NSW Macksville Local Court List Today

The Macksville Local Court list is the official daily record of every matter set down before the court on River Street, Macksville, on the banks of the Nambucca River. If you have received a Court Attendance Notice, a summons, or an Apprehended Violence Order application, checking the list confirms your listing date, the courtroom, and the type of proceeding so you arrive prepared. Because Macksville is a circuit location that sits on scheduled days rather than every weekday, verifying the current list is the most reliable way to confirm exactly when your matter will be called.

Court lists for Macksville are published through the NSW Online Registry and the Search NSW Court Lists service, which draw from the same case management system used across the state. Listings are typically available up to three weeks ahead and one week in the past, and the data refreshes throughout the sitting day, so a matter that is adjourned, added, or moved between courtrooms is reflected quickly. Checking the list the afternoon before, and again on the morning of your appearance, is a simple habit that helps you avoid missing a call-over or a changed start time.

How to Read the Macksville Local Court List

The published list is searchable, which means you do not need to scroll through every entry to find your matter. You can locate a listing by entering the details on your court paperwork and filtering the results down to the relevant hearing.

• Party or defendant name exactly as it appears on your notice or summons.
• Case number for a precise match when a common name returns several results.
• Court location set to Macksville to exclude matters listed elsewhere on the circuit.
• Listing date to view a specific sitting day.
• Jurisdiction and listing type, such as first mention, sentence, or defended hearing.
• Presiding officer title where that information is displayed.

What the Daily Law List Shows

A single Macksville sitting day can cover a broad mix of proceedings. The daily law list commonly includes:

• Summary criminal matters and first mentions.
• Traffic offences, including low, mid, and high range drink driving.
• Apprehended Domestic Violence Order and Apprehended Personal Violence Order applications.
• Bail applications and bail variations.
• Sentence hearings and defended hearings.
• Civil and general listings within the Local Court's monetary limits.

Where Macksville Fits Within the NSW Court System

Macksville Local Court is a circuit court on the Mid North Coast and forms part of the Kempsey circuit, sitting alongside Kempsey and Bellingen. Registry support and administrative correspondence for Macksville matters are handled through the Kempsey Local Court list registry, which is the base court for the circuit. Macksville generally sits about once a month on a scheduled sitting day, with matters usually commencing from 10:00am, so it is important to confirm the exact date on the current list rather than assuming a weekly sitting.

The Local Court deals with the great majority of everyday legal matters, but it does not hear the most serious indictable offences to conclusion. Where a charge must proceed on indictment, the matter is committed from the Local Court to the District Court for trial or sentence, with regional sittings for the area held at courts such as the Coffs Harbour District Court. Your court paperwork will indicate whether your matter is expected to move to a higher court.

Types of Matters Heard at Macksville Local Court

As a Local Court, Macksville handles summary offences and the early stages of more serious cases. The Local Court is the busiest tier of the New South Wales court system by a wide margin. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the Local Court finalised 146,977 criminal appearances in 2025, which was roughly 94 per cent of the 156,256 appearances finalised across all NSW criminal courts that year.

Criminal and Traffic Offences

Common criminal listings include assault, larceny, property damage, and drug possession, while traffic listings frequently involve drink driving, drive while suspended or disqualified, and negligent driving. Total NSW criminal court finalisations rose 8.3 per cent between 2024 and 2025, and Local Court finalisations alone increased 9.1 per cent, up from 134,735 the previous year, which reflects steadily rising demand on regional and metropolitan lists alike.

Domestic and Personal Violence Orders

Apprehended Violence Order matters make up a significant and growing share of Local Court work. Domestic violence related finalisations rose 13.3 per cent in 2025 and now account for more than one in four matters finalised in the Local Court. Both Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders and Apprehended Personal Violence Orders are dealt with at Macksville, and these listings often run alongside related criminal charges.

Bail, Sentence, and Defended Hearings

The court also decides bail, hears pleas, and conducts defended hearings where the facts are contested. Efficiency across the system has improved recently, with the median time from arrest to finalisation for defended Local Court hearings falling to 247 days in 2025, down from 275 days in 2024. Even so, hearings can be adjourned or reordered, which is another reason to confirm your listing on the day.

Court Statistics and Local Context

Macksville is the council seat of the Nambucca Valley, a local government area on the Mid North Coast that covers 1,491 square kilometres and was home to 20,407 residents at the 2021 Census. The area was established on 15 December 1915 and sits within the Oxley state electorate and the federal division of Cowper. Understanding this catchment helps explain the volume and mix of matters that appear on the Macksville list, from rural traffic offences to community and domestic disputes.

Across the wider system, the District Court finalised 3,120 matters in 2025 while the Children's Court finalised 6,092, figures that put the scale of Local Court work into perspective. Residents to the north frequently monitor the neighbouring Coffs Harbour Local Court list, and you can browse every location through the complete index of NSW court lists if your matter has been set down elsewhere. For most people who receive a notice to attend Macksville, however, their matter will begin, and very often conclude, in the Local Court, which is why the daily list is the single most useful document to monitor in the lead up to a hearing.

Visiting Macksville Local Court

The courthouse is centrally located and accessible by road, rail, and coach, with the Pacific Highway, the North Coast railway line, and regional bus services all connecting the town. Macksville sits roughly midway between Sydney and Brisbane and about 500 kilometres north of Sydney. Key visitor details are set out below.

• Address: River Street, Macksville NSW 2447.
• Postal: PO Box 135, Macksville NSW 2447.
• General court enquiries: 1300 679 272.
• Registry hours: generally 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm on registry and sitting days, with a later 9:30am opening on some days.
• Facilities: Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities are available, along with wheelchair access.
• Interpreters: can be arranged in advance through the registry.

Preparing for Your Court Date

A little preparation makes the day far less stressful and helps your matter run smoothly.

• Confirm your listing on the Macksville court list the day before and again on the morning of your appearance.
• Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to allow for parking, security screening, and finding the correct courtroom.
• Bring photo identification, your Court Attendance Notice or summons, and any supporting documents.
• Dress neatly and turn off mobile phones before entering the courtroom.
• Seek legal advice early, from a private solicitor or Legal Aid NSW, particularly for contested, drink driving, or Apprehended Violence Order matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the Macksville court list for today?

Search the Macksville listing through the NSW Online Registry or the Search NSW Court Lists service, filter by the Macksville location, and enter your name or case number. Listings appear up to three weeks ahead and refresh through the sitting day, so check again on the morning of your appearance.

What days does Macksville Local Court sit?

Macksville is a circuit court that generally sits about once a month on a scheduled day within the Kempsey circuit, with matters usually starting from 10:00am. Always confirm the exact date on the current list, as circuit arrangements can change through the year.

Can I represent myself at Macksville Local Court?

Yes. You are entitled to represent yourself, although obtaining legal advice beforehand is strongly recommended, especially for defended hearings, drink driving charges, or Apprehended Violence Order matters.

Where are serious matters from Macksville heard?

Summary matters are finalised at Macksville, while serious indictable charges are committed to the District Court, with regional sittings held at courts including Coffs Harbour. Your notice will indicate if your matter is to proceed in a higher court.

Is parking available at the courthouse?

Yes. Street parking and nearby public parking are available close to the River Street courthouse. Arriving early is recommended on busy sitting days.