NSW Narrabri Local Court List Today

The Narrabri Local Court list gives you a fast, reliable way to check what is happening at 56 Maitland Street, Narrabri, before you arrive at the courthouse. Whether you are a defendant, a witness, a family member, a legal practitioner or simply a member of the public, knowing your matter number, courtroom and start time in advance saves stress on an already busy day. Narrabri Local Court is one of more than 160 Local Court venues that make up the busiest tier of the New South Wales justice system, and it serves the wider Narrabri Shire, a North West Slopes region of about 12,703 residents recorded at the 2021 Census.

This page explains how to read the Narrabri court list, where the courthouse sits, which matters a magistrate can hear here, and what recent crime and court data tell us about the volume of work moving through the region. All contact details and hours are drawn from official Local Court of NSW listings, and the statistics come from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

How to Check the Narrabri Court List

Court lists in New South Wales are published through the NSW Online Registry and the state's interactive court listing service. The list tells you the date, time and location of matters scheduled up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past, so you can confirm your appearance well before the sitting day. You do not need to phone the registry simply to find your listing, because the interactive list can be searched from any device.

When you open the Narrabri Local Court list, you can search by several fields to locate your matter quickly:

• Party name to find a matter listed under a person or organisation.
• Case number if you already have your CAN or file reference.
• Court location to filter results to Narrabri only.
• Listing date to view a specific sitting day.
• Listing type such as first mention, hearing, sentence, directions or judgment.

Because daily lists can change late in the day as matters settle, are adjourned or are added, it is sensible to check the list the afternoon before your appearance and again on the morning of your court date. Arriving early also lets registry staff direct you to the correct courtroom if the allocation has shifted.

Narrabri Local Court Location, Registry and Contact Details

Narrabri Local Court, also known locally as the Narrabri Court House, sits in the centre of town and is easy to reach from the main street. The registry handles filing, fine enquiries, form lodgement and general procedural questions, and Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities are available so some parties and witnesses can appear remotely rather than travelling long distances.

Key details at a glance

• Street address: 56 Maitland Street, Narrabri NSW 2390
• Postal address: PO Box 323, Narrabri NSW 2390
• Phone: 1300 679 272 (telephone hours 8:30 to 4:30, Monday to Friday)
• Registry hours: 9:00 to 1:00 and 2:00 to 4:00, Monday to Friday
• Facilities: Audio Visual Link (AVL) available; wheelchair access; interpreter services on request

If you need an interpreter or have accessibility requirements, contact the registry ahead of your date so arrangements can be made in advance. Court forms can also be filed online through the NSW Online Registry at any time, which is often faster than attending in person.

What Matters Are Heard at Narrabri Local Court

The Local Court is where the overwhelming majority of legal proceedings in New South Wales begin, and Narrabri is no exception. A single magistrate, rather than a judge and jury, decides matters here. The court's workload spans criminal, traffic, civil and protective jurisdictions, which makes it the central point of contact for most people who receive a court attendance notice in the district.

Criminal and traffic matters

Most criminal cases are summary offences, meaning less serious charges that a magistrate can finalise without a jury. Typical examples heard at Narrabri include minor assault, larceny and theft, property damage, drug possession, offensive behaviour and a wide range of traffic offences such as speeding, drink driving and driving while suspended or disqualified. More serious indictable offences usually start at the Local Court for a first mention and committal, then move to the District Court, which sits on circuit across the North West and hears trials and sentence matters for the region.

Civil disputes, AVOs and other work

On the civil side, the Local Court can decide money and property disputes valued up to $100,000, including debt recovery and small claims. It also deals with apprehended violence order (AVO) applications, both domestic (ADVO) and personal (APVO), bail applications, and appeals against certain administrative decisions such as a licence suspension. This broad jurisdiction is why the daily Narrabri list often mixes bail matters, mentions, hearings and applications in a single sitting.

Narrabri Local Court in Its Regional Context

Understanding the court is easier when you understand the community it serves. The Narrabri Shire covers roughly 13,031 square kilometres and takes in Narrabri itself along with Wee Waa, Boggabri, Bellata, Baan Baa and Pilliga. The median age of residents is 40 years, and 14.1 per cent of the population identifies as Aboriginal, well above the New South Wales figure of about 3.3 per cent. Policing across the shire is coordinated through the Oxley Police District, which also covers neighbouring towns to the south and east.

Recent BOCSAR data points to a broadly stable or improving crime picture in the shire. Property and theft-related offences across the Narrabri Shire fell to 308 recorded incidents in 2024, down from 493 in 2023, with break-and-enter numbers reaching their lowest point in a decade. That decline sits against a longer trend in which 535 theft incidents were recorded back in 2015. As with the rest of the state, domestic and family violence remained a significant driver of court work, reflecting a statewide pattern in which such matters continue to grow year on year.

The NSW Local Court System by the Numbers

The scale of the wider system helps explain why efficient access to court lists matters so much. In 2024/25, the NSW Local Court finalised 141,616 criminal matters, an increase of 7.7 per cent on the previous year. Across all criminal courts in the state, 151,113 court appearances were finalised in the same period, up 7.4 per cent. Domestic violence-related finalisations rose to account for 27.1 per cent of all Local Court finalisations, more than one in four matters.

Timeliness has also shifted. The median time from arrest to finalisation for defended hearings in the Local Court was 263 days in 2024/25, which is faster than the prior year but still longer than pre-pandemic levels. The proportion of convicted defendants receiving a custodial penalty edged up to 10.0 per cent. These figures underline why checking your listing, arriving prepared and seeking legal advice early can make a genuine difference to how smoothly your matter proceeds.

Nearby Courts in the North West

Narrabri sits within a cluster of regional courthouses, and matters are sometimes listed at a neighbouring venue depending on the circuit, the type of case or where charges were laid. If your matter is not at Narrabri, or you simply want to compare listings across the district, the following courts are the closest and most commonly linked to Narrabri proceedings:

• The Wee Waa Local Court, the smaller venue within the same shire, a short drive north-west of Narrabri.
• The Moree court list, covering the larger centre to the north where District Court circuit matters for the region are often heard.
• The Gunnedah court list, serving the neighbouring shire to the south within the same police district.
• The Tamworth court list, the major regional hub for the New England and North West, including higher-court sittings.

What to Expect on Your Court Date

A little preparation goes a long way. Narrabri is a working regional courthouse, and sitting days can be busy, so plan your travel and allow time to find parking and pass through the entrance. The following practical points apply to nearly every appearance:

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early and check the printed list or screen for your courtroom.
• Dress neatly and switch off your phone before entering the courtroom.
• Recording devices, food and drink are not permitted inside the courtroom.
• Address the magistrate as "Your Honour" and stand when speaking or when the magistrate enters.
• If you are unsure where to go, ask registry or court staff, who can point you to the right room or service.

You are entitled to represent yourself, but seeking advice from Legal Aid NSW, an Aboriginal Legal Service or a local solicitor beforehand is strongly recommended, especially for criminal, traffic or AVO matters where the outcome can affect your licence, record or liberty.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the Narrabri court list for today?

Search the NSW interactive court list or the NSW Online Registry by court location, party name or case number. The list shows matters up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past, and it is the same source used by the registry, so it reflects the current day's sitting.

Where is Narrabri Local Court located?

The courthouse is at 56 Maitland Street, Narrabri NSW 2390, in the centre of town. Street parking is generally available nearby, though early arrival is wise on busy sitting days.

What are the registry hours at Narrabri?

The registry is open 9:00 to 1:00 and 2:00 to 4:00, Monday to Friday. Telephone enquiries on 1300 679 272 are answered from 8:30 to 4:30.

Can I appear by Audio Visual Link?

Narrabri Local Court has AVL facilities, so some appearances can be made remotely. Whether AVL is suitable depends on the type of matter, so confirm with the registry or your legal representative in advance.

What happens if my matter is too serious for the Local Court?

Serious indictable offences start at the Local Court and are then committed to the District Court, which sits on circuit in the region. The magistrate deals with the early stages, including bail, before the matter moves up.

Do I need a lawyer to attend Narrabri Local Court?

You can represent yourself, but legal advice is recommended for criminal, traffic and AVO matters. Legal Aid NSW, an Aboriginal Legal Service and local private solicitors can all assist, and duty services may be available at court on some days.