Rosewood Police Complex

Police barracks had been built at the Rosewood Gate in the late 1870s where the new Police Station now stands, and court was held in the constable’s room. A separate courthouse was built in 1892 next to the barracks, facing what is now Railway Street. At the time, it was called Walloon Road. This building also proved to be inadequate, and tenders were called for additions to the courthouse in 1902. By 1905, the condition of the police buildings was in such bad repair that they decided to erect new police buildings. The old ones were sold and removed.

A new courthouse with offices for a magistrate and a constable and a new police station (used at the police residence), double-cell buildings and stable was erected. The Rosewood Courthouse opened in September 1907. It was saved from certain destruction in a fire which ravaged the main street of Rosewood in early 1914.

The police occupied the two offices at the rear of the building, and from 1916, one of the offices was used by the Clerk of Petty Sessions. The courthouse was also used as additional sleeping accommodation for constables in the 1940s. The northern verandah was enclosed in 1977 to provide more office space for the police until a new brick police station was built in 1987. At this time, the lock-up was moved to the BMX grounds to be used as the club canteen, then moved again in 2015 to the Cobb & Co Heritage Park.

The Rosewood Courthouse formally ceased operating on 1 January 1991 and remained vacant while the government looked at options. The Government felt that the limited needs of the Rosewood area were now well serviced by the court facilities in Ipswich and was surplus to the needs of the Department of Justice.

Griffith University requested the Courthouse be moved to their Nathan Campus as they had just established a Law School, but the Rosewood residents were strongly opposed to this.

Moreton Shire Council called a public meeting, and five trustees were appointed to resolve the future of the Courthouse on behalf of the community. Residents of the community wanted to see it used as a heritage centre to preserve pictorial memorabilia related to the early families and history of the Rosewood area. It was also suggested it could act as a library and reading room; however not long after this, Moreton Shire Council set up a mobile library. A submission was also received to use it as a multi-purpose ministry service.

On 6 June 1994, the Rosewood Police Complex was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. It has been used as a Real Estate Agency and is currently occupied by PRD Bremer Valley. Past the main desk at the front, you can still see early court room furniture including a timber witness stand and Judge's bench.

In 2024, during the construction of the new police station, the 1987 brick police station was demolished, and the former 1907 police residence was moved from Railway Street and placed on that site next to the old courthouse. The verandah had been added to the residence in 1923 and enclosed in 1939. The 1985 residence fronting Railway Street was also removed in 2024.