NSW Coffs Harbour District Court List Today

The Coffs Harbour District Court is the intermediate trial court serving the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, sitting within the Coffs Harbour Justice Precinct at 2-16 Beryl Street. It occupies the middle tier of the NSW court hierarchy, between the Local Court below it and the Supreme Court above it. The District Court of New South Wales is the largest trial court in Australia, established under the District Court Act 1973, and it marked its 50th anniversary on 23 June 2023. Coffs Harbour is one of its regional circuit locations, where visiting District Court judges preside over serious criminal trials, civil disputes, and appeals for a catchment that stretches along the coast and into the hinterland.

Coffs Harbour sits around 540 kilometres north of Sydney on Gumbaynggirr Country. The Coffs Harbour local government area recorded a population of 78,759 at the 2021 Census, up from 72,944 in 2016, a rise of close to eight per cent over five years. That steady growth is one reason the region needed a modern courthouse capable of handling a heavier and more complex caseload, and it explains why the daily law list at the Coffs Harbour court house can move quickly between mentions, sentences, and jury trials.

Jurisdiction of the Coffs Harbour District Court

The District Court has three main areas of work: criminal, civil, and appellate. Understanding which matters belong to the court helps defendants, witnesses, and legal practitioners read the Coffs Harbour District Court list with confidence.

Criminal jurisdiction

In its criminal jurisdiction, the court can deal with all indictable offences except murder, treason, and piracy, which remain with the Supreme Court. Criminal trials are heard before a judge and a jury of 12 citizens, unless the accused elects to be tried by a judge sitting alone. Most matters reach the District Court after a committal in the Local Court, where a magistrate decides whether there is enough evidence to send the case up for trial or sentence.

Civil jurisdiction

In its civil jurisdiction, the court hears claims from $100,001 up to a maximum of $1,250,000, and it can go beyond that limit if both parties consent. It also has unlimited jurisdiction for motor accident claims, regardless of the amount in dispute. The general civil limit was lifted from $750,000 to $1,250,000 by the District Court Amendment Act 2022, the first increase since 18 July 1997, and the equity and injunction thresholds rose from $20,000 to $100,000 at the same time. Common civil matters include personal injury, breach of contract, and defamation.

Appeals and residual jurisdiction

The Coffs Harbour District Court hears appeals against decisions of the Local Court and the Children's Court, and a judge can overturn or vary a magistrate's finding or penalty. The court also carries a residual jurisdiction covering certain matters transferred after the NSW Compensation Court was abolished, along with a summary jurisdiction for work health and safety prosecutions. Appeals from the District Court itself go on to the Court of Criminal Appeal or the Court of Appeal, depending on whether the case is criminal or civil.

Not every matter that starts here stays with the District Court. Where a serious offence begins as a committal in the Local Court, day-to-day mentions and bail applications are dealt with at the Coffs Harbour Local Court before the file moves upstairs. Reportable deaths from the same catchment follow a separate path again, listed before the Coffs Harbour Coroners Court rather than a District Court judge. Checking the right list saves a wasted trip to Beryl Street.

Inside the Coffs Harbour Justice Precinct

The courthouse forms part of the $73 million Coffs Harbour Justice Precinct, the largest justice precinct in regional New South Wales. Built on the site of a former Forests NSW depot and designed by PTW Architects, the precinct opened in January 2015 and became fully operational on 2 February 2015. The four-storey courthouse is around 50 per cent larger than the building it replaced and combines a courthouse and a police station on one site.

The courthouse was purpose-built for both jurisdictions that share the address. It contains two local courts, two jury courts, and a multipurpose courtroom, along with custody areas, jury facilities, and secure support spaces. Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities are available in the court rooms, allowing witnesses, vulnerable parties, and interstate participants to appear remotely without travelling to Coffs Harbour. The foyer features the Gumbaynggirr artwork "Decisions" by artist Brentyn Lugnan, recognising the traditional custodians of the land on which the court stands.

Types of cases on the Coffs Harbour District Court list

The daily Coffs Harbour District Court list can include a broad mix of criminal and civil matters. The most common categories are:

• Serious assault and grievous bodily harm charges
• Drug offences, including supply, cultivation, manufacture, and importation
• Sexual assault and other serious sexual offences
• Robbery, break and enter, and aggravated property offences
• Fraud and dishonesty offences
• Dangerous and negligent driving causing death or serious injury
• Sentence hearings following a plea or a finding of guilt
• Conviction and severity appeals from the Local Court
• Civil claims for personal injury, contract disputes, and motor accident damages

How to read the daily Coffs Harbour court list

Each entry on the list shows the party name, the assigned court room, and the listing time. A matter may be listed as a mention, an arraignment, a hearing, a trial, or a sentence, and the same courtroom can move through several matters in a single day. Statewide, the District Court remains a high-volume court: its civil registrations grew to 4,100 in 2023, up from 3,724 the year before, with 89 per cent of cases finalised within 24 months. Because listings can change at short notice when matters settle, resolve, or are adjourned, always confirm your details before travelling.

Practical tips before you attend

• Check the current list and your court room number on the day of your appearance
• Arrive early to allow time for security screening at the entrance
• Bring identification and any court documents, such as a Court Attendance Notice
• Turn off electronic devices before entering the courtroom
• Ask registry staff about interpreter, accessibility, or AVL support in advance

Sitting hours and contact details

The Coffs Harbour courthouse operates Monday to Friday. Key details for visitors and practitioners are:

• Address: 2-16 Beryl Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
• Postal address: PO Box 18, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
• Telephone: 1300 679 272
• Fax: 5622 9199
• Registry hours: 9:00am to 4:30pm
• Telephone hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Days open: Monday to Friday

Getting to the Coffs Harbour courthouse

The courthouse is on the northern edge of the Coffs Harbour city centre, close to the main shopping precinct. By car, street and off-street parking are available nearby, though spaces can fill quickly, so it is worth arriving with time to spare. By train, Coffs Harbour Railway Station is around two kilometres away and is served by NSW TrainLink XPT services running through the city several times a day. Coffs Harbour Airport, a short drive from the courthouse, offers daily flights to and from Sydney and other capital cities, which makes the region accessible for interstate parties and legal representatives. Local bus services stop within walking distance, and the building includes wheelchair access and hearing assistance facilities.

Communities served by the court

The Coffs Harbour District Court serves residents across the wider Mid North Coast, including Sawtell, Woolgoolga, Toormina, Boambee, Bonville, and surrounding towns. Because it is a circuit location, District Court judges travel to Coffs Harbour to hear matters during scheduled sitting periods, which are set out in the criminal and civil sitting calendars published by the District Court of NSW. Between those sittings, related matters may be dealt with at other regional registries such as Grafton, Lismore, or Port Macquarie.

Because Coffs Harbour is a circuit location, sitting weeks here are shared across the northern registries. If your matter is not listed during a local sitting, it may be carried to a nearby town: the Grafton court list today and the Port Macquarie court list both cover parts of the same coast and hinterland. Practitioners travelling the circuit often check all three before confirming where a client needs to appear that week.

Frequently asked questions

What matters are heard at the Coffs Harbour District Court?

The court hears serious indictable criminal offences such as assault, drug supply, sexual assault, and robbery, along with civil claims between $100,001 and $1,250,000, motor accident claims of any value, and appeals from the Local Court and Children's Court. It cannot hear murder, treason, or piracy, which go to the Supreme Court.

Where is the Coffs Harbour District Court located?

The court sits at 2-16 Beryl Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, within the Coffs Harbour Justice Precinct on the northern edge of the city centre. The same building houses the Coffs Harbour Local Court.

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

Check the daily Coffs Harbour District Court list for the party name, court room, and listing time, then confirm the details with the court registry. Listings can change when matters settle or are adjourned, so it is important to verify before you attend.

Does the Coffs Harbour court offer remote appearances?

Yes. Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities are available in the court rooms, so witnesses, vulnerable parties, and remote participants can appear without attending in person. Arrangements should be made with the registry ahead of the hearing date.

What is the difference between the Local Court and the District Court at Coffs Harbour?

The Local Court deals with less serious criminal matters and civil claims up to $100,000, and it conducts committal hearings for serious offences. The District Court then hears those serious indictable matters, larger civil claims, and appeals from Local Court decisions. Both courts operate from the same Beryl Street address.

How far in advance are court sitting dates set?

Criminal and civil sitting periods for regional circuit locations, including Coffs Harbour, are published in advance by the District Court of NSW. Individual matters are then listed within those sitting periods, and the daily list confirms the court room and time for each appearance.