NSW Goulburn Local Court List Today

Goulburn Local Court is the principal court of summary jurisdiction for the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, sitting inside the historic Goulburn Court House at 4 Montague Street, Goulburn NSW 2580, directly opposite Belmore Park. It is presided over by a Magistrate and serves as the entry point for almost every criminal, traffic, civil and domestic violence matter that arises across the Goulburn Mulwaree region and its surrounding villages. The same heritage building also accommodates the Goulburn District Court, which hears more serious indictable matters and appeals from Local Court decisions.

Goulburn is located roughly 195 to 200 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD and about 90 to 95 kilometres north-east of Canberra, adjacent to the Hume Highway and the Southern Highlands railway line. The Goulburn Mulwaree local government area recorded a usual resident population of 32,053 at the 2021 Census, with an estimated resident population of 33,112 by 2024 and a median age of 41 years. The court services this population along with residents of nearby communities including Marulan, Tarago, Bungonia, Tallong and Lake Bathurst.

What the Goulburn Local Court Deals With

The Local Court is where the vast majority of legal matters in the region begin and, in most cases, conclude. Across New South Wales, 94 per cent of all criminal court finalisations occur in the Local Court, and Goulburn follows this same pattern. The court hears matters summarily before a Magistrate rather than a jury, and it manages the early stages of serious charges before they are committed to the District Court.

Criminal and traffic matters

The court deals with summary offences and the initial handling of indictable offences, including:

• Drink driving, drug driving, speeding, negligent driving and other traffic offences
• Common assault, affray and other minor assault charges
• Minor drug possession and low-level supply matters
• Larceny, shoplifting and property offences such as malicious damage
• Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) applications for personal and domestic protection
• Bail applications, mentions, sentencing and committal proceedings

Civil and other jurisdiction

Beyond crime and traffic, Goulburn Local Court hears civil disputes, debt recovery and consumer claims. Its Small Claims Division handles matters up to $20,000, while the General Division deals with claims from $20,000 up to $100,000. The court also manages certain family law applications and administrative listings, and refers larger or more complex civil disputes to higher courts where the monetary limit is exceeded.

If your matter is too serious for summary hearing, it will not stay at this level. Indictable charges committed from Goulburn are sent upstairs to the Goulburn District Court, which sits in the same Montague Street building and also hears appeals against Local Court sentences and convictions. Bail granted or refused here can be reviewed there, so many defendants deal with both courts in the one heritage complex within a matter of weeks.

Goulburn Local Court by the Numbers

Understanding the scale of the Local Court system helps explain how a regional court like Goulburn fits into the wider justice picture. In the 12 months to June 2025, the NSW criminal courts finalised 151,113 defendant appearances, an increase of 7.4 per cent on the previous year. Local Court finalisations alone rose 7.7 per cent to 141,616 matters. Of defendants with a finalised outcome, 86 per cent had a proven charge, while about 8 per cent of matters were withdrawn by the prosecution.

Several trends shape the daily list at a court such as Goulburn:

• Domestic violence related matters now account for 27.1 per cent of all Local Court finalisations, roughly one in four cases.
• Traffic and vehicle offences remain the single largest category of proven offences statewide.
• The median time from arrest to finalisation for a defended hearing in the Local Court was 263 days in 2024-25.
• The proportion of proven defendants receiving a custodial penalty rose to 10.0 per cent.

Local crime context in Goulburn Mulwaree

Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows that crime in the Goulburn Mulwaree area has been broadly stable or falling in recent years. Recorded drug offences dropped by more than 40 per cent, from 377 in the year to September 2020 to 223 in the year to September 2022, with cannabis the most commonly detected drug followed by amphetamines. Domestic violence assault reports moved from 120 in the year to September 2018 to 131 in the year to September 2022, a rate BOCSAR described as close to the state average. Motor vehicle theft, by contrast, nearly doubled from 21 to 41 incidents between 2020 and 2021, illustrating how individual offence categories can move against the wider trend.

The Goulburn Court House: A Heritage Landmark

The building that houses the court is one of the most significant public structures in regional New South Wales. The current Goulburn Court House is the fourth to serve the district, following earlier courthouses built in 1830 to 1832, in 1834 and in 1849. Designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet with his assistant Edward Rumsey, it was constructed between 1885 and 1887 by builder David Jones at a cost of A£24,593.

The courthouse was officially opened on 14 October 1887 by Sir Frederick Darley, then Chief Justice of New South Wales. Built in the Victorian Free Classical style from sandstone with a distinctive copper dome and arched entrance porch, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 under reference number 00793. It remains a working court today, blending nineteenth century architecture with modern facilities such as audio visual link technology.

How to Read the Goulburn Local Court List

The Goulburn Local Court daily law list sets out every matter scheduled before the court, typically covering listings up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past. Each entry usually shows the party or defendant name, the courtroom (most Goulburn matters sit in Court 1), and the scheduled time, with many mentions listed for a 9:30 am start.

Listings are commonly described by their type, and knowing the terminology helps you understand what will happen on the day:

• Mention: a short administrative appearance to set a date, enter a plea or update the court
• Hearing: a defended matter where evidence is presented and the Magistrate decides the outcome
• Sentence: a listing where penalty is determined after a guilty plea or finding
• Committal: the process of moving serious charges to the District Court

On this page, names are partially masked to protect privacy. Because listings can change at short notice, you should always confirm your time and courtroom with the registry before attending.

Attending Goulburn Court House

Address and contact

Goulburn Court House is located at 4 Montague Street, Goulburn NSW 2580. The registry can be reached on 1300 679 272 or by post at PO Box 474, Goulburn NSW 2580. Registry counter hours are generally 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on sitting days.

Getting there and parking

The courthouse sits in central Goulburn opposite Belmore Park, within easy reach of the Hume Highway. Goulburn Railway Station is about a ten minute walk away, and local bus services stop nearby on Auburn and Goldsmith Streets. Street and public parking are available in the surrounding blocks, although spaces can fill quickly on busy sitting days, so arriving early is recommended.

Accessibility and facilities

The court is wheelchair accessible with ramps and accessible restrooms. Audio visual link (AVL) facilities are available for remote appearances and evidence, and interpreter services can be arranged if the registry is notified in advance. All visitors pass through a security screening checkpoint on entry.

Not every Southern Tablelands matter is heard at Goulburn. If you have been directed to a smaller centre on the same circuit, check the Yass Local Court list before you travel. Residents from further south often appear at the Queanbeyan court list instead. When in doubt, the wider NSW court lists let you confirm the right registry for today or tomorrow.

Circuit Courts and the Southern Tablelands

As the main court centre for the region, Goulburn coordinates circuit sitting arrangements for a number of smaller courts across the Southern Tablelands, including Crookwell, Gundagai and Yass, under the NSW Local Court listing calendar. This regional role means the Goulburn list often reflects matters and practitioners drawn from a wide catchment beyond the city itself, reinforcing its position as the judicial hub for a rural area of more than 3,220 square kilometres.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Goulburn Local Court located?

Goulburn Local Court sits inside the heritage listed Goulburn Court House at 4 Montague Street, Goulburn NSW 2580, opposite Belmore Park in the Southern Tablelands.

What types of cases does Goulburn Local Court hear?

It hears summary criminal offences, traffic matters, AVO applications, bail applications, committals for serious charges, and civil disputes up to $100,000, along with some family law and administrative listings.

How often is the Goulburn Local Court list updated?

The daily law list is updated regularly and generally covers listings up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past. Details can change, so confirming with the registry before your court date is advised.

What is the difference between the Local Court and the District Court at Goulburn?

Both sit in the same building. The Local Court deals with summary matters before a Magistrate, while the District Court hears more serious indictable offences, jury trials and appeals from Local Court decisions.

How do I contact the Goulburn Local Court registry?

The registry can be contacted on 1300 679 272 or by post at PO Box 474, Goulburn NSW 2580, during standard registry hours on sitting days.

Is Goulburn Court House wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The courthouse provides wheelchair access, accessible restrooms and audio visual link facilities, and interpreter support can be arranged in advance through the registry.