  Essendon Historical Society Location cnr Mount Alexander Road & Kellaway Avenue,, MOONEE PONDS VIC 3039 - Property No B3530 File Number B3530 Level State

[1/1] B3530 Former Court House

Statement of Significance

The former Essendon Court House is of State significance as one of an architecturally distinctive group of five suburban court houses erected by the Public Works Department in the late nineteenth century. Dating from 1890 and developed under district architect, S E Bindley, the design includes the traditional form of gabled court room with entrance and flanking service rooms but this has been elaborated upon with bold polychromy and distinctive elements and mouldings. Of particular interest is the entrance arcading of stilted segmental arches and squat corinthian style columns and the main gable treatment with the enriched cornice broken by the gable which is flanked with Tudoresque turrets.
The interior is also important for its decorative elements derived from Tudor architecture which include the large court room fireplace and the fine ceiling with its timber brackets and bossess imitating pendant vaulting. The decorative treatment is of particular interest being linked to the work of William Burgess in England and his contemporaries and to France in the work of Viollet-le-Duc.
Classified: 03/10/1994