Bega Valley Genealogy Society Inc

A History
Photo courtesy Bega Valley Historical Society Inc
The Bald Hills School - John Bailes, teacher
The Old Pambula Police Station & Court House
The foundation stone for the building of the Court and Watch House at Panbula (as it was then known) was laid on the 28thDecember, 1860. It is the oldest public building in Pambula and the only Court House in the Bega Valley Shire accessible to the public.
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The Police Station, Residence and Lockup were attached to the Court House. Many changes to the floor plan have been made since the building was first erected. The Police Station was closed from 1st January 1979 and the building was repurposed as a Police Residence in 1980.
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The Cell Block replaced the Lockup and was built to the rear of the residence. It remains in its original condition and was built of double red bricks. It has a concrete floor with two cells and an exercise yard. The cells have a high wire covered window and an electric light in a wire protector. They are reached via the exercise yard, which is covered with a metallic mesh roof. A cold and unwelcoming place!
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The original features of the Court Room that was closed in 1984 have been retained - a polished cedar magistrate bench, clerk bench and dock and a marble fireplace. The Commonwealth Coat of Arms hangs behind where the magistrate would sit, and cedar panelled double doors provide entry from outside. After the Police Station was closed the Court House continued to be used for weekly Court of Petty Session hearings until 1984.
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1994 was a significant year for the Court House complex, as the Bega Valley Genealogy Society Inc. became the permanent tenant after having previously been granted a two-year lease of the building in 1992. Following a ‘Save Our Court House’ campaign, initiated by the Genealogy Society, which lobbied for the Court House to remain in public ownership, the Bega Valley Shire Council was made trustees of the complex at a State Government Cabinet meeting in Bega on 24th May, 1994. The Genealogy Society now had an amazing historical building to house their archives – the history of the Bega Valley Shire and beyond.
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The former historic Court House, Police Station and Cell Block were placed on the Register of the National Estate on 30th May 1995 recognising its historical significance.
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Throughout its history the Pambula Court House has been more than just a judicial building to the community of Pambula. It was the only public building in the town in the early days of Pambula and since the Genealogy Society has been the main tenant of the complex this community involvement has continued. Since its establishment the Court House has held church services, auctions, lectures by travelling guest speakers, meetings for community organisations, fund raisers, Genealogy Society meetings and seminars, mock trials by High School legal studies students and band rehearsals. It has also been a Births, Deaths and Marriages registry, a mining warden’s office, an election polling booth, a Registry Office for motor vehicles and issuing of driver’s licences, WW1 recruitment office, granted licences, (for example, stage coaches, fishermen and explosives), issued WW2 ration books and used for music storage.
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status
The Bega Valley Genealogy Society Library Fund is registered with the ATO as a DGR. All donations over $2 are Tax Deductible
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Annual Valley Genealogist Subscriptions to 30 June each Year
The Valley Genealogist is published three times a year (February, June and October) and is free to members and to kindred societies on an exchange basis.