The present Supreme Court building began life as the Local and Insolvency Court, with construction starting in 1866 and finishing in 1869. It is built mainly in Tea Tree Gully stone from a design by Colonial Architect Robert Thomas. It has a three-arched entrance with Ionic columns standing on the first floor balcony.

The Local and Insolvency Court in fact was first housed in the Local Court situated south of this building and facing King William Street. It then occupied this building, but in turn, this building then became the Supreme Court because the judges wanted more imposing premises! The builders were Brown and Thompson who also built the General Post Office.

The side photograph shows a more modern and unsympathetic five-storey building at the rear which houses the Supreme Court library.

 

Adelaide Then & Now – Bernard Whimpress/Adam Lee (Axiom Australia 2008)