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History: In 1856 Natal became a separate colony and was given a system of representative government. At the head of the executive authority there was the Governor and an Executive Council of nominated officials, while the legislative authority was exercised by a Legislative Council consisting of twelve elected colonists and four nominated officials.
There was an urgent need in Pietermaritzburg for a meeting place for the Supreme Court as well as for the newly-constituted highest legislative body of the colony. The Supreme Court held its sessions in the old Voortrekker Raadsaal, but that building was beginning to look more and more like an abandoned cow-shed. In 1864, plans for a new supreme court building to be built on a large stand opposite the market hail were prepared by Peter Paterson, and a year later the foundation stone was laid with great ceremony by Col. J. J. Bisset, the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal. The work progressed exceedingly slowly and at one stage there was only one single workman at work on the site. However, when Robert Keate became Lieutenant-Governor in 1867 work on the building began in earnest and in 1871 the Supreme Court could move in. The court chamber with its red furnishings was then also used for sessions of the Legislative Council.
The movement towards responsible government in Natal gained impetus and it was decided to build a council chamber worthy of eventually accommodating such a government. To make room for this building, St. Mary’s church which for a generation had served as a mission church, was demolished and rebuilt, stone by stone, at the corner of Commercial and Burger Streets. The foundation stone of the new building was laid by the Governor, Sir A. E. Havelock, on 21st June, 1887,. in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s jubilee. Two years later the building was taken into use.
In 1893 Natal achieved responsible government. The new constitution provided for a parliament consisting of two houses, a Legislative Council of eleven nominated members and a Legislative Assembly of 37 members. The latter body took occupation of the portion of the building that was already finished and this became known as the still necessary to provide accommodation for the Legislative Council. Plans for this building to be erected next to the other, were drawn by the Public Works architect, A. E. Dainton, and the cost was estimated at R50 000. The foundation stone was laid by the Governor, Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson, on 12th September, 1898. The contract for the building of the Legislative Council Building was awarded to F. Turner.
When the Union of South Africa was established the Legislative Assembly Building became the headquarters of the Provincial Council and it still serves that function today. The Legislative Council Building was put to various other uses including the accommodation of the Education Department for some time, after which it became the headquarters of the hospital services.
These buildings not only symbolise the constitutional development of Natal but are representative of the architecture of public buildings of their period.
Visual Description: These buildings not only symbolise the constitutional development of Natal but are representative of the architecture of public buildings of their period.
Colours:
Site Features: Queen Victoria statue in front gardens
Condition: goodNeeds reroofing and some interior work
Construction Date: 1898
Materials: brick :
Catalogue: Pmb, 1987, No: , Significance Category: