Burnie Courts Complex Relocation Project
The Burnie Court Complex project will build a new facility at 100-106 Wilson St, featuring one Supreme Court, two Magistrate Courts, and an additional shared court, replacing the outdated current facility.
Project Updates
Enabling works for the Burnie Courts Complex are set for late 2025, with construction starting in early 2026 and completion expected by late 2027.
August 2025: The Department of Justice lodged a development application with Burnie City Council for the new Burnie Courts Complex at 100–106 Wilson Street. This marks a key milestone as the project moves from design into preparation for construction. The application covers the full scope of works, including site layout, building design, and landscaping, ensuring all planning requirements are met before works commence.
June 2025: The project successfully completed the Design Development phase, incorporating feedback from judicial officers, legal professionals, and community stakeholders. Refinements focused on courtroom layouts, public access, security, and technology integration. The project has now entered the Construction Documentation phase, where detailed plans and specifications will be prepared for the main construction tender.
May 2025: Burnie City Council approved demolition and enabling works. The Department of Justice issued a tender for contractors to handle early site preparation including: demolition, earthworks, fencing, and removal of a suspected Underground Petroleum Storage System.
June 2024: Xsquared Architects, were appointed and began the design phase and initiated stakeholder design consultations.
Background
Burnie Courts Relocation
Early 1970s: The building was opened in 1970 by Chief Justice Sir Stanley Burbury. Build by North-West Contractors (Burnie) Pty Ltd the 164-room building was constructed for $800,000. The courtrooms were designed in a round shape, with a circular Supreme Court room and a squared public end. The round design was intended to improve acoustics.
2019: The Department of Justice approved an upgrade to the CBD Complex but deemed it unsafe for redevelopment alongside daily court operations. Four options were considered: maintaining operations during construction, decanting to a temporary location, developing a new facility, and remote service delivery.
2022: A report highlighted issues with the current building, including friable asbestos, safety and access concerns, outdated services, inefficient workflow, and non-compliant disability access. The Department decided to create a new facility at the University of Tasmania’s Mooreville Road campus.
February 2022: Burnie City Council opposed the relocation to Mooreville Road, citing negative impacts on the CBD.
March 2022: The Government reconsidered and decided to keep the courthouse in the CBD, initiating an expression of interest process for new sites.
December 2022: The Government announced two suitable CBD sites for the new Burnie Court Complex:
- 39-41 Alexander Street and 54-56 Mount Street
- 100-106 Wilson Street
February 2023: Public consultation on the new location closed.
March 2023: The Government selected 100-106 Wilson Street as the preferred location.
2023-24 State Budget: An additional $46.5 million was committed, bringing the total including federal funding to $86.5 million.
July 2023: The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia announced temporary sittings in Burnie, with plans for a permanent presence in the new complex.
December 2023: The site acquisition of 100–106 Wilson Street was finalised and property titles consolidated into a single lot.