The previous County Court building, diagonally across from the new one, had been the headquarters of the County Court for 33 years and, from all reports, was well past its "use-by date". The conditions there were cramped, the foyer was very small and the lifts were too slow.

The new building promises to be far more user-friendly for all of those involved in the dispensing of justice in this important court. The architects in the project consulted widely with more than 50 court users and stakeholders, beginning soon after the announcement of the project in 1997 and continuing until completion. In addition, three County Court judges were appointed to consult with the architects and builders, proving a beneficial liaison for practical feedback regarding the court's layout and design.

The new County Court, although looking like one structure from the outside, is actually made up of three buildings: the Main Court Tower (nine levels), the Judicial Chamber Building (four levels), and the Podium Level (three levels). The building has 42,000 square metres of floor space - nearly four times more than the current County Court building.

There are 46 courtrooms within the complex, which boasts the latest in hi-tech in-court equipment. Reporting technology within the courts will make court transcripts of those high public interest cases available via the Internet almost immediately. Each court will also feature video conferencing and sophisticated alarm procedures linked to the building's security command centre.

The state government officially opened the new County Court building on the morning of Friday, 31 May, with a ceremonial sitting held in the afternoon. The first sitting date was scheduled for Monday, 3 June.