On the Bench: Records of the Lower Courts of NSW

The first Bench of Magistrates convened in Sydney on 19 February 1788. Originally consisting of the Governor, Lieutenant governor and Judge Advocate, the Bench of Magistrates had the authority to decide minor criminal charges and civil matters.

Over the next few decades more magistrates were appointed, and magisterial proceedings became widespread throughout the colony, where they dealt with matters such as breaches of the peace, petty theft, prisoners’ neglect of work, and trivial complaints. In 1832, the Bench of Magistrates was replaced by the Courts of Petty Sessions, although these continued to be known as ‘the bench’.

This webinar explores the bench books held in the NSW State Archives Collection. These wonderful volumes record the minutes of proceedings of various Benches of Magistrates as well as later Courts of Petty Sessions. Capturing everything from small debts claims to the granting of licences and coronial inquests, these books can shed light on local communities and daily life in colonial NSW.