The stairway from the cells to the dock is open for business and so — almost — are the Dunedin Law Court buildings.
The 1902 building, scene of some of the city’s most important trials, has been closed since December 2011 after engineers found parts of the building were unstable.
Now, after a $20million upgrade, the building is ready for justice to be dispensed within its walls once more.
Although the High Court retains its imposing historic features, audiovisual equipment and a big screen television flank its Edwardian oak judicial bench.
From the lofty public gallery, new lighting means its bird’s-eye view is clearer than ever, but the antique seating in the front rows has been maintained.
There are reminders it is 2018, including a metal rail in front of the gallery to comply with health and safety regulations.
The blend of modern and historic continues throughout the building, where anything modern has been installed as sympathetically with the past as possible.
By the modern annexe is a framed stained-glass window, which has been preserved in the restoration.
Upstairs the whiteware is new, but the Ethel Benjamin toilet cloakroom dates back to the building’s opening.
Ethel Benjamin was the first woman in the British Empire to appear as counsel in court, and courtroom folklore claims the cloakroom was the only one she was allowed to use.
The Otago District Law Society library has returned to the court building, its volumes set to gather dust on the original built-in bookshelves.
Around the corner by the judges’ chambers are the original closets from the lawyers’ robing room.
Famous Dunedin legal names such as Gallaway, Anderson and Lloyd are still handwritten on the door labels.
Although history was everywhere, this was a functioning 21st century facility, court manager David Tapp said.
"We have the capability to run two simultaneous jury trials, and there are a variety of other flexible spaces as well."
Contractors have laid in 45km of data cable as part of the refit.
New piles were sunk 14m into the ground, steel bands to strengthen the building were bolted to the walls, and external features were bolted on.
"It has been an enormous effort," Mr Tapp said.
"A lot of steel and concrete has gone into the seismic strengthening, and the ministry has done a great job in ensuring the building is fitted out very well."
