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Under the Australian Courts Act of 1828, the Governor had the power to establish courts lower than the Supreme Court, to deal with minor criminal and civil cases. Governor George Arthur used this act to establish a system of Police Magistrates. In this way, the Magistracy Departments developed as part of the growing police establishment. Soon there was a Chief and Assistant Police Magistrate in Hobart and in charge of each Police district.
In the 1890s, the Departments became one Department. However, following the Civil Service Act in 1900, nine magistrates from different localities claimed to be Departmental heads and after that there was more than one Magisterial Department.
Police Magistrates were full time salaried officials. In addition, there were part time honorary magistrates also known as Justices of the Peace.
