Renovations have started on Mount Gambier’s Old Courthouse building to help restore it to its former glory.

National Trust Mount Gambier Branch chairman Nathan Woodruff said the first stage was to get the building waterproof and airtight, with scaffolding generating interest from passers-by at the ever-prominent Bay Road site.

“The building has limestone parapet walls which wick a lot of moisture straight down the wall, so they have had a protective coating applied to seal them from the rain,” he said.

“It is just getting on top of a few jobs like guttering and flashing to make sure that we are not getting water coming in from the roof.

“You cannot really see a lot of it from the footpath, but it is all vitally important to ensuring it is dry and keeping it for another 150 years.”

The National Trust oversees the Old Courthouse as a heritage building as well as securing its place in the future through opening it for different uses.

“We try to give buildings a modern use, so it has a secured place in the future instead of an empty building which is inherently harder to care for,” Mr Woodruff said.

The courthouse is one of the few significant remaining buildings showcasing Mount Gambier’s rich legal history.

“We do tours for the public and for school kids to teach them about history, the legal system and justice,” Mr Woodruff said.

“The construction site has meant the Old Courthouse will be closed for the immediate future, but it should be open for appointment and bookings again in early November.”

Contact 0403 815 393 for more information or to book a tour.