He and the other judge appointed to the Court, Redmond Barry, took their seats on the Bench for the first time on 10 February 1852. One of the colony’s earliest legislative acts was to establish the Supreme Court with William a’Beckett becoming the first Chief Justice. In 1851, the District of Port Phillip separated from New South Wales and the Colony of Victoria was established. Old courthouse at corner of La Trobe and Russell Streets (circa 1900) (source: State Library of Victoria) 1850s: Establishment of the Supreme Court In 1843, a purpose-built courthouse was erected on the corner of La Trobe and Russell Streets next to the new gaol. Willis and his successors, Judges William Jeffcott and Roger Therry, also heard many commercial matters, including cases of insolvency, contract law and probate. It heard significant criminal trials, including for capital punishment. The Court sat for the first time on 12 April of that year in a vacated government store on the corner of King and Bourke Streets. Judge John Walpole Willis arrived in the District of Port Phillip of New South Wales as the resident judge in March 1841. Source: State Library of Victoria (circa 1907) 19th century 1840s: Resident judges of the Port Phillip District 1917-1960s: The World Wars and post war.1901: Federation and the High Court of Australia.1850s: Establishment of the Supreme Court.1840s: Resident judges of the Port Phillip District.

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