| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| S** DENNIS | Unassigned | 9:30 am |
| S** Z** ROBINS for M** A** MCKELLAR v S** DENNIS | Unassigned | 9:30 am |
Last updated: 12 Sep 2026, 3:35 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
Bourke Local Court is the principal court of summary jurisdiction serving the Far West of New South Wales, sitting in the historic Bourke Court House at 55 to 57 Oxley Street, Bourke NSW 2840. The courthouse stands opposite the Bourke Police Station and sits on the banks of the Darling River, roughly 800 kilometres north-west of Sydney and about 360 kilometres from the regional centre of Dubbo. As one of the most remote sitting locations in the state, it anchors the justice system for a vast and sparsely populated catchment, making the daily Bourke Local Court list a genuinely useful tool for anyone who cannot simply drive across town to check a hearing in person.
The court operates within the Orana and Far West region and forms part of the broader Local Court of New South Wales, the busiest court system in Australia, which finalises the overwhelming majority of all criminal matters in the state each year. For residents of Bourke and the surrounding shire, this is where most legal proceedings begin, and for many, where they conclude.
Where Bourke Local Court Is Located
The courthouse address is 55 to 57 Oxley Street, Bourke NSW 2840, with postal correspondence directed to PO Box 5, Bourke NSW 2840. The building carries coordinates of approximately 30.09 degrees south and 145.94 degrees east, placing it squarely within the Bourke town centre where free street parking is generally available nearby.
Getting to the Courthouse
- By road: Bourke is reached via the Mitchell Highway, the main sealed route connecting the town to Dubbo, Nyngan and the rest of central-western New South Wales.
- By air: Bourke Airport lies a short distance from the town centre and is the method many visiting legal practitioners and travelling parties prefer, given the long driving distances involved.
- By coach: Long-distance bus and coach services connect Bourke with Dubbo and other regional hubs, offering an option for those without private transport.
Because of the distances involved, planning your travel well ahead of your listed date is strongly advised. Weather, road conditions and limited flight schedules can all affect arrival times in this part of the outback.
Bourke Local Court handles committals and summary matters, but serious indictable charges are sent up for trial or sentence at a higher court. Those matters are usually listed at Dubbo District Court, the nearest sitting of the District Court for the far west. If you have been committed for trial, check the Dubbo list rather than the Bourke one on your next return date.
What the Bourke Local Court List Shows You
The Bourke Local Court list published on this page sets out the matters scheduled before the court, including the party name, the assigned courtroom where available, and the listed time. The official NSW court list system, accessible through the NSW Online Registry, displays matters up to three weeks into the future and one week into the past. Parties, solicitors and members of the public can search by name, case number, court date, jurisdiction, listing type and the title of the presiding officer.
Court lists are refreshed several times each day as matters are added, adjourned or reassigned. For that reason, anyone with a hearing should check the list again on the morning of their court date, since a listing that appeared the night before can shift. Names on public lists are commonly partially masked to protect privacy, and all details should be confirmed with the registry before you attend.
Jurisdiction and Types of Matters Heard
Bourke Local Court deals with the full spread of matters within the summary jurisdiction of a New South Wales Local Court. A single magistrate, rather than a jury, hears and determines the matters listed.
Criminal and Traffic Matters
The court handles summary criminal offences and the early stages of more serious indictable matters, which are later committed to the District Court. Common matters include drink driving and other traffic offences, common assault, larceny, break and enter, drug possession, offensive conduct and property damage. It also manages bail applications, sentence hearings and defended hearings.
Civil Disputes
In its civil capacity, the Local Court determines disputes up to 100,000 dollars in its General Division, while the Small Claims Division deals with lower-value claims up to 20,000 dollars. These matters can include debt recovery, contract disputes and claims for damages.
AVOs and Family Violence
Applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders and Apprehended Personal Violence Orders are heard here, an important function given that the Bourke region has historically recorded elevated rates of domestic and family violence relative to the state average.
The Brewarrina Circuit and Far West Catchment
Bourke does not operate in isolation. Its listing calendar is closely tied to the nearby Brewarrina Local Court, which shares the same Bourke postal address at PO Box 5. Brewarrina generally sits on set weekdays, while surrounding smaller localities are served through circuit arrangements. This clustering of small outback registries under a shared administrative structure is typical of the Far West, where population is thin and travel distances are large. Audio Visual Link facilities are available at the Bourke courthouse, allowing some parties, witnesses and practitioners to appear remotely rather than making the long journey in person.
A Heritage Courthouse With More Than a Century of Service
The present Bourke Court House is the third courthouse to serve the town. It was constructed between 1897 and 1900 at a cost of 9,596 pounds, and its design is attributed to George Oakeshott, who worked under the New South Wales Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. The builder was J. Douglas of Orange. Designed in the Federation Free style and adapted for the hot, dry outback climate, the building features covered walkways, an enclosed garden court, slate-clad hipped roofs and a distinctive corner turret above the central courtroom.
The courthouse was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 under listing reference 791, recognised as an outstanding example of Federation Free style public architecture and a significant landmark within the Bourke townscape. Major restoration work was carried out in 1968, and courtroom bench seating was restored again in 2010. More than a century after it opened, the building continues to serve its original purpose as a working court.
Crime and Court Activity in the Bourke Region
The volume of matters passing through Bourke Local Court reflects the wider crime profile of the Bourke Local Government Area, which the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has long identified as one of the highest per capita in the state. In a widely cited BOCSAR analysis covering the twelve months to March 2014, Bourke recorded the highest rate of malicious damage to property of any Local Government Area in New South Wales, at 5,003 incidents per 100,000 people, almost five times the state rate of 1,022 per 100,000.
More recent BOCSAR-sourced figures indicate that offences against justice procedures, theft and assault remain the most frequently recorded categories in the Bourke area, with several hundred incidents in each category recorded in a single reporting year. Against the 2021 Census population of the Bourke township of around 2,340 residents, these figures translate into some of the highest per-resident offence rates in the state. This concentration of matters, spread across a small and remote population, explains why a single sitting day at Bourke can carry a busy list and why an accurate, current court schedule matters so much to the people involved.
Registry Details and Contact Information
- Address: 55 to 57 Oxley Street, Bourke NSW 2840
- Postal address: PO Box 5, Bourke NSW 2840
- Phone: 1300 679 272
- Fax: (02) 5834 7490
- Email: local-court-bourke@justice.nsw.gov.au
- Registry hours: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Telephone hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
- Days open: Monday to Friday
- Facilities: Audio Visual Link (AVL) available
How to Prepare for Your Day at Bourke Local Court
- Confirm your listing on the morning of your court date, as times and courtrooms can change.
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to allow for security screening and to locate the correct courtroom.
- Bring photo identification, all court papers, and any documents or evidence relevant to your matter.
- Dress neatly and switch off your mobile phone before entering the courtroom.
- Address the magistrate respectfully and follow the directions of court staff at all times.
- If you need legal help, contact Legal Aid NSW or a community legal centre servicing western New South Wales well before your date.
- Request an interpreter or accessibility assistance from the registry in advance if required.
The Bourke registry sits on a circuit shared with other far-west courthouses, so a matter first mentioned here may be adjourned to a neighbouring town. If yours has moved, the Brewarrina Local Court and Cobar court list cover the same circuit region. For coronial and higher civil matters, the Dubbo Supreme Court sittings apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bourke Local Court located?
Bourke Local Court sits in the Bourke Court House at 55 to 57 Oxley Street, Bourke NSW 2840, opposite the Bourke Police Station in the Far West of New South Wales.
How do I check the Bourke Local Court list for today?
You can review the daily Bourke Local Court list on this page, or search the official NSW Online Registry by name, case number, date or listing type. Always verify details with the registry, as lists update throughout the day.
What types of cases does Bourke Local Court hear?
The court hears summary criminal and traffic offences, civil disputes up to 100,000 dollars, small claims up to 20,000 dollars, bail and sentence matters, and applications for Apprehended Violence Orders.
Can I appear at Bourke Local Court by video link?
Audio Visual Link facilities are available at the Bourke courthouse, which can allow some parties and practitioners to appear remotely. Contact the registry on 1300 679 272 to confirm whether AVL is available for your specific matter.
Does Bourke Local Court cover other towns?
Yes. Bourke is administratively linked with the nearby Brewarrina Local Court and services a wide Far West catchment, with matters from surrounding communities managed through shared circuit and registry arrangements.
