June 22nd, 2020Daylesford Courthouse recollections
ALICE’S Journeys and Lynda Poke are writing an unofficial history series…and next up are memories of the Daylesford Courthouse, now the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre, from long time Daylesford resident Judy Files.
“The rooms at the back were used (presumably rented) by the Forests Commission. My Dad, Norman Endacott was the District Forest Officer and worked from there. I remember visiting him there at work. This would have been in the mid 1950s.
“It was a highlight for me, rabbiting through the rubbish bins looking for bits of unused paper and carbon paper, which we thought was treasure…we loved making copies of our drawings and writings. I have no knowledge about whether the court was operating at this time, but suspect it was, but on a circuit with a visiting judge and staff who didn’t require office space.
“We had left Daylesford by the time the new Forests Commission office was built in Vincent Street, next to Trigger’s second-hand shop, so I have no idea how long they occupied the back rooms for offices.
“As an adult, I was a member of the committee which ran the Toy Library, when my kids were small. It operated out of a small side room of the courthouse with a storeroom attached. We used to move everything to the lockable storeroom after sessions, but eventually we gained sole access to the room and could leave the toys on the shelves and lock the door for security. This lasted for about three years until we moved to another location.
“In the early days Words in Winter was based there, and Les, Anne and I gave a few historical talks from the bench, getting a judge’s eye view of proceedings.”
Feel free to share more stories of the Daylesford Courthouse and Police Lockup and we’ll share them as part of the unofficial history series we are supporting during 2020. Email: info@alicesjourneys.com
Pictured, left, Norman Endacott with his daughter Judy Files, circa 1958, at the Mt Franklin fire tower, right, Norman Endacott, circa 1950s
Images: Judy Files family collection
