This building was originally the Residency for the Police Magistrate in charge of the settlement. It later became the Court House for Thursday Island and during World War Two became the Torres Strait Force Headquarters. It was described by the officers as 'the office', and has changed little since 1942. It is a house built up off the ground, with a wide veranda along three sides allowing the breeze off the water to flow, and quite comfortably furnished. One advantage to the officers was that it was far enough away from 'the main show' as they described it to make the officers more or less independent - something they saw as an advantage.