Hartley Courthouse

Hartley Historic Site

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Overview

Providing a rare vivid glimpse into Australia’s colonial past, Hartley Courthouse is the perfect venue for history buffs, or for those just looking for a venue hire option with a uniquely historic flavour.

Where
44 Old Great Western Highway, Hartley, NSW, 2790 - in Hartley Historic Site
Venue is suitable for
Arts and cultural events, private party or function and wedding ceremonies
Capacity
Maximum people: 40
The venue can hold 40 people for indoor events and 100 people for outdoor events.
Facilities
Picnic tables, carpark, toilets
Fees

$850 for use of the internal building, including a rehearsal day on either side. Outdoor wedding ceremonies are $375 for a 3 hour booking.

Availability
Available to hire 7 days a week except 25 and 31 December, and 1 January.
Venue not available for exclusive hire
The space outside the front of the courthouse is available for non-exclusive hire only. The internal courthouse building can be hired exclusively.
Bookings
Bookings are required. To make a booking or for more information contact Hartley Visitor Centre.
Other Information
  • The outdoor space in front of the courthouse can be hired for non-exclusive events such as wedding ceremonies.
  • The courthouse building can be hired exclusively for wedding ceremonies and events.

Hartley Courthouse was designed by colonial architect Mortimer Lewis in the Grecian Revival style. Still largely intact and constructed solidly of locally quarried sandstone, it’s an imposing building, as it was designed to be, and provides an impressive backdrop to any wedding or special event.

The building’s 3 doorways provided entrances for prisoners, the public and magistrates, and today, visitors can explore the cellblock that housed prisoners and convicts. Many notorious bushrangers and cattle thieves were kept here inside these cells, with their bars and bolts still in position. You can just imagine the thoughts of men that were once used to roaming the country being locked up tight in this remote prison.

As the convict system faded into history, and Hartley was bypassed by the new railway, the need for a courthouse here diminished. Benefits were held in this grand old building during World War II, and nowadays you and your guests can wander through this historic building, celebrating your special day while contemplating Australia’s vivid colonial past.

For directions, safety and practical information, see venue info

Nearby

  • St Bernards Church and churchyard, Hartley Historic Site. Photo: John Spencer

    St Bernards Church

    Take a tour or arrange a wedding at St Bernards Church in Hartley, a lovingly preserved example of colonial sandstone architecture.

  • Family on the porch at Old Trahlee. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

    Old Trahlee

    Old Trahlee offers unique accommodation in a charmingly restored colonial cottage in Hartley Historic Site, at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

  • St Bernard's Presbytery, Hartley Historic Site. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

    St Bernard's Presbytery

    Stay at deluxe St Bernard’s Presbytery cottage for a romantic getaway. Located only 15 minutes from Mount Victoria, it’s the perfect spot to immerse yourself in Hartley Historic Site’s colonial past.

  • Historic Corneys Garage at Hartley Historic Site near Lithgow is now an antique shop. Credit: Cherylin Collier © Cherylin Collier

    Corneys Garage

    Nestled in the heart of Hartley Historic Site is Corneys Garage. Browse through a beautiful selection of antiques, while enjoying an immersive shopping experience near Lithgow.

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/venues/hartley-courthouse/local-alerts

Park info

See more info on the venue

Venue info

All the practical information you need to know about Hartley Courthouse.

Getting there and parking

You'll find Hartley Courthouse on the right as you enter Hartley Historic Site.

Road quality

  • Sealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Gravel street parking is available near Hartley Courthouse.

Facilities

Venue hire inclusions:

  • Courtroom furniture including 12 chairs
  • 1 day of wedding rehearsal in the week prior to the event

Please return the courthouse back to its original state after your event. There may be a fee if excessive waste is left behind, if the building or furniture is damaged, or if significant cleaning is required.

Toilets

There are accessible toilets a 2min walk from the courthouse, behind the Old Post Office building.

  • Flush toilets

Picnic tables

Carpark

Seats and resting points

There are sandstone slabs near the picnic table that can be used as bench seats for resting.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

Hartley Courthouse and the surrounding area is mostly flat. To get in and around the courthouse:

  • There's a long, wide gravel path that leads from the road to the courthouse and around its exterior.
  • The main entrance to the building is a double-door with 2 stone steps leading up to it. The steps don't have handrails.
  • There's a portable ramp that's available on request to help people with reduced mobility access the courthouse. The friendly staff at the visitor centre can assist in setting this up.

Outside the courthouse, there's an accessible picnic table, sandstone benches for resting and interpretive signage. You can reach some of these facilities along the gravel path. Others can be reached by crossing over flat grass.

The nearest accessible toilets are 2min walk away behind the Old Post Office building.

Permitted

Food and drink:

Celebratory drinks and canapes are permitted outside the church only.

Plant materials

Flower arrangements containing no seed material. A florist can arrange this for you on request.

Structures, staging, furniture and amusements

Outdoor events:

  • Weighted free-standing decorative items such as bridal arches, red carpet and columns.
  • 15 chairs with rail-style legs and 3 tables no larger than 3m square

Commercial filming and photography

  • 1 photographer and 1 photographer's assistant, 1 videographer and 1 videographer's assistant
  • Commercial photography and video, including drone use, may be permitted on application. You’ll need a small-scale photography license.

Power, lighting and amplified sounds

Internal power is available. A small public address system may be used.

Pets

You can bring your dog to Hartley Historic Site, but it must be kept on a leash and outside of buildings.

Prohibited

Alterations to the existing internal or external fabric of the building are not permitted:

  • Tacks, nails, florist putty or similar are not to be used as part of any decoration.
  • Please do not attach decorations to the walls
  • Signs associated with your event must not be attached to any NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service asset, including signs, posts or trees.

Confetti, plant materials and rice are not permitted, including:

  • Decorations consisting of flowers or plant materials that contain seeds or vines and exotic plant materials
  • Throwing rice or petals

Candles and open flames are not permitted.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Visitor centre