NSW Broken Hill Local Court List Today

Broken Hill Local Court is the principal court of first instance for the Far West region of New South Wales. It sits inside the heritage Broken Hill Court House at 240 Argent Street, the same building that hosts the Broken Hill District Court on scheduled sitting dates. Broken Hill is the largest regional centre in the western half of the state, home to roughly 17,500 residents at the 2021 Census and located about 1,143 kilometres west of Sydney and 511 kilometres north-east of Adelaide. Because the city runs on Australian Central Standard Time rather than eastern time, anyone checking a Broken Hill court list should confirm whether a listed time is quoted in local or Sydney time before travelling.

As a Local Court, it is presided over by a Magistrate and forms the entry point for almost every criminal, traffic, and civil proceeding in the district. The court also anchors a wider Far West circuit, with the same registry supporting sittings at Wilcannia and Wentworth. This page brings the Broken Hill Local Court daily law list into one place so defendants, solicitors, witnesses, and support people can confirm a hearing without phoning the registry.

Where Broken Hill Local Court fits in the NSW court system

The NSW court hierarchy runs from the Local Court through the District Court to the Supreme Court, with the High Court of Australia at the apex. The Local Court carries by far the greatest volume of work. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, NSW criminal courts finalised 156,256 court appearances in 2025, an increase of 8.3 per cent on the previous year. Local Court finalisations alone rose 9.1 per cent, climbing from 134,735 matters in 2024 to 146,977 in 2025. With more than 160 Local Court houses operating across the state, Broken Hill is the sole permanent Local Court serving the vast unincorporated Far West.

What the Local Court decides

A Magistrate hears matters without a jury. Most cases are dealt with on the papers or by short mention, plea, or sentence, rather than a full defended hearing. The court can hear evidence, decide guilt, impose penalties, grant or refuse bail, and make protective orders. Where an offence is too serious to be finalised summarily, the Magistrate commits it to the District Court, which sits in the same Argent Street courthouse.

Broken Hill Local Court in numbers

Court activity in the Far West mirrors state-wide trends. Domestic and family violence has become one of the busiest categories in the Local Court. BOCSAR reported that domestic violence related matters grew 13.3 per cent in 2025 and now account for more than one in four Local Court finalisations across NSW. This makes apprehended domestic violence order applications a significant part of the Broken Hill list on many sitting days.

Court delays have eased at the summary level. The median time from arrest to finalisation for defended Local Court hearings fell by 28 days, from 275 days in 2024 to 247 days in 2025. For most people, though, a matter is resolved far more quickly than that, because guilty pleas and straightforward mentions are finalised on the first or second listing. The Far West region also has a notably higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population than the state average, recorded at about 12.1 per cent locally compared with 3.4 per cent across NSW, which is why Aboriginal Legal Service representation and culturally appropriate support are important features of the local list.

If your matter turns out to be too serious for a Magistrate, or you are appealing a Local Court decision, it moves up to the Broken Hill District Court in the same Argent Street building. Very serious indictable trials and Supreme Court appeals are heard elsewhere in the region, most often at the Dubbo Supreme Court when a judge sits on circuit. Knowing which court holds your matter saves a wasted trip across the Far West.

Jurisdiction and the matters heard at Broken Hill

Criminal and traffic matters

The Local Court finalises summary criminal offences and less serious indictable offences that can be dealt with summarily. Common matters on the Broken Hill list include:

• Drink driving, drug driving, and other major traffic offences
• Driving while suspended, disqualified, or unlicensed
• Common assault and affray
• Larceny, shoplifting, and property damage
• Drug possession and low-level supply
• Offensive conduct, public order, and breach of good behaviour bonds
• Bail applications and adjournment or mention listings

Civil disputes

The Local Court hears civil claims up to $100,000. This covers debt recovery, contract disputes, consumer claims, motor vehicle property damage, and other money claims. The Small Claims Division deals with lower value matters through a more informal process, while the General Division handles larger claims with formal pleadings and evidence.

Apprehended violence orders

Both apprehended domestic violence orders and apprehended personal violence orders are made in the Local Court. These protective orders set conditions to keep a person in need of protection safe, and breaching an order is a separate criminal offence that returns the matter to the same court.

Committals to the District Court

Serious indictable offences such as aggravated assault, sexual offences, armed robbery, and large-scale drug supply begin in the Local Court and are then committed to the Broken Hill District Court for trial or sentence. Keeping both courts in the one building reduces travel for people living hundreds of kilometres from the nearest alternative court.

The Far West circuit: Wilcannia and Wentworth

Broken Hill Court House administers a circuit that reaches some of the most remote communities in New South Wales. Wilcannia Local Court, about 195 kilometres east on the Barrier Highway, and Wentworth Local Court, near the Victorian border, are supported by the Broken Hill registry and sit on designated days each month. If a matter is listed for one of these circuit locations rather than Broken Hill itself, the venue will be shown against the listing, so always check the court room and location before you set out.

If you cannot find your name on the Broken Hill court list today, check whether the matter was set down for one of the circuit venues instead. The Wilcannia Local Court and the Wentworth Local Court both sit on their own designated days, and a listing shown for those towns will not appear under Broken Hill. Consumer and tenancy disputes go to the tribunal rather than the court, so search the NCAT list separately for those.

Sitting times and how the daily list works

The court registry is open Monday to Friday. Proceedings generally commence at 9:30am, and the daily law list is finalised the day before and updated on the morning of the hearing. A single listing time, most often 9:30am, usually applies to every matter in a court room, because the Magistrate works through the list in an order set on the day. Practical points to keep in mind:

• Arriving at the listed time does not mean your matter is called at that time. Plan for a wait.
• Legal representatives and their appearances are shown on the list next to the party they act for.
• Names are partially masked on public listings to protect privacy.
• Listings can change late, so confirm details with the registry if anything is unclear.

Getting to Broken Hill Court House

The courthouse sits in the city centre on Argent Street, within walking distance of the main shopping strip and public parking. Key access details:

• Address: 240 Argent Street, Broken Hill NSW 2880
• Registry phone: 1300 679 272
• Email: local-court-broken-hill@justice.nsw.gov.au
• By road: reached via the Barrier Highway and Silver City Highway, with street parking nearby
• By rail and air: NSW TrainLink long-distance services and Broken Hill Airport connect the city for those travelling from outside the region
• Audio visual link: AVL facilities are available, allowing some appearances to be heard remotely with the court's approval

Because Broken Hill observes South Australian time, a hearing quoted as 9:30am local is 10:00am in Sydney during standard time. Confirm the time zone if you are appearing by phone or link from the eastern states.

Preparing for your court date

A little preparation makes the day run more smoothly. Before you attend:

• Confirm your date, court room, and time on the daily list, and arrive at least 30 minutes early for security screening.
• Bring your court attendance notice, photo identification, and any documents or references relevant to your matter.
• Dress neatly, remove hats and sunglasses inside the court room, and switch mobile phones off.
• Bring a support person if the hearing is likely to be stressful.
• Ask registry staff if you need an interpreter or disability access assistance.

Legal help and support in the Far West

Free and low-cost legal help is available for people appearing at Broken Hill. Legal Aid NSW provides duty solicitor assistance at court for eligible defendants, and the Aboriginal Legal Service supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients across the region. Community legal services and private solicitors also practise locally. If you are unsure of your options, speak to the duty solicitor on your first court date before entering a plea.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Broken Hill Local Court start?

Most matters are listed from 9:30am local time, Monday to Friday. The registry is open from 9:00am. Your matter may be called later in the morning depending on where it falls in the Magistrate's list.

How do I find out if my matter is listed today?

Check the Broken Hill Local Court daily law list at the top of this page, search by name or date, and confirm the court room shown against your listing. If details are unclear, contact the registry on 1300 679 272.

Can I appear by phone or video link?

The courthouse has audio visual link facilities, and the court may allow an appearance by phone or video in some circumstances. You need the court's approval in advance, so contact the registry or your solicitor to arrange it.

What is the difference between the Local Court and the District Court in Broken Hill?

The Local Court deals with summary criminal, traffic, and civil matters and hears the early stages of serious cases. Serious indictable offences and Local Court appeals are dealt with by the District Court, which sits in the same building on scheduled dates.

How much can the Local Court award in a civil claim?

The Local Court can hear civil disputes up to $100,000. Lower value claims are handled in the Small Claims Division through a simpler, less formal process.