role as a focus for the cultural life of the Swan River Colony. The building, now referred to as the Old Court House, was called into service intermittently between 1856-1863 as an emergency immigration depot. In 1863 following repairs and alterations the building was once again utilised as a court house, this time for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court occupied the building from 1863 until September 1879, when the Supreme Court relocated to new premises in the remodelled former Commissariat Store, a short distance from the old Court House in Stirling Gardens. From 29 July 1905 until 1965 the building was used by the Arbitration Court. Minor changes were made to the building in 1921. On 14 October 1966, following renovations to the building which included a new shingled roof, the Law Society of Western Australia was granted use of the building for its official premises. In 1974, a Law Museum was established in the building. In 1985 the Law Society relocated its offices and the building underwent internal refurbishment to reconstruct its appearance as the Arbitration Court of 1905. In 1987, the Francis Burt Legal Education Centre was established in the building. Current use The Old Court House currently houses the Old Court House Law Museum, operated by the Law Society of Western Australia, which focuses on the history of the law, legal issues and the legal profession in Western Australia. Heritage value The Old Court House was entered into the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage Commission in October 1980 and classified by the National Trust of Australia (WA) in February 1978. On 14 February 2003 it was placed on the permanent state heritage register. Further reading Western Australia, An Architectural Heritage Williams, A.E., Williams Pioneer Publications, Perth, Western Australia, 1979 Building a State, The Story of the Public Works Department of Western Australia 1829-1985 Le Page, J.S.H, Water Authority of Western Australia, 1986 Supreme Court & Gardens, Conservation Plan (Heritage and Conservation Professionals) prepared for the Department of Contract and Management Services on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, September 1998 The Old Courthouse Perth, Conservation Plan (Brady, Wendy & Smith, Ross) for the Building Management Authority of Western Australia, 1992 Notes References External links Landmarks in Perth, Western Australia State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Perth Courthouses in Perth, Western Australia Museums in Perth, Western Australia Law enforcement museums