NSW Broken Hill District Court List Today

The Broken Hill District Court is the intermediate criminal and civil court serving the Far West and Barrier region of New South Wales. It forms part of the District Court of New South Wales, which is the largest trial court in Australia. Sitting at the Broken Hill Court House on Argent Street, the court hears serious indictable criminal matters, civil claims, and appeals that fall outside the powers of the Local Court. For solicitors, barristers, defendants, witnesses, and members of the public, this page provides fast access to the Broken Hill District Court list today, along with verified information about how the court operates.

Because Broken Hill is one of the most remote judicial centres in the state, the District Court does not sit continuously here. Instead, judges travel to Broken Hill on circuit to hear listed trials, sentence hearings, and mentions. Checking the daily court list before travelling is important, as many people in the region drive long distances to attend, and listings can change at short notice.

Where the Broken Hill District Court Sits

The Broken Hill District Court shares the historic Broken Hill Court House with the Broken Hill Local Court. The building was constructed in 1889 and opened in January 1890, during the term of Premier Sir Henry Parkes. It is one of the finest surviving late-Victorian public buildings in the town, designed with a two-storey pedimented front, single-storey side wings, and wide verandahs. The entrance is marked by the lion-and-unicorn coat of arms that remains a recognisable feature of Argent Street today. In January 2015, Broken Hill became the first place in Australia to be added to the National Heritage List, and the courthouse is part of that nationally significant streetscape.

One detail that catches many visitors out is time. Although Broken Hill sits within New South Wales, the town and the surrounding County of Yancowinna follow Australian Central Standard Time (UTC+9:30), the same as Adelaide, rather than Australian Eastern Standard Time. This means registry hours and court start times in Broken Hill are set in Central time, so it is worth confirming which time zone applies to your listing.

Contact Details and Registry Hours

• Street address: 240 Argent Street, Broken Hill NSW 2880
• Postal address: PO Box 260, Broken Hill NSW 2880
• Telephone: 1300 679 272
• Fax: (08) 8084 3355
• Registry hours: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Central Standard Time (9:30 am to 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm Eastern time)
• Days open: Monday to Friday
• Facilities: Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities are available at this location for remote appearances

What Matters the Broken Hill District Court Hears

The District Court holds both a trial jurisdiction and an appellate jurisdiction. Its work at Broken Hill covers three broad areas.

Criminal Jurisdiction

In its criminal jurisdiction, the District Court can deal with all indictable offences except murder, treason, and piracy, which remain with the Supreme Court. Matters heard at Broken Hill include serious offences committed to the court from the Local Court after a committal, such as:

• Assault occasioning actual or grievous bodily harm
• Sexual assault and other serious sexual offences
• Supply and manufacture of prohibited drugs
• Robbery and armed robbery
• Break, enter and steal
• Fraud and dishonesty offences
• Dangerous driving causing death or grievous bodily harm

Serious criminal trials are heard before a judge and a jury of 12 citizens, unless the accused elects to be tried by a judge sitting alone. Where a person pleads guilty or is found guilty, the same court conducts the sentence hearing.

Civil Jurisdiction

In its civil jurisdiction, the District Court can hear claims up to $1,250,000, a limit raised from $750,000 by the District Court Amendment Act 2022. The general civil limit had not increased since 18 July 1997 before that reform. The court can also hear:

• All motor accident compensation claims, with no upper limit on the amount claimed
• Personal injury and public liability claims
• Breach of contract and debt recovery disputes
• Equity claims and injunction applications up to $100,000, following the 2022 increase from $20,000

Appeals

The Broken Hill District Court also hears appeals from the Local Court and the Children's Court, including appeals against conviction and appeals against the severity of a sentence. This appellate role is a core part of how the intermediate court supports access to justice across regional New South Wales.

Because the District Court sits here only periodically, most day-to-day matters in the town are dealt with elsewhere. Minor criminal charges, bail applications, apprehended violence orders, and committal proceedings start in the Broken Hill Local Court, which shares the same Argent Street building. If your matter has not yet been committed for trial or sentence, or you are chasing a mention, the Local Court list is usually the one you want to check first.

How the District Court Circuit Works in the Far West

Broken Hill is a regional registry served by the western circuit of the District Court. Judges sit periodically rather than every week, which allows a single courthouse to serve an enormous and sparsely populated catchment. The Far West region includes communities such as Wilcannia, Menindee, Tibooburra, and Silverton, and residents may travel several hours to reach the Argent Street courthouse. Audio Visual Link facilities help reduce that burden by allowing some appearances, bail applications, and procedural matters to be dealt with remotely.

Appeals and the most serious charges reach beyond Broken Hill entirely. Murder, treason, and piracy are reserved for the Supreme Court in Sydney, and a further appeal from a District Court decision goes to the Court of Criminal Appeal. Circuit work in the region also links to nearby registries, so people in outlying communities sometimes appear at the Wilcannia Local Court or travel east for matters at the Dubbo District Court instead.

How to Read the Broken Hill District Court List

The daily law list shows the matters set down for hearing on a given date. Each entry typically identifies the parties, the assigned courtroom, and the listed time. On this page, party names are partially masked to protect privacy, in keeping with responsible publication of court information. Because listings are provisional and can be adjourned, reallocated, or vacated, you should always confirm the details of your matter directly with the court registry before attending. This page is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any court, tribunal, or government body.

Broken Hill and the Bugmy Principle

Few regional courts have shaped national law as directly as Broken Hill. The case of Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37 arose from an incident at the Broken Hill Correctional Centre and became one of the most cited sentencing decisions in the country. William David Bugmy, an Aboriginal man with a background of profound social disadvantage, appealed to the High Court of Australia, which unanimously allowed his appeal. The decision, delivered by a bench of seven justices, confirmed that an offender's background of deprivation remains a relevant sentencing consideration and does not simply fade with the passage of time or repeat offending. The Bugmy principle is now applied by courts across Australia, and its origin in the Far West is a reminder that matters heard in remote courthouses can carry weight far beyond the region.

Broken Hill in Context

Understanding the setting helps explain why access to court information matters so much here. Key facts about the town include:

• Distance from Sydney: approximately 1,143 kilometres west
• Distance from Adelaide: approximately 511 kilometres north-east, making Broken Hill closer to the South Australian capital than to Sydney
• Population: around 17,700 residents
• Postcode: 2880
• County: Yancowinna
• Time zone: Australian Central Standard Time (UTC+9:30)
• Climate: a semi-arid outback climate with a mean maximum of about 24.2 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall near 242 millimetres

Planning Your Visit

If you have a matter listed at the Broken Hill District Court, a little preparation makes the day easier:

• Getting there: Broken Hill is reachable by the Barrier Highway, by NSW TrainLink rail and coach connections, and by Regional Express flights to Broken Hill Airport.
• Accessibility: the courthouse is wheelchair accessible, and support can be arranged through the registry.
• Interpreters: interpreter and translation services can be requested in advance for people who need language assistance.
• Legal help: Legal Aid NSW and local solicitors can assist, and duty services may be available on sitting days.
• In the courtroom: arrive early, dress respectfully, and switch mobile phones off before entering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Broken Hill District Court located?

The court sits at the Broken Hill Court House, 240 Argent Street, Broken Hill NSW 2880. It shares the building with the Broken Hill Local Court.

What is the maximum civil claim the District Court can hear?

The general civil limit is $1,250,000, raised from $750,000 in 2022. Motor accident claims can be heard with no upper limit on the amount claimed.

Does the Broken Hill District Court sit every day?

No. The District Court sits on circuit at Broken Hill periodically. Always check the current list and sitting dates before travelling.

Why does Broken Hill use a different time zone?

Broken Hill and the County of Yancowinna observe Australian Central Standard Time (UTC+9:30) rather than Eastern time, so court and registry times are set in Central time.