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Court celebrates without icy champagne

Juru man Ross Randal performed a smoking ceremony outside the Bowen courthouse this morning. Photo: Matt Dunn

There was no champagne on ice for today’s history-making, combined ceremonial sitting to celebrate the Supreme Court’s 150th anniversary in Bowen, but there was back in 1882.

After a smoking ceremony by Juru man Randal Ross, members of the judiciary, including from the District and Magistrates Courts, legal profession and North Queensland community gathered inside the historic courthouse to share stories about the establishment of the court, the building and the area’s past.

Her Honour Chief Justice Helen Bowskill told the court that Justice Pope Alexander Cooper was the second Northern Judge appointed for Bowen, and also the first Australian-born judge to be appointed to the bench in Queensland.

“And at 36, the youngest judge ever appointed,” Her Honour said. “Apparently his grandfather had been transported to Australia as a convict in 1813.

“It has been said that his good looks, style of dress and taste for good living earnt him the reputation of a ‘swell’ and he came into conflict with the government over the alleged extravagance of his circuit expenses as the Northern Judge.

“Among his alleged extravagances was an insistence on always having a plentiful supply of ice to cool his champagne which was said to be indispensable to judicial administration.

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“I think I could welcome that argument. Although I did wonder where did he get and keep all that ice in this tropical climate.”

Justice Pope was appointed after the first Northern judge, Justice Edmund Sheppard, sadly died on leave in 1882, before being able to sit in the courthouse.

However the Bowen Supreme Court was formally opened before Justice Sheppard on 21 October, 1874.

“It was such a significant event that a public holiday was proclaimed on 24 October to celebrate its opening,” the Chief Justice said. “Sadly I have not been able to arrange a public holiday for us this week.”

Initially the Court sat in the police magistrate’s building as North Queensland battled to secure its own suitable building.


The historic Bowen Courthouse today.

The construction of the courthouse was started in 1879 and was completed and ready to occupy in 1881. The building was designed to be dual purpose with the Northern Supreme Court – facing Herbert Street – and the Bowen Post Office and state government offices facing Williams Street.

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By 1889, Justice Cooper was spending almost half of his time on circuit, much of it in Townsville, as the population grew further north and north-west following gold discoveries.

The dwindling population and unreliable port in Bowen as well as the booming growth in Townsville prompted an new Act in 1889 and the Northern Court was moved to Townsville.

“Townsville has continued to be the centre of the Northern Region and the home of the Northern Judge. Since 2011 the very aptly named Justice North.”

Justice North addressed the court as did the Chief Judge and Chief Magistrate.

Mr Ross provided a welcome to the bench from the bar table and provided “understanding” from his people about country and their laws.

“Look back if you want to go forward,” he said, also showing the court a ceremonial sword that was 200 years old.

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Queensland Law Society President Rebecca Fogerty thanked Mr Ross for that comment, saying “that is something we share”.

“Our system of law, by definition, also looks to the past as its method of giving meaning to the present and the future.”

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