The Metropolitan Children’s Court was established in 1911, when the Children’s Court moved to Albion Street, Sydney from Ormond House. The courthouse also housed the Metropolitan Shelter for Boys. The Metropolitan Children’s Court was criticised for overcrowding, its poor location and facilites and on 29 April 1983 it closed when the Bidura Children’s Court opened in Glebe.
Surry Hills Children’s Court holds records of the Metropolitan Children’s Court and can be approached to gain access. Please note that this series of records is incomplete.
In many instances, especially in the case of smaller Courts, the depositions of proceedings in Children’s Courts are interfiled with the adult depositions. There are, however, several designated Children’s Courts in NSW: Bidura Children’s Court at Glebe (in Sydney’s inner west); Cobham Children’s Court at Werrington (in Sydney’s far west); Worimi Children’s Court at Broadmeadow (Newcastle); Minda Children’s Court at Lidcombe (in Sydney’s west); Campsie Children’s Court at Campsie (in Sydney’s south west); and Yasmar Children’s Court at Haberfield (in Sydney’s inner west).
The records listed do not constitute the full extent of the records available. Those listed are the records which appear in the Concise Guide to the State Archives. Since the Guide was last updated it is possible that additional records have been deposited with State Records of New South Wales. In addition, records are still held by the Courts themselves. As all requests for information must be directed through the Clerk of the relevant Court, current information about holdings will be available from the Court.
