New South Wales' top industrial judges have launched legal action in their own court in a bid to stop the State Government booting them out of their stately Sydney headquarters.

Key points: The NSW IRC's Bridge Street headquarters dates to the 1880s

The NSW IRC's Bridge Street headquarters dates to the 1880s However, the State Government wants to move the operation to Parramatta

However, the State Government wants to move the operation to Parramatta Unions have described the move as "enormously disruptive"

The Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (IRC) is the court which hears workplace disputes and is based in a Victorian-era sandstone building a stone's throw from the Harbour City's glittering landmarks.

However, the State Government wants to relocate the operation to a yet-to-be-decided building in Parramatta.

Yesterday the Public Service Association (PSA) on behalf of the IRC's five judges and 10 staff lodged notice of an industrial dispute in their own court.

The IRC's five-story Bridge Street home dates to 1886 and includes marble floors and nine life-sized statues.

The Industrial Relations Commission could be headed west. ( Flickr: Richard Potts )

It is itself a landmark.

The heritage-listed building was the seat of colonial administration in Australia and today holds the office of the Governor of New South Wales.

Whether the IRC can rule on its own workplace dispute is yet to be tested in court.

The NSW Government says the commission has no power to stop the move because it is not an industrial matter and beyond commission powers.

'The Government has been secretive'

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Adam Searle said the incident continued the Government's poor industrial relations record.

"The Government has been secretive about all this," he said.

"They have gone back on their word given in 2016 that they wouldn't undertake a move without consultation of the affected workers.

"But this Government's mishandling of industrial relations is just shocking, coming on the back of the debacle that was the rail dispute."

Unions say the move is unacceptable and the PSA has argued the Government will sign the lease on the Parramatta building today.

In a letter sent to the NSW Industrial Relations department, the Nurses Union said moving the court to Parramatta would be "enormously disruptive" because of the extra travel time that would be required.

The landmark building was the seat of colonial administration in Australia. ( Flickr: sv1ambo )

The NSW Government has plans to move four departments to Parramatta, including Education and Finance.

NSW's Industrial Relations Minister Dominic Perrottet was contacted for comment.