The High Court of Australia is the country's highest court. It sits in its own building on Parkes Place, Parkes, in Canberra's Parliamentary Triangle beside Lake Burley Griffin. Before each monthly sitting the court publishes a list of business setting out the appeals and other matters the Full Court will hear, and on each sitting day it publishes a court list with the courtroom, start time and counsel. This page brings those lists together.
What the High Court hears
The High Court decides appeals from the state and territory Courts of Appeal, the Full Court of the Federal Court and other courts, once special leave to appeal has been granted. It also hears cases in its original jurisdiction, including constitutional challenges, often run as a special case in which the parties agree the facts and ask the Full Court to decide questions of law. The Full Court is usually made up of five or seven Justices.
Applications for special leave to appeal are decided mostly on the papers, and some are listed for oral hearing on set days. The court also holds ceremonial sittings, for example to welcome a new Justice.
How to read the list of business
The monthly list is headed List of Business for Sittings at Canberra before the Full Court, with the date the sittings begin. Each numbered entry has:
- the appellant and the respondent, often with & Ors or & Anor where there are several parties
- the file number in brackets, for example S163/2025 or M64/2026. The letter shows the registry where the case was filed, such as S for Sydney, M for Melbourne, B for Brisbane, A for Adelaide, P for Perth and D for Darwin
- the court appealed from with the medium neutral citation of the decision under appeal, such as Supreme Court of Victoria (Court of Appeal) [2026] VSCA 9, or Special Case for matters started in the High Court
Separate lists are published for special leave applications listed for hearing and for sittings outside Canberra. The list of business does not give a day for each case; the daily court list does that.
The daily court list
On each sitting day the court list shows the courtroom (Court No. 1, 2 or 3), the start time in Canberra time, the bench (for example Before the Full Court), the purpose (for example For Hearing), the parties and the barristers appearing, including any Solicitors-General intervening for the Commonwealth, states or territories.
Sitting times and watching a hearing
The court normally sits in Canberra for two weeks of every month, except January and July. It may also sit in other capital cities as required. Usual sitting hours are 10:00am to 12:45pm and 2:15pm to 4:15pm. All oral arguments are open to the public, subject to seats being available, and a Court Guide is on duty in each open courtroom to explain the court, its history and the building. Audio-visual recordings of Full Court hearings are published on the court's website afterwards.
The High Court building
Queen Elizabeth II opened the building on 26 May 1980. Designed by Christopher Kringas of Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs, it is forty metres tall, built mainly of concrete and glass, and holds a large public hall, three courtrooms, an administrative wing and the Justices' chambers. It was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004.
- Entry: public entry is through the Level 2 forecourt, at the top of the ceremonial ramp from King Edward Terrace, between the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia. The accessible entrance is at ground level from Parkes Place East, with drop-off spots there.
- Parking: paid underground car parks at the National Gallery of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery on Parkes Place, plus an open air car park before the Portrait Gallery entry.
- Security: all visitors pass through security screening.
Registry and contact
The Principal Registry is at Parkes Place in Canberra, with offices in Sydney (Level 23, Law Courts Building, Queens Square) and Melbourne (Level 17, Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street). The registry is open from 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm on weekdays and can be called on (02) 6270 6829. Face to face services are no longer provided at the counter. Visitor questions go to the Court Guide team on (02) 6270 6998.
Frequently asked questions
When is the High Court business list published?
The list of business for a month's sittings is normally available a few weeks before the sittings start and may be amended as matters settle or are added.
Does the High Court sit every day?
No. Full Court sitting dates are fixed each year by a Rule of Court, usually two weeks each month apart from January and July.
Can I watch a High Court hearing in person?
Yes. Oral arguments are open to the public subject to seating, and visitors are asked to enter and leave courtrooms quietly.
Where are other federal court lists?
The Federal Court list covers daily hearings in every Federal Court registry.