Levin Historic Courthouse

The 1903 courthouse was moved to this central location in 2009, from it's former home in Bristol Street. Although a small building it was apparently a 32 tonne load for the movers, thanks to the abundance of aged totara and matai. It made way for a new, modern courthouse in Bristol Street.
In it's resting place, the courthouse is surrounded by rose gardens, looked after by the Levin Rose Society, which provide a setting for community events. A cafe here did not last long but many community organisations and clubs make use of the building. As well as the native timbers, which include rimu floors, the building is noted for the original sash windows, pitch of the roof, and an historic gas lantern which stands outside, formerly part of the townscape on Oxford Street prior to electricity.
This elegant and understated colonial build shares a name with, but bears no resemblance to the extravagant courthouse in Detroit, The Theodore J Levin Courthouse, which is celebrated for it's 'blind beauty.'