However, community agitation was responsible for the establishment of a more central reserve for a court house and lock up on five acres of land bounded by Bolsover, East and Fitzroy Streets.

Early in 1891 the central Queensland towns of Barcaldine, Clermont, Winton and Springsure had been the centre points of the strike, which had arisen over the signing of agreements between pastoralists and members of unions representing the interests of bush workers.

[1] Unable to succeed through direct strike action, the labour movement was to seek social reform and change through political methods, the result of which was the formation of the Labor Party.

The Annual Report for the Department of Public Works, 1934 gave the following description:[1]This building, which will be of concrete and brick construction with cement finish externally and tile roof, will provide accommodation for the Police Court and officials connected therewith.

The main facade, facing East street, is designed with portico to match the neighbouring building of the Commonwealth Bank, and together with the Supreme Court, should complete a pleasing architectural group... accommodation will be provided for the Clerk of Petty Sessions and his staff, together with strong rooms, and also the Police Magistrate....

The Queensland Government paid for passage and relocation costs, and initially accommodation was provided at the Yungaba Immigration Depot, Kangaroo Point.

In March 1950 Hitch was promoted to Designing Architect Division 1, a position he held until he resigned in April 1951 after completing his three-year contract to set up practice with Theo Thynne.

In 1954 Hitch established an independent practice, and was commissioned to design a new Court House for Bundaberg, constructed 1956–1957, which was described in 1957 Annual Report of the Department of Public Works as:[1]A stone building which captures the quality, dignity and prestige expected in a court-house building and yet remains essentially a product of the present day.Hitch was also appointed to the staff of the Architecture School of the University of Queensland as a part-time lecturer in c.1949.

At this time, the school was located adjacent to Parliament House in George Street, Brisbane, and classes were held in the evenings and comprised University and Technical College students.

Convention in Brisbane City Hall, and the Architecture in Australia exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects, Portland Place, London from 28 February to 24 March 1956.

Cabinet opted for the larger site coverage of the third smaller scaled alternative, and approval was given to proceed with one wing to the Bolsover Street frontage.

The Government policy of using direct labour on its building projects was handled entirely by the Construction Branch, and on-site visits by architects were rare and were discouraged.

[1] The building was constructed with a curtain wall of metal-framed glazing with stone spandrel panels divided by regularly spaced vertical concrete aggregate fins framed by brickwork to the main street frontage.

In its 1955 Annual Report, the Department of Public Works stated:[1]Early in the year the new block of offices in Rockhampton was completed and relieved the accommodation problem in the city.

The site is prominently located within the city centre at the entrance to the East Street mall, and adjacent to the approach to the Fitzroy Bridge leading to North Rockhampton.

The northwest end of the rear wing has an enclosed ground floor verandah with fibrous cement cladding, casement windows and a curved corrugated iron awning.

The non-original ceiling is constructed of suspended acoustic tiles with a lower bulkhead over the raised judge's bench, which is flanked by an arched vestibule to either side.

[1] The building, designed with Art Deco detailing, has a symmetrical East Street elevation with a recessed central portico surmounted by a high parapet and flanked by lower wings to either side.

The portico has central paired timber panelled doors flanked by multi- paned windows, which are surmounted by high-level multi-paned glazing.

[1] The rear elevation has central paired timber doors, flanked by regularly spaced multi-paned windows surmounted by high level multi- paned glazing.

[1] The building, designed with Art Deco detailing, has a symmetrical East Street elevation similar to the adjacent Magistrate's Court which consists of a recessed central portico surmounted by a high parapet and flanked by lower wings to either side.

The side wings also have a central aluminium framed window surmounted by high level glazing, and the parapets are capped by stylised details.

[1] The parapet detailing continues along the side elevations which have regularly spaced non-original aluminium framed windows, surmounted by high level glazing units which have been closed over.

The portico has three sets of paired timber panelled doors with glass inserts surmounted by high-level glazing with expressed architrave details.

[1] Internally, the building has been altered quite substantially, with partition walls forming a series of offices, a security reception area, and store rooms.

A recessed three-storeyed section, located on the northeast side of this elevation, has metal framed glazing and spandrel panels lighting an internal staircase.

This section was intended to form the linkage to a proposed wing facing Fitzroy Street which was not constructed, and its end facade has reinforced concrete framing and brick infill.

This structure has rendered masonry walls to door head height, with timber slats above to the underside of the corrugated iron hipped roof with central clerestory.

The Magistrate's Court and Family Services' building are associated with a construction programme, undertaken by the Queensland Government during the depression era, designed to generate work to alleviate unemployment.

[1] The structure's form, fabric and materials illustrate a skilled design approach, and the building makes an important aesthetic contribution to the local streetscape and Rockhampton townscape.