The Queensland Government erected a new courthouse for an estimated 2000 pounds in Clermont, on Friday the 9th of October, 1917. Originally, however, none of the people involved could agree on a site, though one was eventually chosen. It was considered to be built at the lower end of Capella Street, though this site was not used.

There was a worry that it was too far from the police station, and, in April 1891, someone attempted to burn the building down, after getting in through windows that had been left open. The attempt itself – and the person behind it – is still shrouded in mystery. The courthouse was damaged in the flood but was not destroyed.