Griffith University Law School students will soon sharpen their mooting skills in a courtroom setting steeped in Queensland’s legal history, with the university acquiring authentic 19th-century Supreme Court furniture for its new CBD campus.
Griffith University Dean of Law Therese Wilson said the Brisbane Supreme Court furniture, which was more than 125 years old, had been gifted to the university ahead of its move to the historic Treasury Building in the CBD in 2027. The relocation will see Griffith’s Business, Law and IT departments shift from the Nathan campus as part of the expansion.
“For a long time, Griffith University wanted more of a footprint in the city, and when the opportunity came up to purchase the 99-year lease in the Treasury Building, it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to expand our city campus,” Professor Wilson said.
“One of the features of the building will be the moot court, which will be a space where students practice their oral advocacy skills and practice for the mooting competitions.
“We have a lot of mooting as part of our course assessment, as well as students having opportunities to participate in competitions, sometimes for course credit and sometimes as extracurricular activities.
“So, it will be wonderful to bring that old heritage, late 19th century Supreme Court furniture into this lovely old heritage building to set up that moot court.”
Professor Wilson said the school learned about the furniture after Her Honour Justice Elizabeth Wilson toured the building and mentioned it was seeking a new home. The pieces had been in storage in Moggill for the past five years, after previously being used in the University of Queensland’s moot court.
“A Supreme Court committee of very passionate judges and lawyers had been formed to determine the future of the furniture, and they, and the Attorney-General’s department were really keen to see an appropriate home for that furniture,” Professor Wilson said.
“I feel like all the planets aligned. We were about to set up this moot court in a heritage building and this beautiful heritage furniture became available.
“UQ were very generous and happy to gift it to us. We now have it in our own storage facility with our other heritage furniture from the building ready to be installed.
“The plan is for us to be in the Treasury building in 2027. So, by 2027, it should all be installed and ready and available for public viewing as well.
“Like any university campus, the Treasury will be open to the public. Members of the public will be able to come and see the moot court.
“We think of it as a recreation of the original old Brisbane Supreme Court.”
Professor Wilson said moving the school to the inner city was an exciting opportunity.
“We are very excited about being in the CBD, the proximity to the courts and the legal profession, the enhanced opportunities to be able to bring lawyers onto campus to interact with our students,” she said.
“We think it will be amazing in terms of our students getting a good sense, right from the beginning of their degree of being legal professionals in training.
“We already have a presence across the river in South Bank, where we have the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, the Queensland College of Art, and the Film School. So, they’re part of what will be our expanded city presence and then across the bridge we bring it all together with the Treasury Building now as part of our campus as well.
“But obviously we have lots of great learning spaces in there for our lectures, for our workshops, where law students will be able to come and enjoy the beautiful environment of this heritage building while they study law.”
Professor Wilson said the Law School was looking forward to welcoming members of the legal profession into the new city campus, strengthening connections with the profession and creating valuable learning and networking opportunities for students.
“We look forward to inviting members of the profession to experience and enjoy the thoughtful recreation of this significant courtroom.”
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