Waiting for trial
This is the original holding cell where people were held before trial. The two long benches, on each side of the wall, were where they awaited their trials.
In the mid-1970s, during the exodus of boat people from Vietnam, many who got into trouble were held here and you can still see their graffiti on the walls.
A storeroom that tells time
Next to the holding cell was a storeroom, and this is now used to illustrate the evolution of Central Magistracy.
Monkey business
Some of the stories over the years are quite amusing.
For example, in 1916, a monkey caused some disruption in the courtroom during a trial. Far from being an illegal intruder, it was later discovered that the simian visitor actually belonged to Chief Detective Inspector Murison from Central Police Station.
Shoedown
In the middle of the timeline, you will see a drawing of a shoe, suggesting an interesting incident in 1970.
An irate defendant was so upset that he took off one of his shoes and hurled it at the presiding magistrate Arthur Garcia. The court was not amused and the defendant got an additional 6-month sentence for contempt of court. However, the sentence was not imposed by Magistrate Garcia, but by Magistrate Paul Corfe, who valued the dignity of the court.
End of an era
Central Magistracy was decommissioned in 1979, after which it was used as Supreme Court Annex, the International Arbitration Centre, offices for the Immigration Department, and venues for police clubs and associations.
Life in Central Magistracy
At the end of the timeline, you can see a video of former court officers who worked here in the 1960s and 1970s sharing their true stories.