Description
The police and courthouse precinct at Pomona contains three significant 1930s government buildings which highlight Pomona’s developing role throughout the 20" century as the political, legal and administrative centre of the Noosa Shire. In 1934, the Department of Public Works commenced construction of a Type 2 police station/residence, a two-cell lock-up, courthouse and stables. The work was completed by August 1934 with the police able to vacate the house at 1 Railway Parade, Pomona that was leased and operating as a police station since 1927. The Type 2 police station was a high-set timber building comprising an office, three bedrooms, living room and kitchen. Pre-World War Il police stations commonly combined an office and residence, particularly in rural areas.
Pomona had been agitating for a police station since at least 1910. In February 1910, the Manager of the Pomona branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia wrote to the Home Secretary complaining that the nearest police officer was in Tewantin, thirteen miles (22km) away. The town was served by visiting police officers from Nambour and Gympie twice per week. Later that year, a three-person delegation travelled to Brisbane to press their case with the Home Secretary for a police station at Pomona. The Maryborough District Inspector noted that Noosa Shire’s population was rapidly increasing due to the growing timber and agricultural industries and recommended several sites in Pomona for a police station. However, it was not until 1927 and following a recommendation by the Police Commissioner to the Home Secretary, that the police department accepted an offer to lease a house at 1 Railway Parade (extant) for a station and residence.
In 1927, the State Attorney General visited the district to decide on a site for a Court of Petty Sessions in the Noosa Shire. Local businessmen promoted Pomona as the economic centre of the Shire. As a result, in December 1927, Pomona was appointed to hold Courts of Petty Sessions, held in the School of Arts building. By 1930, Commissioner Ryan recommended the construction of a new station and courthouse to the Home Secretary, given that Pomona was at the centre of the Cooroy, Cooran and Tewantin Divisions, and that the Court of Petty Sessions was held there. With the lease on the Railway Parade building due to expire in October 1933, a decision was made to construct a new police station and courthouse on the Police Reserve site bounded by Red and Rectory Streets.
Only small changes have been made to the 1934 precinct including minor repairs and additions to the residence. The Pomona Courthouse is no longer a venue for Magistrate Court sessions but remains in legal use offering access to Justice of the Peace services. In 2004, construction commenced on a new lowset police station between the old station and the courthouse.
Queensland Heritage Register entry: https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=602515 Address 22, Red Street, Pomona
