The Post Office and Court House
Fire.

A fire, which Wakefield describes as an “awful conflagration,” occurred on the 5th July, 1842. Some carpenters employed in erecting a house on the beach (Lambton Quay) near the court house (site of temporary Anzac Memorial) discovered flames issuing from the building which had long done duty as Post Office, Court of Justice, Police Office, and Church. The structure was burnt to the ground in half an hour.

Fortunately, Mr. Halswell and the Police Magistrate had for some time doubted the security of the edifice, so kept their documents at their respective homes, and some of the carpenters saved what was lying or blowing about in the Post Office. The whole damage done was estimated at nearly five pounds.