| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| G** G D R & C** H E U C | BROOME CIRCUIT | 10:00am |
| L** J & S** W | BROOME CIRCUIT | 10:00am |
| M** E & M** D W | BROOME CIRCUIT | 10:00am |
| C** D & P** S | BROOME CIRCUIT | 11:00am |
Last updated: 17 Jun 2026, 10:05 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Broome courthouse is the principal family law venue for the Kimberley, and each time the Family Court of Western Australia circuits to town, the daily list becomes the single most important document for separated parents, respondents, lawyers and support workers across the region. Broome sits 2,046 kilometres north of Perth, which makes local sittings a genuine access-to-justice lifeline rather than a convenience. When family law judges and magistrates travel north, the Broome family court list published on the day tells you exactly which parenting, property and divorce matters are being heard, in which courtroom, at what time, and before which judicial officer. Getting that information early and accurately is the difference between a calm morning and a missed appearance.
What the Broome Family Court list covers
The Family Court of Western Australia is unlike any other family law court in the country. It is the only state-based family court in Australia, established under the Family Court Act 1975 (WA) and operational from 1976. Every other state and territory relies on the federal Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, but Western Australia runs its own court under the Family Court Act 1997 (WA), which mirrors the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975. Because Western Australia only partially referred its family law powers to the Commonwealth, the WA court retains jurisdiction over de facto relationship matters as well as married couples. In practical terms, the daily Broome family court list can include applications from both married and de facto parties under the one roof.
When the court sits in Broome, a typical list will feature parenting matters, property and financial settlements, divorce applications, and interim or procedural events. The court is led by Chief Judge Gail Sutherland, who has held the office since January 2019, and the bench operates with 25 judicial positions across the state. Full-time sittings run in Perth, while Broome is one of only a handful of regional centres, alongside Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie, that receive dedicated family law circuit sittings through the year.
Where the court sits in Broome
Family law circuits in Broome are heard at the Broome Courthouse on Hamersley Street, Broome WA 6725. The building itself is one of the more remarkable court venues in Australia. It began life as the Broome Cable House, which opened on 9 April 1889 as a submarine telegraph cable station and was later converted into a courthouse. The heritage-listed structure was added to the Western Australia State Heritage Register on 28 August 2001 under reference number 296, and it still operates today as a working court within roughly three acres of landscaped tropical gardens. Plans to replace the more than 130-year-old building were first raised back in 2015, and it remains one of the state's busiest regional courtrooms.
- Address: Hamersley Street, Broome WA 6725
- Postal: PO Box 606, Broome WA 6725
- Registry hours: 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
- Phone: (08) 9192 1137
Because the family court presence in Broome is a circuit rather than a permanent registry, the calendar of sitting weeks matters enormously. Judicial officers and family law magistrates travel to town for scheduled blocks, so parties should always confirm the sitting dates before making travel arrangements from remote communities.
Why the Broome family court list matters for the Kimberley
The catchment served by the Broome court is vast. The Shire of Broome alone covers 55,796 square kilometres, and the wider Kimberley electorate spans 839,289 square kilometres, making it one of the largest and most remote court catchments in the nation. Broome recorded a population of 14,660 at the 2021 census and is the largest town in the Kimberley, while the surrounding shire is home to 16,959 people. For families spread across towns such as Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and Wyndham, and for people in remote Aboriginal communities, a Broome sitting is often the closest family law hearing available.
Demand across the region is high and rising. In 2026, the Department of Justice scheduled an additional 12 weeks of sittings with an extra magistrate to help ease case delays across the West Kimberley circuit, driven in part by significant family and domestic violence matters. The Kimberley Community Legal Service reported that its staff travelled more than 56,000 kilometres delivering outreach in a single financial year, and that around 40 per cent of its work involved family and domestic violence matters. Those figures show why timely, accurate court list information is so valuable in this part of Western Australia.
How to read a Broome family court list
Family law lists use their own shorthand. Understanding a few key terms helps you work out what is expected on the day:
- Directions or procedural hearing: a short event where the court sets the next steps and timetable.
- Interim hearing: a hearing for temporary orders, often about living arrangements for children, until a final decision is made.
- Conciliation or case assessment conference: a structured meeting aimed at helping parties reach agreement.
- Trial or final hearing: the substantive hearing where final parenting or property orders are determined.
- Divorce list: applications to formally end a marriage, which are frequently dealt with as a group.
If your name appears with a courtroom and a time, plan to arrive well before the listed time. Circuit lists can move quickly, and matters are sometimes reordered on the day.
Filing, fees and the eCourts portal
All document lodgement at the Family Court of Western Australia is now handled through the eCourts portal rather than over the counter. Parties who need a file number and participant ID can contact the Family Court call centre on (08) 9224 8222. Court fees are reviewed annually and increased on 1 July 2026 in line with movements in the consumer price index, so anyone filing a divorce or other application should check the current fee before lodging. Fee reductions are available for eligible applicants experiencing financial hardship, which is a meaningful consideration for many Kimberley families.
Preparing for your Broome family court date
Good preparation reduces stress and delay. A few practical steps go a long way:
- Confirm the sitting dates and that your matter is actually listed for the Broome circuit before you travel.
- Check the published daily list on the morning of your hearing, as courtroom allocations can change.
- Bring copies of all relevant documents, affidavits and any orders already made.
- Arrive early to clear building entry and locate your courtroom within the heritage complex.
- Arrange legal advice or duty support in advance, particularly where family or domestic violence is involved.
If your family law matter connects with other proceedings, remember that Broome also hosts Broome Magistrates Court sittings and receives Broome District Court circuit sittings, so it is worth checking the right list for the right jurisdiction. For a full picture of family law venues across the state, the Bunbury Family Court page covers another key regional circuit, and the statewide WA court lists hub brings every sitting venue together in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Broome Family Court located?
Family law circuits are heard at the Broome Courthouse on Hamersley Street, Broome WA 6725, a heritage-listed building that first opened as the Broome Cable House in 1889.
Is the Family Court in Broome a permanent registry?
No. The Family Court of Western Australia circuits to Broome for scheduled sitting weeks. Full-time family law sittings are held in Perth, while Broome is one of five regional circuit centres alongside Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie.
Does the Broome Family Court hear de facto matters?
Yes. Because Western Australia runs the only state-based family court in Australia under the Family Court Act 1997 (WA), it hears both married and de facto relationship matters, including parenting, property and divorce applications.
How do I contact the Broome court?
You can reach the Broome Courthouse on (08) 9192 1137 during registry hours of 9:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. For family law filing and file numbers, the Family Court call centre is (08) 9224 8222.
Where can I find the Broome family court list for today?
The current day's list is the authoritative source for courtroom, time and judicial officer. Always check the most recent version on the morning of your hearing, as circuit lists can be reordered.
