NSW Brewarrina Local Court List Today

Brewarrina Local Court: Location, Sitting Days and Court Information

Brewarrina Local Court is a circuit sitting of the Local Court of New South Wales serving the town of Brewarrina and the wider Brewarrina Shire in the state's far north-west. The courthouse stands on Bathurst Street, directly beside the Brewarrina Police Station, and hears the criminal, civil and apprehended violence matters that arise across one of the most remote and close-knit communities in regional NSW. Because the Local Court is the entry point for almost every prosecution in the state, a first appearance at Brewarrina is where the vast majority of local legal matters begin and, in most cases, where they are finalised.

The community this court serves is small and distinctive. At the 2021 Census, the Brewarrina local government area recorded a population of 1,356 people, with a median age of 36. It also holds a notable statistical distinction: 51.4 per cent of residents identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, the highest proportion of any of the 131 local government areas in New South Wales. Understanding that context matters, because it shapes the way support services, interpreters and diversionary programs operate around the court.

Brewarrina Local Court Contact Details and Opening Hours

The details below are drawn from the official NSW Local Court location register. Registry services at Brewarrina are limited to court sitting days, so it is always sensible to confirm before travelling, particularly given the distances involved in the region.

Court name	Brewarrina Local Court
Street address	Bathurst Street, Brewarrina NSW 2839
Postal address	PO Box 5, Bourke NSW 2840
Telephone	(02) 6832 5820, or general enquiries 1300 679 272
Fax	(02) 6839 2422
Registry hours	9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Telephone hours	9:30am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Days open	Tuesday and Wednesday each week
Facilities	Audio Visual Link (AVL) available

Getting to the Courthouse

Brewarrina sits on the banks of the Barwon River, roughly 100 kilometres east of Bourke and about 800 kilometres north-west of Sydney. The courthouse on Bathurst Street is within easy walking distance of the town centre, and free on-street parking is generally available in the surrounding streets. Its position next to the police station is typical of small country court complexes, where a single precinct houses policing, prosecution and court functions. Anyone travelling from outlying properties or neighbouring communities should allow generous time, as public transport options are minimal and the registry closes early in the afternoon.

Brewarrina falls within the same listing arrangements as its neighbours, so it helps to know where else a magistrate sits. The nearest permanent registry is at Bourke, about 100 kilometres west, and matters are sometimes moved there when a Brewarrina sitting cannot proceed. If your matter has been relisted or you are checking a different town, the Bourke court list and the Walgett local court page cover the two closest sitting locations.

What Matters Does Brewarrina Local Court Hear?

As a Local Court, Brewarrina exercises the same broad jurisdiction as every other Local Court in New South Wales. The Local Court is the busiest court in the state, the place where all criminal proceedings commence and where most are completed without ever reaching a higher court.

Criminal Jurisdiction

The court deals with the majority of criminal matters in its area, including summary offences and indictable offences that can be dealt with summarily before a magistrate. It also conducts committal proceedings, the preliminary step that decides whether there is enough evidence for a serious indictable charge to proceed to trial in the District Court or Supreme Court. A magistrate sitting in the Local Court can impose a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment for a single offence, or up to five years in aggregate where a person is sentenced for multiple offences. Common matters heard at Brewarrina include:

• Traffic and driving offences, such as drink driving, driving while suspended and licence matters
• Assault and other offences against the person
• Property offences, including larceny, break and enter and malicious damage
• Drug possession and supply offences dealt with summarily
• Bail applications and the first mention of more serious charges

Civil Jurisdiction

On the civil side, the Local Court resolves money and property disputes for claims up to $100,000. This work is split across two divisions. The Small Claims Division hears claims up to $20,000 and runs on a less formal basis where the strict rules of evidence do not apply. The General Division hears claims above $20,000 and up to $100,000. Civil matters are decided on the balance of probabilities, meaning the court must be satisfied that a claim is more likely than not to be true.

Apprehended Violence Orders

The court also determines applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders and Apprehended Personal Violence Orders. These protective orders are a significant part of the workload in regional courts, and Brewarrina provides access to support for people involved in domestic and family violence proceedings.

Where a charge is too serious to finish in the Local Court, a committal sends it up to the District Court, and appeals against a magistrate's decision are heard there too. For this region that higher court sits at Dubbo, so anyone facing trial or lodging an appeal will end up on the Dubbo District Court list rather than the Brewarrina one. To check indictable matters or bail listings closer to home, the Dubbo court list today is the one to watch.

Sitting Days and the Bourke Circuit

Brewarrina is a circuit court, which means it does not sit every day. Instead it forms part of the listing arrangements that link Brewarrina with Bourke and Dubbo, with a magistrate travelling to hear matters on scheduled days. The court is listed as open on Tuesday and Wednesday each week, though the actual sitting pattern follows the Chief Magistrate's rostered calendar and can be adjusted at short notice according to demand. If you have a matter listed, always check the online court list, which shows listings up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past, and confirm the sitting with the registry.

Appearing by Audio Visual Link

Brewarrina Local Court has Audio Visual Link facilities. AVL allows a defendant, witness or legal representative to appear remotely rather than travelling to the courthouse in person, which is especially valuable across the vast distances of far-western New South Wales. In-custody defendants can appear from a correctional centre, and practitioners can often appear from their own chambers with the court's leave. Anyone hoping to use AVL should arrange it with the registry in advance rather than assuming it will be available on the day.

The Community Served by the Court

Court data is best understood alongside the community it reflects. The 2021 Census figures for the Brewarrina local government area paint a clear picture of a small, predominantly Aboriginal community:

• Total population of 1,356 people, split almost evenly between males (49.9 per cent) and females (50.1 per cent)
• Median age of 36 years
• 51.4 per cent identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, the highest share in the state
• Median weekly household income of $962
• 294 families and 734 private dwellings across the shire

The town of Brewarrina itself accounted for 931 of those residents. These figures explain why Aboriginal legal support, the Community Development Program and culturally appropriate diversionary options are important reference points for people appearing at this court.

Crime and Justice Context in New South Wales

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) does not publish separate offence rates for very small local government areas such as Brewarrina, because populations below 3,000 can produce unreliable rate calculations. Statewide trends still provide useful context for what the Local Court system is managing. Over the ten years to March 2026, recorded property crime fell significantly across New South Wales, while reported violent crime rose, a shift that may partly reflect increased reporting rather than higher underlying offending. Over the two years to March 2026, recorded crime remained largely stable, with steal from retail store up 9.1 per cent and robbery down 8.2 per cent. BOCSAR also reported the NSW adult prison population at 13,960, with people held on remand accounting for 46 per cent of all adults in custody, a reminder of how central bail decisions in courts like Brewarrina are to the wider system.

Preparing for a Court Date at Brewarrina

A little preparation reduces stress and helps a matter run smoothly. If you are due to appear at Brewarrina Local Court, the following steps are worth taking:

• Confirm your listing date, time and courtroom on the official online court list before you travel
• Arrive early, dress neatly and turn your phone off before entering the courtroom
• Bring all relevant paperwork, including your court attendance notice, any correspondence and identification
• Arrange legal advice ahead of time; a lawyer or the local duty service can often assist on the day
• If travel is difficult, ask the registry whether appearing by Audio Visual Link is possible for your matter
• Speak to Legal Aid NSW or an Aboriginal Legal Service if you are unsure of your rights or cannot afford a private lawyer

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Brewarrina Local Court located?

The courthouse is on Bathurst Street, Brewarrina NSW 2839, next to the Brewarrina Police Station. Mail for the registry is directed to PO Box 5, Bourke NSW 2840.

What days does Brewarrina Local Court sit?

The court is listed as open on Tuesday and Wednesday each week as part of the Bourke and Dubbo circuit. Actual sitting days follow the Chief Magistrate's roster and can change, so confirm with the registry or the online court list before attending.

How do I find my case on the Brewarrina court list?

Listings are published on the NSW Online Registry court list, which you can search by name, case number, location and date. The list generally shows matters up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past.

Can I appear at Brewarrina Local Court remotely?

Yes. The court has Audio Visual Link facilities that allow eligible people to appear without attending in person. AVL must be arranged with the registry in advance.

What is the maximum sentence a magistrate can impose?

A Local Court magistrate can impose up to two years imprisonment for a single offence, or a maximum of five years in total where a person is sentenced for multiple offences. More serious matters are committed to the District or Supreme Court.

What types of civil claims can the court hear?

The Local Court hears civil disputes up to $100,000. Claims up to $20,000 are dealt with in the Small Claims Division, and claims between $20,000 and $100,000 are heard in the General Division.

How can I contact the registry?

Call the court on (02) 6832 5820 or the general Local Court enquiries line on 1300 679 272 during telephone hours of 9:30am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 3:30pm on sitting days.