The Supreme Court Library Queensland’s series of catalogues and indexes (1881-1975) consists of a mixture of bound volumes and card indexes, with an accompanying custom-built lectern and card cabinet.
]This unique and irreplaceable documentary heritage traces the library’s growth over more than century from its origins in 1862, serving as an historical record of the evolving relationship between justice and the community in Queensland. The series embodies the library’s pursuit of accurate record keeping as it played an instrumental role in Queensland’s legal system as its leading law library. The library’s service to the continuing evolution of Queensland’s legal system began in 1862, a mere three years after the colony itself was established. The nominated series is significant to Australia’s memory, providing a sense of belonging to the legal profession and judiciary, and demonstrating the enduring values from the past that are still practised today.
The catalogues and subject indexes serve as a record of the establishment of a public collection, showing how the Supreme Court Library spent its money and the ideas connected to it. It tracks the ongoing quest for information and knowledge and is accessible to the public.
The collection has historical and research significance for legal history in Queensland, and also for those interested in the evolution of library technology and organisation. It can offer insights on people and events of national significance, including Chief Justice Sir Samuel Griffith and his role in the federation movement and the early years of the Commonwealth judiciary.
The Queensland Supreme Court library catalogues and indexes constitute a rare collection that requires preservation and deserves greater recognition.
The importance of this documentary heritage to the memory of Australia is profound. It holds significant and enduring value, providing the younger generation of the legal profession and the judiciary with a sense of belonging and anchoring them to the growth of their shared profession.