WA Magistrates Court – Armadale Courthouse List Today

The WA Magistrates Court Armadale Courthouse list is the fastest way to confirm which matters are being heard today, tomorrow, or later this week at the Magistrates Court of Western Australia sitting in Armadale. Whether you are a defendant confirming your hearing time, a lawyer preparing for a mention, a family violence support worker coordinating a restraining order conference, or a member of the public wanting to observe open court, the Armadale court list tells you the courtroom, the sitting time, and the parties involved. The daily list is drawn from the official eCourts Portal of Western Australia and covers every criminal, traffic, civil, and restraining order matter scheduled before a magistrate on the day.

Armadale Courthouse is one of the busiest suburban registries in the Perth metropolitan court network, serving the rapidly expanding south-eastern growth corridor. The court sits within the City of Armadale, a local government area with a population of 94,184 recorded at the 2021 Census, and one of the fastest-growing regions in Western Australia. That population pressure is exactly why the State Government delivered a brand-new, purpose-built justice facility for the district, and it is why the Armadale daily law list routinely runs to multiple sittings across several courtrooms.

About the Armadale Magistrates Court

The Armadale Magistrates Court is a first-tier court within the Magistrates Court of Western Australia, the court that came into existence in May 2005 following the amalgamation of the former Court of Petty Sessions, the Small Claims Tribunal, and the Local Court of Western Australia. It operates as both a court of record and an inferior court under the Magistrates Court Act 2004 (WA), with its civil powers drawn from the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (WA). The Chief Magistrate of the court is Steven Heath, supported by Deputy Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Woods.

As a metropolitan registry, Armadale handles the everyday legal work of the community: summary criminal charges, traffic and driving offences, bail applications, restraining orders, and civil disputes over money. It also conducts committal proceedings, the preliminary hearings that decide whether a serious indictable charge should be sent up to the District Court of Western Australia or the Supreme Court for trial. The Children's Court of Western Australia also sits at the Armadale complex, hearing matters involving young people from the surrounding suburbs.

The new $86 million Armadale Courthouse and Police Complex

In November 2023 the court moved into a modern $86 million Armadale Courthouse and Police Complex, a 14,000-square-metre facility built with future population growth in mind. The courthouse opened to the public on Monday, 6 November 2023 and delivered a significant upgrade in capacity and technology for the district. Key features of the new complex include:

• Five courtrooms configured for both Magistrates Court and Children's Court hearings.
• Four courtrooms with custody facilities for matters where defendants are held in custody, plus one dedicated civil courtroom.
• A multi-purpose courtroom with rotatable counsel benches that can be reconfigured for conferences or a less formal community court setting.
• A dedicated mediation room that allows family violence restraining order conferencing so victims can seek protection without facing the other party across the courtroom.
• A co-located police complex housing the District Forensic Investigation Office and a Family Violence Unit, with capacity for around 350 officers.

The investment reflects the court's role as a regional justice hub for Perth's south-east, designed to give the whole community equal, safe, and secure access to justice for decades to come.

What matters appear on the Armadale court list?

The Armadale Magistrates Court daily law list brings together a wide spread of matters. Understanding the categories helps you locate your case quickly and know what to expect when your matter is called. The list typically includes the following types of proceedings.

Criminal and traffic matters

The bulk of the Armadale criminal list is made up of summary offences, the less serious charges that a magistrate can hear and finalise without a jury. Common examples include drink driving and drug driving, driving while disqualified or unlicensed, disorderly conduct, common assault, stealing, and drug possession. More serious indictable offences also appear on the list for their early stages, where the magistrate manages the matter through committal before it proceeds to a higher court. Traffic prosecutions and demerit-related driving matters form a steady part of the daily caseload for a growth suburb with heavy commuter traffic.

Restraining orders and family violence matters

Applications under the Restraining Orders Act 1997 (WA) are a significant component of the Armadale list. These include Family Violence Restraining Orders (FVROs) to protect people from family and domestic violence, Violence Restraining Orders (VROs) for protection against personal violence or threats, and Misconduct Restraining Orders (MROs) dealing with persistent nuisance or property damage. The new courthouse was purpose-built with a family violence conferencing room precisely because these applications form such an important part of the work of a metropolitan registry.

Civil disputes

In its civil jurisdiction, the Armadale Magistrates Court hears claims for debt and damages up to $75,000. Claims of $10,000 or less are dealt with under the simplified Minor Cases Procedure, which is designed to be accessible for people representing themselves. The court also handles residential tenancy disputes, dividing fences matters, extraordinary driver's licence applications, and the recovery of unlawfully detained property. It is worth noting that Western Australia's civil limit is deliberately lower than in some other states, which channels higher-value claims up to the District Court of Western Australia, where the civil limit is $750,000.

Bail and committal proceedings

Bail applications are heard throughout the day, and committal hearings for serious indictable matters are managed at Armadale before those cases move to the District or Supreme Court. If you are unsure which category your matter falls into, the courtroom number and matter type shown on the daily list will point you in the right direction, and registry staff can direct you on arrival.

Armadale Courthouse contact details and location

The Armadale Courthouse is located in the heart of the suburb, roughly 28 kilometres south-east of the Perth central business district. Because the complex has recently been rebuilt and expanded, always double-check your hearing notice for the exact address and courtroom before you travel. Current published contact details for the Armadale registry are set out below.

• Court: Magistrates Court of Western Australia, Armadale Courthouse
• Phone: (08) 9399 0700
• Fax: (08) 9497 1488
• Registry hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm (closed weekends and public holidays)
• Court sittings: generally commence from 10:00am
• Access: the courthouse is close to shops and public services, is reachable via the Armadale train line and local bus routes, and offers wheelchair access with public parking nearby

If you need an interpreter or accessibility assistance, contact the registry ahead of your court date so arrangements can be made in advance. Support people are permitted, which many attendees find helpful when dealing with a stressful hearing.

How to read and use the Armadale court list

The official source for court schedules across the state is the eCourts Portal of Western Australia at ecourts.justice.wa.gov.au, where daily lists are published and updated. When you look up the Armadale list, you will usually see the party or defendant name, the matter or charge type, the courtroom, and the listed time. Here is a simple approach to finding your matter and preparing for the day:

• Search by name: locate your matter using the defendant or party name, then note the courtroom and time shown against it.
• Arrive early: aim to be at the courthouse well before your listed time, as sittings can run ahead of or behind schedule and security screening takes a few minutes.
• Check the courtroom on the day: courtroom allocations can change, so confirm against the printed lists displayed inside the courthouse when you arrive.
• Observe courtroom etiquette: stand when the magistrate enters or leaves, switch off your phone, and remember that food and drink are not permitted in courtrooms.
• Be prepared to wait: a busy list means your matter may not be called at its exact listed time, so allow plenty of time in your day.

For those who want to keep track of matters at other Perth registries as well, our WA court lists hub gathers every Western Australian Magistrates Court location in one place, so you can move between courts without hunting across multiple government pages.

The communities Armadale Courthouse serves

Armadale sits at the gateway to Perth's south-eastern growth corridor, and the courthouse draws its caseload from a broad catchment. The registry serves Armadale itself along with neighbouring suburbs and localities including Gosnells, Kelmscott, Byford, and the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale. The electoral district of Armadale alone recorded 32,680 electors in 2025, an indicator of just how much the surrounding population has expanded. As new housing estates continue to be developed across the district, demand on the local justice system has grown in step, which is why the State invested in a purpose-built complex rather than simply refurbishing the older facility.

This growth also explains why the Armadale list can be substantial on any given sitting day. A single day may combine a criminal mentions list, a restraining order list, a civil callover, and bail applications, spread across the courthouse's five courtrooms. If you are attending for a criminal or traffic matter, it is worth reviewing the Perth Central Law Courts list as well if your matter has any connection to the main metropolitan registry, since some serious charges are managed there.

Where Armadale sits in the WA court hierarchy

Understanding the court structure helps you follow where a matter goes after Armadale. The Magistrates Court is the entry point for most criminal and civil cases. Serious criminal charges that cannot be finalised summarily are committed from Armadale to the District Court sitting at Armadale or to the District Court in Perth, and the most serious matters go to the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Appeals from Magistrates Court decisions are heard in the higher courts. The District Court handles civil claims up to $750,000 and has unlimited jurisdiction in personal injury damages claims, which is why claims above the Magistrates Court's $75,000 limit are dealt with at that level.

Nearby metropolitan registries also share the workload of Perth's outer suburbs. If your matter or your travel is better suited to a different location, you can also check the Rockingham Courthouse list to the south-west, which serves the coastal growth corridor. Each registry publishes its own daily list, but all draw from the same statewide eCourts system.

Frequently asked questions about the Armadale court list

How do I find the Armadale court list for today?

You can view the Armadale court list for today on this page and confirm it against the official eCourts Portal of Western Australia at ecourts.justice.wa.gov.au. Search by the defendant or party name, then note the courtroom number and listed time. Lists are updated on court sitting days.

What time does court start at Armadale Courthouse?

Sittings at the Armadale Magistrates Court generally commence from 10:00am, although your individual matter may be listed for a later time. The registry counter is open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Always arrive early to allow time for security screening and to find your courtroom.

What kinds of cases are heard at Armadale Magistrates Court?

The Armadale Magistrates Court hears summary criminal offences, traffic matters, bail applications, restraining order applications including Family Violence Restraining Orders, civil claims up to $75,000, and committal hearings for serious charges heading to a higher court. The Children's Court also sits at the complex.

Where is the Armadale Courthouse located?

The Armadale Courthouse is situated in central Armadale, about 28 kilometres south-east of the Perth CBD, and is accessible by the Armadale train line and local bus services with public parking nearby. Because the complex was rebuilt in 2023, always confirm the address and courtroom on your official hearing notice before travelling.

Can I attend a hearing at Armadale as a member of the public?

Yes. Most Magistrates Court hearings are open to the public, and you are entitled to observe proceedings from the public gallery unless a magistrate has closed the court for a particular matter, such as some children's or family violence cases. Observe courtroom etiquette, keep your phone switched off, and follow the directions of court staff.

Do I need a lawyer for a matter at Armadale Magistrates Court?

You are not required to have a lawyer, and many people represent themselves, particularly for minor civil claims under the Minor Cases Procedure. For criminal or traffic matters, however, obtaining legal advice is strongly recommended. Legal Aid Western Australia and local community legal centres can assist people who are eligible.

How is the Armadale court list connected to the wider WA court system?

The Armadale list is one of more than sixty Magistrates Court venues across Western Australia, all publishing through the same statewide eCourts Portal. This makes the Magistrates Court of WA the most geographically widespread court in the country, with Armadale serving as a key metropolitan hub for Perth's south-eastern suburbs.