FOR SALE: Whataroa District Court was disestablished in 2013, and now the building is on the market.

Ever had someone you wish you could lock up in jail? A remote courthouse on the West Coast is up for sale, complete with jail cell.

But if you want to lay down the law, you will have to bring your own gavel.

Whataroa District Court was disestablished in 2013, and now the building is on the market.

PGG Wrightson agent Dave Nolan said the quirky sale had "sparked quite a bit of interest".

There had already been a couple of people inquiring about the courthouse as a possible holiday home.

He also thought it could serve as a base for a tourism venture, either a cafe or a craft shop.

Whataroa sits on State Highway 6 between Hokitika and Franz Josef, meaning anyone heading south to the glaciers has to pass through.

The courthouse lies on a side road less than one kilometre from the highway, which Nolan said was one of the selling points.

The interior is decked with native timber, the judge's bench remains and the jail cell is lockable, Nolan said. But there is no gavel.

A heritage covenant on the building limits what alterations can be made to the outside, "but why would you want to change anything," Nolan said.

The historic building even comes with its own legend. As the story goes, in the 1990s a Christchurch judge arrived in Whataroa to find the building locked. The local policeman had been called away on urgent business, so the dedicated judge broke into his own courthouse.

From 1939 until 2013, the Whataroa courthouse served justice in South Westland. By the time it closed, it sat just four times a year and was the most remote courthouse on mainland New Zealand.

It was also the least used court, which the Ministry of Justice pointed out in its decision to disestablish the courthouse. In 2011 the courthouse sat for 11 hours and heard 32 cases.

Two courthouses remain on the West Coast: Greymouth and Westport. With no permanent judge, rotating judges visit both courts every two or three weeks.

A benchmark offer of $91,304 plus GST had been made to Ngai Tahu. Offers over that amount would be considered, Nolan said.

Those interested have until January 30 to submit a tender.