WA Magistrates Court – Bunbury Courthouse List Today

The Bunbury Magistrates Court sits at 3 Stephen Street, Bunbury WA 6230, and functions as the busiest lower court in the South West region of Western Australia. As the first tier of the state court hierarchy, this registry handles the overwhelming majority of criminal, civil and protective matters that arise across Bunbury and the surrounding shires of Capel, Dardanup and Harvey. If you are searching for the daily Bunbury court listings, checking whether a matter is scheduled tomorrow, or simply trying to confirm which courtroom to attend, the published cause list on this page is drawn from the official eCourts portal and refreshed regularly so you can plan your appearance with confidence.

Bunbury is the third most populous city in Western Australia, with a 2021 census population of 76,452 across an urban area of roughly 222.8 square kilometres. Located approximately 175 kilometres south-south-west of Perth, the city serves as the administrative and judicial hub for a wide catchment of regional communities. That population base, combined with the court's regional reach, means the Bunbury registry processes a substantial and steady flow of matters each sitting week, from traffic infringements and minor assaults through to committal hearings for serious indictable offences bound for higher courts.

What the Bunbury Magistrates Court deals with

The Magistrates Court of Western Australia came into existence in May 2005 following the amalgamation of the former Court of Petty Sessions, the Small Claims Tribunal and the Local Court. That reform, recommended by the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, was the most significant restructuring of the state's lower court system in more than a century. Today the court operates under the Magistrates Court Act 2004 (WA) and the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (WA), and every Bunbury registry sitting draws its authority from that framework.

In its criminal jurisdiction, the Bunbury Magistrates Court hears summary offences such as traffic matters, disorderly conduct, minor assaults, drug possession and property offences. It also deals with certain indictable offences summarily where the law and the parties permit, and it conducts committal proceedings that decide whether a serious matter should be sent up to the District Court or the Supreme Court for trial. Matters are heard before a magistrate sitting without a jury, which is one of the defining features that separates this level of court from the higher trial courts.

In its civil jurisdiction, the court determines disputes valued up to $75,000. Claims of $10,000 or less are handled through the streamlined Minor Cases Procedure, a simplified process designed to keep small disputes affordable and quick to resolve. Western Australia's $75,000 civil ceiling sits lower than the equivalent limit in several other states, reflecting a deliberate policy of channelling higher-value claims to the District Court so that the Magistrates Court can concentrate on high-volume, everyday matters.

Restraining orders and protective matters

Beyond criminal and civil work, the Bunbury registry is a key venue for protective orders. The Magistrates Court issues Family Violence Restraining Orders (FVROs) and Violence Restraining Orders (VROs), which are consistently among the highest-volume matter types in the Western Australian court system. Applications for these orders, along with misconduct restraining orders, extraordinary licence applications and dividing fences disputes, all fall within the everyday work of the registry. If your matter concerns a restraining order, it is worth confirming the listing time carefully, as protective matters are frequently scheduled in dedicated sittings.

Where the court sits within the WA court hierarchy

Understanding the structure of the Western Australian courts helps you work out where your matter belongs and how any appeal would be handled. The Magistrates Court is the entry point and the busiest court in the state by volume. Sitting above it, the District Court of Western Australia handles serious indictable offences carrying maximum penalties of up to 25 years imprisonment, along with civil claims between $75,001 and $750,000 and unlimited jurisdiction in personal injury damages. The Supreme Court of Western Australia is the highest state court and deals with the most serious offences, such as murder, and with civil disputes exceeding $750,000.

Bunbury is one of only a handful of regional centres in Western Australia that hosts multiple court jurisdictions in the same city. Serious criminal and larger civil matters that outgrow the Magistrates Court can be escalated to the District Court sittings at Bunbury Courthouse, meaning defendants and litigants in the South West are often able to have their matters dealt with locally rather than travelling to Perth. Appeals from the Magistrates Court are heard in the District Court or the Supreme Court depending on the nature of the decision being challenged.

Western Australia is unique in operating its own state-based family law system. Rather than referring family matters to the federal system when the Family Law Act 1975 was enacted, the state established the Family Court of Western Australia, which holds regional sittings including in Bunbury. Separation, parenting and property matters for local families are dealt with through the Family Court sittings at the Bunbury Courthouse, keeping this distinct jurisdiction close to the communities it serves.

How busy is the Western Australian court system?

The scale of court activity across Western Australia is significant, and Bunbury contributes its share of that workload. According to the Magistrates Court of Western Australia Annual Report, criminal case lodgements reached 104,002 in 2024 to 2025, up from 93,180 in 2023 to 2024, an increase of nearly 12 per cent in a single year. That growth places real pressure on registries across the state and underlines why keeping track of accurate, up to date listings matters so much for anyone with a matter before the court.

Western Australia also operates the most geographically dispersed court system in the country, spanning roughly 2.5 million square kilometres and covering about one-third of the Australian continent. Court services stretch from the metropolitan registries of Perth to remote circuit courts across the Kimberley, the Pilbara and the Goldfields, and even to Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. Within that vast network, Bunbury acts as a stable regional anchor for the South West, serving a population that continues to grow year on year.

Neighbouring registries in the South West

The Bunbury registry does not operate in isolation. Nearby communities are served by their own courthouses, and matters are sometimes transferred or circuited between them. The Busselton Courthouse listings cover the next major centre to the south-west, roughly 52 kilometres away, while smaller registries at Collie, Harvey and Manjimup handle matters closer to those towns. If you are unsure which registry your matter has been listed at, checking the cause lists for the neighbouring courthouses can help you confirm the correct venue before you travel.

Attending the Bunbury Courthouse

The Bunbury Courthouse is located centrally at 3 Stephen Street, within easy reach of the city centre and public transport. The registry can be contacted by telephone on (08) 9781 4200 for enquiries about listings, filing, fine payments and general court procedure. If you are attending for the first time, it is sensible to arrive well before your listed time so you can pass through security, locate the correct courtroom and speak with duty staff or your legal representative if needed.

When you arrive, check the daily notice boards inside the courthouse against the online listing to confirm your courtroom, as allocations can change on the day. Dress neatly, turn off your mobile phone before entering the courtroom, and be prepared to wait, since matters are often grouped and called in an order set by the court rather than strictly by appointment time. If you cannot attend or need more time to obtain legal advice, contact the registry as early as possible rather than simply failing to appear, which can lead to a matter being decided in your absence or a warrant being issued.

Checking the daily court list online

Court lists in Western Australia are published through the official eCourts portal and updated daily. The listing shown on this page reflects the most recent available data so you can search by name or matter and see the scheduled date, time and courtroom. Because schedules can change without notice, it is always wise to verify the details directly with the Bunbury registry before attending, particularly if your matter was adjourned recently or listed at short notice. For a complete overview of listings across the state, you can also browse the full range of Western Australia court lists covering every registry from Perth to the remote circuit courts.

Frequently asked questions about Bunbury Magistrates Court

Where is the Bunbury Magistrates Court located?

The court is located at the Bunbury Courthouse, 3 Stephen Street, Bunbury WA 6230. It is situated centrally within the city and serves the wider South West region, including the shires of Capel, Dardanup and Harvey.

What is the phone number for the Bunbury Courthouse?

The registry can be reached on (08) 9781 4200. Registry staff can assist with enquiries about listings, document filing, court-imposed fine payments and general procedural questions, though they cannot provide legal advice.

What types of cases does the Bunbury Magistrates Court hear?

The court hears summary criminal offences such as traffic matters, minor assaults, drug possession and property offences, along with committal proceedings for serious charges. On the civil side it determines claims up to $75,000, with a simplified Minor Cases Procedure for disputes of $10,000 or less. It also deals with restraining orders and other protective matters.

How do I find the Bunbury court list for today or tomorrow?

The daily cause list on this page is sourced from the WA eCourts portal and refreshed regularly. You can search for a matter by name to see the scheduled date, time and courtroom. Listings for the following sitting day are published as they become available, so it is worth checking again close to your court date.

Can serious cases be dealt with in Bunbury, or do they go to Perth?

Many serious matters can be handled locally because Bunbury hosts District Court and Family Court sittings in addition to the Magistrates Court. Committal proceedings begin in the Magistrates Court, and eligible serious matters can be escalated to the District Court sittings held at the same courthouse rather than requiring travel to Perth.

What should I do if I cannot attend my listed court date?

Contact the Bunbury registry as early as possible on (08) 9781 4200 to discuss your options. Failing to appear without notice can result in the matter being decided in your absence or a warrant being issued, so it is always better to communicate with the court and, where possible, obtain legal advice beforehand.