When it comes to the future of Putaruru's former courthouse you can be the judge.

The Heritage New Zealand, historic places category two, listed building is being sold along with the rural South Waikato town's former police station.

It's only the third time the Tīrau St buildings, which come under one title with a land area of approximately 808m2, have been on the market. The Ministry of Justice sold them in 2002 after centralising courts throughout New Zealand and the police station becoming too small.

The courthouse, built in 1935 and closed in 1998, was designed by chief government architect John Mair. While it needs a bit of work to bring it back to its former glory, it still maintains many of its original features including two witness stands, holding cell, and native timber throughout.

It's one of six former courthouses, which includes Papakura, Whataroa, Maungaturoto, Wairoa and Patea, where the same prototype was used.

The brick police station meanwhile has been converted into a two bedroom home with renovated bathroom, insulation, and heat pump.

LJ Hooker sales consultant Diane Urbahn says the property was commercially zoned but the options for the new owner were open.

The police station is currently rented, with a potential income of $300 a week, while the courthouse is a blank slate.

"The people who brought it off the Government were going to have the courthouse as a house so they [started the conversion] and put in a bathroom," she says.

"The current owner originally brought it for her mum to have an art gallery in but it has basically sat as is since so it's now up to someone new to determine what to do with it next."

Diane says most inquiries have been commercially focused.

"Last time it was on the market it sold pretty quick because it is very cool and it could lend itself to being either a restaurant or cafe," she says.

"It would be great if someone got it and turned it into a cafe and called it the Courthouse Cafe or something."

She says a real talking point of the property was the former holding cell.

"When we originally sold it, the former holding cell was full of writing and scratches on the walls. They have left the door but there are still some very rude words," she laughed.

The property has a capital valuation of $310,000 and is being sold via deadline sale on November 29 at 4pm.

-Stuff.co.nz./Luke Kirkeby