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South Australian courts and their records
The courts
The English model was adopted by the SA Courts System in the 19th century and to this day reflects the same structure.
In spite of the old adage that justice needs to be seen to be done, the records of the higher courts in South Australia can be difficult to access. Despite claims to the contrary, the closure of court records seems to be a recent phenomenon. In the early 1990s I had no trouble accessing records of the Supreme Court when compiling the booklet on South Australian convicts sentenced to transportation. The same records are now largely closed.

Pictured: The Supreme Court building in Whitmore Square 1840 Town Acre 61 [Graham Jaunay, SA convicts sentenced to transportation 1837–1851, 1995 p12 ]

The work of all arms of government should as a matter of principle be conducted openly and in public so far as possible. While I have no issue with this aspect as far as the courts in Australia, the ability to access information is not so open. In my view this information should generally be accessible unless there is good reason for withholding particular information.
When I undertook this research the material was freely available at State Records of SA, now an application and the payment of fees has to be made to the court just to determine if one can access the records! If the Courts Authority denies access then the researcher has to make an application to a judge!
Not all courts in SA have restricted access to their records.
The following state courts currently operate in South Australia:
1. Supreme Court
2. District Court – established in 1969 to relieve the work load of the Supreme Court.
3. Environment Resources Development Court
4. Magistrates Court (formerly known as the Police Court)
5. Youth Court
6. Coroners Court
7. Industrial relations Court
8. Drug Court – an arm of the Magistrates Court
9. Family Violence Court – an arm of the Magistrates Court
Most of these courts are modern and will not interest the family history researcher.
The court records of the greatest interest are those of the Supreme Court of South Australia that is a court of both law and equity. It deals with the more important civil cases and the most serious criminal matters. In its appellate jurisdiction, the Supreme Court reviews and determines errors which may have occurred in other courts of the State and interprets and expounds the law for the guidance of other courts. The Supreme Court is the court which has the exclusive jurisdiction in SA to make orders in relation to the validity of a will of a deceased person, the appointment of an executor or an administrator, and the administration of a deceased estate. The Probate Registry is the registry of the court which deals with applications for grants of probate or administration and other related matters. The registry keeps a register of probates and administrations granted by the court.
To access criminal and civil records the process to follow starts at State Records of SA with a search through the series lists to see what is available. You may be able go directly to the Supreme Court Registry at 1 Gouger Street Adelaide and search the indexes of court files. Experience suggests that both venues need to be approached to ensure a full coverage. It is only when you make an application to access the records that you will know whether they are closed and the associated process and costs to access them. The Probate Registry is outside this process and the index of Proven Wills and Letters of Administration are readily available at the Registry (and other places) and any one can purchase this material with little effort.
The Library Service is responsible for developing and maintaining libraries that serve the Supreme Court, District Court, Magistrates Courts, Youth Court and Environment, Resources and Development Court. The Supreme Court Library is located on the second floor at 1 Gouger Street, Adelaide. Enter through the courtyard on Gouger Street between the main Supreme Court building and Jeffcott Chambers. Of particular interest are Supreme Court judges' notebooks dating from the 1840s. The notebooks are often the only surviving record of some court proceedings as a number of early records were subjected to sampling a number of years ago. The library is open to the public between 9:00am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday.
The District Court is the principal trial court in South Australia. The Court’s work is in four areas: civil, criminal, administrative and disciplinary, and criminal injuries. The District Court can hear criminal matters, except for offences related to murder and treason. It also has jurisdiction over criminal injuries compensation claims. The District Court also deals with administrative and disciplinary matters through statutory tribunals. The work of this court is largely outside the interests of most family historians.
The Magistrates Court in SA dates from late in 1837, when Mr Henry Wigley was appointed as Resident Magistrate of the new settlement. The Magistrates Court has had a number of homes since then, including Gilles Arcade, near the old Queen’s Theatre, and the building that now houses the Supreme Court, on Gouger Street.
In 1843 Governor Grey decided that the Police Commissioner had time to hear charges of minor offences. At first he heard only charges under the several Police Acts but gradually, sitting with two Justices of the Peace, he undertook more and more of the Resident Magistrate's work ultimately giving rise to the court being termed the Police Court.
The Magistrates Court has a criminal and civil jurisdiction. In its criminal jurisdiction, the Magistrates Court deals with summary offences, which may be dealt with by a fine, imprisonment of up to two years, community service or a good behaviour bond. In its civil jurisdiction, it hears matters seeking damages of up to $80,000 as a result of motor vehicle accidents, or up to $40,000 for general claims.
Local Court is a now defunct term relating to courts at this level conducted outside of Adelaide.
The records of the court date from 1847. As with the Supreme Court, the researcher may find access barriers to these records.
The researcher may at times come across a reference to a Sheriff's Court. In SA the Sheriff never conducted a court. The Sheriff acts as executive officer of the courts. From 1870 the Sheriff was accorded the responsibility of all gaols and the custody of all imprisoned debtors and criminals. This responsibility remained with the Sheriff until 1965. Currently the Sheriff has the responsibility of enforcing court orders that require the recovery of money, the seizure of property, the sale of a debtor’s property and the arrest of people. The Sheriff is also a Marshall within SA in respect to the High Court of Australia and the Federal Court. In undertaking this duty, the Sheriff must act with complete independence and propriety.Note that records generated by the Sheriff and Correctional Services Department (GRG 54) are not restricted.
The records
Supreme Court: State Records of SA Series GRG 36 (restricted)
  • GRG 36/1 Indictments 1837–1924
  • GRG 36/8 Depositions 1839–1853
  • GRG 36/3 Affidavitts 1837–1892
  • GRG 54/10 Sentence Book 1905–1923
  • GRG 54/9 Writ Books 1837–1850; 1921–1955
Adelaide Local Court: State Records of SA Series GRG 3 (restricted)
  • GRG 3/2 Minute Books 1849–1869
  • GRG 3/2 Minor offences 1883–1932
Country and Suburban Local Courts: State Records of SA Series GRG 4 (restricted)
  • GRG 4/132 Record of proceedings 1842–1851
  • GRG 4/1–113, 119–127, 130–1, 168 various courts with dates according to the court
  • GRG 4/117 Register of pension claims 1909–1960 (open)
  • GRG 4/118 Registered chn with no vaccination certificate 1884–1886
Adelaide Magistrates Court: State Records of SA Series GRG 65 (restricted)
  • GRG 65/1 Police Court Minutes 1847–1936
  • GRG 65/7 Police Court Summons and warrants 1881–1900
  • GRG 65/7 Police Court Files 1904–1944
Inquest and coronial records
  • GRG 1/91 Burial Orders 1926–1971
  • GRG 1/27 Inquest files 1867–1976 – also police stns and inquest registers listed in GRG 5
Insolvency Courts: State Records of SA Series GRG 66, 68
  • GRG 66/3 Index 1841–1923
  • GRG 66/6 Schedule of estates 1841–1931
  • GRG 68 Regional courts with varying date ranges