22 June 2026
The future of North Sydney’s historic courthouse and former police station remains unclear after the NSW Government confirmed the property is subject to an Aboriginal land claim.
The courthouse forms part of the prominent heritage precinct at the corner of the Pacific Highway and Mount Street, alongside the former North Sydney Post Office and its landmark clock tower.
Parliamentary secretary to the attorney-general Hugh McDermott said the state government could not make decisions about the future use of the courthouse and police station until the claim had been determined.
“The merits of this claim must be determined before alternative uses of the site can be considered,” McDermott said in correspondence dated 17 June.
“The timeframe for resolution of this claim is currently unknown.”
The claim has been made under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, which allows Aboriginal land councils to claim certain Crown land.
The government did not identify the claimant or disclose when the application was lodged.
McDermott said the state-owned courthouse and former police station had significant heritage value and that the government supported “beneficial community use” of the site, provided any new use was consistent with preserving its heritage significance.
The courthouse, police station and adjoining post office were constructed in 1889 and are included as heritage items under the North Sydney Local Environmental Plan. The precinct is also listed on the former Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate.
The adjoining post office is separately owned by Australia Post and is not identified by the government as forming part of the land claim.
Commercial postal operations recently ceased at the heritage building and were relocated to a new North Sydney Post Shop at 100 Miller Street.
Australia Post has told the Lavender Bay Precinct that it remains responsible for the former post office building and must maintain it in accordance with the property’s heritage management plan.
The organisation said it was progressing remediation work and examining options for adaptive reuse of the building.
“Any future use of the building will need to align with the Heritage Management Plan to ensure its heritage values are appropriately maintained,” Australia Post national resolution consultant Jodie Garson said.
The post office clock, which is no longer operating, will be serviced after the broader remediation works have been completed, although Australia Post did not provide a timetable for either project.
The Lavender Bay Precinct had written to Australia Post raising concerns that the building appeared to be deteriorating and had remained without an active use since postal operations moved.
Precinct secretary Joan Street described it as one of North Sydney’s most prominent and historically significant civic buildings, with its clock tower forming an important part of the identity of the CBD.
“The community strongly believes this landmark building should be properly maintained, conserved and returned to an active use that respects its heritage significance and civic importance,” she said.