Before the courthouse was constructed in the 1930s, it was where many colonial-built houses were built and later the Grand Hotel de l'Europe, which was demolished to make way for the new building. Sir Stamford Raffles initially designated the site for public use, but his administrator for Singapore, Willam Farquhar, allowed private residences to be constructed there. By the 1830s, houses built in Madras chunam lined the streets that faced the sea. The residence of Edward Boustead designed by George Drumgoole Coleman stood there. The house was remodelled to become hotels of several names, namely London Hotel, Hotel de l'Esperance and later Hotel de l'Europe.

However, these houses later made way for the Grand Hotel de l'Europe in 1900, the only other hotel in Singapore that could be comparable with the landmark Raffles Hotel. The Grand Hotel boasted a lounge, reading room, a bar, shops and a roof garden, a novelty at that time. In 1932, the hotel's business declined and filed for bankruptcy. It made way for the Old Supreme Court which would turn out to be one of the greatest landmarks and public attractions in Singapore.

Spot the distinctive green dome which is a replica of the one at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, below which sits the Allegory of Justice.

At the Old Supreme Court, there is also a frieze of the historic signing of the 1819 treaty between Raffles and Sultan Hussein, which established Singapore as a trading post. The Old Supreme Court was officially opened by Governer Sir Shenton Thomas on 3 August 1939.