Sturdy stone walls with corner turrets surround the Old Military Barracks, one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture on Norfolk Island. Built between 1829 and 1834, the complex contained soldiers’ barracks and officers’ quarters as well as a military hospital and various outbuildings.
To find out what life was like for the soldiers based here, take a guided tour of the Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site. A local can talk you through the often-harrowing history.
The Old Military Barracks hasn’t been lying empty since the convict era. Between 1979 and 2015, it was home to the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly. These days, the ground floor houses our courthouse.
Visitor Information
Operating Hours: As a working courthouse, the Old Military Barracks is not open to visitors.
Getting Here: Off Quality Row in Kingston. A 5-10 drive from Burnt Pine.
Top tips for Old Military Barracks
Walk up Rooty Hill Road to Queen Elizabeth Lookout for a bird’s-eye view of the Old Military Barracks.
Visit the Prisoners’ Barracks and New Gaol so you can compare the living conditions of soldiers and prisoners within the penal settlement.
More attractions at Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site
Don’t let the gory legend of Bloody Bridge deter you; visit this historic landmark to admire the stonework and hard labour of the convicts who built it.
Visit the Commissariat to learn about Norfolk’s convict past. This historic building once held food supplies for the convicts and jailers on Norfolk Island.
Formerly the Surgeons Quarters, today this resilient little building houses a fascinating collection of photographs which bring the history of our island to life.
Visit Kingston Pier, which was a vital entry point for Norfolk’s settlers and still welcomes supply ships and fishing boats as it has done for two centuries.
Bring your camera along to capture this solitary tree that survived the mass felling of Norfolk pines and stood sentry over the island’s turbulent history.
Turn back to Norfolk Island’s convict chapter at No. 10 Quality Row, now a museum. Learn about the home’s inhabitants as you wander through the restored interior.
Our fascinating history takes on a new dimension at the Norfolk Island Cemetery. Read the grave stones marking two centuries of life on this South Pacific island.
Wander the stone ruins of Crankmill, another one of Norfolk’s sites with a dark past. Book your holiday now to discover our island’s intriguing history!
