Brief History
Though the current court inception is established by the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 (Parliament of Victoria). There has been a magistrate in Victoria essentially since 1836, when the people of Melbourne elected an Arbitrator of the city to resolve minor disputes.
A Police Magistrate, Captain Lonsdale was appointed also in 1836 and the first case was heard at a location near the present site of Southern Cross (Spencer Street) Station.
In 1838 a third court, the Court of Petty Sessions was created. And all three types of Courts by 1890 were held at 235 locations throughout Victoria.
On 20 January 1914, the new City Court at Russell St. was opened in Melbourne, and Phillip Blashki, J.P. was the first Chairman of the City Court Bench. The Prime Minister Alfred Deakin presented Blashki with an illuminated address signed by 30 of the court's solicitors when he retired, aged 70.
Police Magistrates were able to sit in on Petty Court sessions, but generally two or three Justices of the Peace were required for cases to be heard. The Court of Petty Sessions, also originally attended to matters under 20 pounds, and even criminal matters, like drunkenness and minor assaults.
Read more about this topic: Melbourne Magistrates' Court
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