| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| D** Firth v R** F** T** as B** H** Nursery | Unassigned | 10:00 am |
Last updated: 11 Sep 2026, 4:49 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
Bega Local Court is the principal court of first instance for the Bega Valley and the wider Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. It sits on the corner of Gipps and Carp Streets in the centre of Bega, sharing a heritage courthouse that was constructed in 1881 and still operates today as a combined Local and District Court venue. The building serves a Local Government Area that was home to 35,942 residents at the 2021 Census, with a median age of 52 and 9,945 family households, making it one of the older and more dispersed populations served by any regional court on the state's south-east coast.
As the entry point for almost every criminal and civil dispute in the district, the Bega Local Court carries a heavy share of the region's justice workload. Across New South Wales, the Local Court finalises roughly 94 per cent of all criminal court matters, and in 2025 it dealt with 146,977 finalisations statewide, a 9.1 per cent rise on the previous year. Regional courthouses such as Bega feel that volume directly, which is why checking the daily list before you attend is the single most reliable way to confirm where and when your matter will be heard.
What the Bega Local Court daily list covers
The Bega Local Court daily list is a published schedule of every matter set down for hearing on a given sitting day. It is organised by courtroom and start time, and it tells parties, legal representatives and members of the public where to be. The list spans the full range of work that a NSW Local Court handles, from short procedural mentions through to contested hearings that run for a full day.
Criminal and traffic matters
Most people appearing at Bega are dealing with a criminal or traffic matter. The Local Court hears summary offences and less serious indictable offences, and it manages the early stages of serious charges before they are committed to the District Court. Typical listings include:
- First mentions and adjourned criminal mentions
- Traffic offences such as drink and drug driving, speeding and driving while suspended or disqualified
- Bail applications and bail variations
- Sentence hearings following a plea of guilty
- Defended hearings where the charge is contested
- Section 14 mental health applications under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act
Traffic and vehicle offences are the largest single category of finalised matters in the NSW criminal courts, so on many Bega sitting days these listings dominate the morning schedule.
If a serious charge starts at Bega and is committed for trial or sentence, it moves up to the District Court, which sits in the same heritage building under the combined venue arrangement. You can follow that stage on the Bega District Court list. Reportable deaths from the Bega Valley are instead handled by the Bega Coroners Court, which runs a separate list and inquest process from the everyday Local Court roll.
Civil matters
The Local Court also resolves civil disputes, generally where the amount in dispute falls within its monetary jurisdiction. Common civil listings at Bega include debt recovery, small claims, and disputes between individuals or businesses in the Bega Valley and surrounding towns such as Eden, Merimbula, Bermagui, Cobargo and Candelo.
Apprehended Violence Orders
Applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders and Apprehended Personal Violence Orders form a substantial part of the list. Domestic violence work has grown sharply across the state, with domestic violence related matters rising 13.3 per cent in a single year and now accounting for more than one in four Local Court finalisations. Regional NSW has recorded some of the most widespread increases in domestic violence related assault, which is reflected in the AVO listings seen at courthouses across the Far South Coast.
Bega Local Court by the numbers
Statistics from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research and the Australian Bureau of Statistics help put the Bega list in context. The figures below are drawn from official state and regional data rather than the daily list itself, and they explain why the court's throughput can vary from one sitting week to the next.
- 35,942 residents in the Bega Valley Local Government Area at the 2021 Census, the community the court primarily serves.
- 1,386 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents recorded in the same area, a cohort for whom Circle Sentencing is available as an alternative sentencing process at Bega.
- 146,977 matters finalised in the NSW Local Court in 2025, up 9.1 per cent year on year.
- 94 per cent of all NSW criminal court finalisations are dealt with at Local Court level, underlining how much regional workload sits with courts like Bega.
- 247 days was the 2025 median time from arrest to finalisation for defended Local Court hearings, down 28 days from 275 the year before, a sign that case delays have eased.
- More than one in four Local Court finalisations now involve a domestic violence related matter.
These numbers are state and regional indicators. They do not represent the exact caseload of the Bega courthouse on any single day, but they reliably signal the mix of work and the pressures a rural Local Court manages.
How to check and read the Bega court list
The Bega Local Court list can be searched by name, case number, date, location, jurisdiction, the title of the presiding officer and the type of listing. Listings are generally available for matters set down up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past, which gives parties time to plan and confirm details. When reading the list, note the courtroom shown against your name, the listed start time, and any change in the presiding magistrate.
Listings can and do change. Matters are added, adjourned, brought forward or moved between courtrooms, sometimes at short notice. For that reason it is sensible to check the list on the morning of your appearance and again with the registry if anything looks unclear, rather than relying on a copy printed several days earlier.
People travelling in from the far corners of the Sapphire Coast sometimes have matters listed at a closer registry rather than at Bega. If you are unsure which court holds your matter today, check the Eden Local Court roll to the south or the Narooma Local Court list to the north before you set off. Both sit within the same South Coast grouping and share circuit magistrates with Bega.
Bega Local Court contact details and registry hours
The registry is your point of contact for filing documents, confirming listings and general enquiries. Current details are:
- Address: Corner of Gipps and Carp Streets, Bega NSW 2550
- Postal: PO Box 31, Bega NSW 2550
- Phone: (02) 6492 9300, or the statewide line 1300 679 272
- Fax: (02) 6492 9393
- Registry hours: 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday
- Telephone hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm on the statewide line, Monday to Friday
Audio Visual Link facilities are available at Bega, which allows some appearances, evidence and applications to be dealt with remotely where the court directs. Court forms can also be filed through the NSW Online Registry without attending in person.
Getting to the courthouse
The courthouse sits in the middle of the Bega town centre, close to the post office, shops and cafes, and is reachable by car or by regional bus. Street parking is available along Gipps Street and nearby streets, and additional parking is a short walk away. NSW TrainLink coach services connect Bega with other South Coast towns and with rail connections further north. The building offers wheelchair access, and anyone who needs an interpreter or disability assistance should contact the registry in advance so arrangements can be made.
What to expect on your court date
Arriving early gives you time to park, pass through any security checks and find your courtroom before your matter is called. Bring your court notice or attendance notice, photo identification and any documents relevant to your matter. Dress neatly, turn your phone off before entering the courtroom, and be ready to wait, as matters are not always called in the order printed on the list. Food, drink and recording devices are not permitted inside courtrooms.
If you do not yet have legal representation, arriving early also gives you a chance to speak with a duty service or a lawyer before your matter is reached.
Free and low-cost legal help in the Bega Valley
You do not have to navigate the court alone. Legal Aid NSW provides advice and, in some matters, a duty lawyer service at court. Community Legal Centres and the Aboriginal Legal Service also assist eligible people across the South Coast. For Aboriginal defendants, Circle Sentencing brings community Elders into the sentencing process for suitable matters, an option that has operated at Bega and reflects the significant First Nations population the court serves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bega Local Court the same building as Bega District Court?
Yes. Bega operates as a combined Local and District Court, so both jurisdictions share the same courthouse on the corner of Gipps and Carp Streets and the same registry contact details.
How far in advance can I see my matter on the Bega court list?
Listings are generally published for matters set down up to three weeks in the future and remain viewable for about one week after the sitting date.
What types of cases are heard at Bega Local Court?
Criminal mentions, traffic offences, bail applications, sentence hearings, defended hearings, civil disputes within the court's jurisdiction, and Apprehended Violence Order applications are all heard at Bega.
What if my listing has changed or my name is not on the list?
Listings can change without much notice. If your name does not appear where you expect, or the courtroom or time looks different, confirm directly with the registry on (02) 6492 9300 before making any decision about attending.
Do I have to attend in person?
Not always. Bega has Audio Visual Link facilities, and some matters can be dealt with remotely or through the NSW Online Registry. Whether you must attend depends on the type of matter and any direction the magistrate has made, so check your notice and confirm with the registry.
Can I get free legal advice before my hearing?
Yes. Legal Aid NSW, Community Legal Centres and the Aboriginal Legal Service offer free advice to eligible people, and a duty lawyer may be available at court on the day for certain matters.
