NSW Murwillumbah Local Court List Today

Murwillumbah Local Court is the principal court of summary jurisdiction serving the western Tweed Valley in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. The courthouse sits at 61 Murwillumbah Street (Main Street), Murwillumbah NSW 2484, in the heart of a town of 9,812 residents recorded at the 2021 Census. A court house has operated in the Murwillumbah town centre since the late nineteenth century, and the modern Local Court took its present form after the Courts of Petty Sessions were abolished and Local Courts were established across the state in 1985. Today the court handles the everyday criminal, traffic, civil and domestic-violence work generated across the Tweed Shire local government area.

Because Murwillumbah falls within the Lismore state electorate and the federal division of Richmond, matters listed here draw defendants, applicants and witnesses from Murwillumbah itself and from surrounding localities including Uki, Chillingham, Tyalgum, Burringbar and Condong. The court is a circuit-style venue that opens on scheduled sitting days rather than every business day, so checking the list before you travel is the single most useful step you can take.

Murwillumbah Local Court List: how to check today's cause list

The Murwillumbah court list (also called the daily cause list or the court list today) tells you the date, time, courtroom and presiding officer for each matter set down for hearing. Every listing is published through the NSW Online Registry and the state's interactive court list, which you can search by party name, case number, court location, date, jurisdiction and listing type such as mention, hearing, sentence or judgment.

What the daily court list shows

A published Murwillumbah Local Court list generally includes the following details for each matter:

• The name of the defendant, applicant or party.
• The case or file number allocated by the registry.
• The listing type, for example a first mention, a defended hearing, a sentence or a bail application.
• The courtroom and the scheduled start time for the sitting.
• The name or title of the presiding magistrate or registrar.

How far ahead the list runs

NSW court lists typically show matters up to three weeks in advance and up to one week in the past, which lets you confirm an upcoming appearance or check the outcome of a recent one. Lists can change at short notice because sitting arrangements are adjusted to meet business needs, so it is worth refreshing the list on the morning of your appearance rather than relying on a version you viewed days earlier.

Court location, contact and sitting days

Address and parking

The courthouse is centrally located on Main Street, within walking distance of Murwillumbah's shops, transport and legal offices. Free and metered street parking is available adjacent to the building, though spaces fill quickly on busy sitting mornings, so arriving early is sensible. The venue provides wheelchair access and facilities for visitors with mobility or hearing needs, and Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities are available for appearances that are approved to proceed remotely.

Registry, sitting days and contact details

Murwillumbah Local Court operates on scheduled court sitting days, generally Tuesday to Friday. Registry staff can help with fine payments, form lodgement and general enquiries during opening hours. Key contact details are set out below.

• Address: 61 Murwillumbah Street (Main Street), Murwillumbah NSW 2484
• Phone: (02) 6672 5677
• Email: local-court-murwillumbah@justice.nsw.gov.au
• Sitting days: Tuesday to Friday (open on court sitting days)

During July 2025 the court took on additional listings when Tweed Heads Court sittings and registry services were temporarily relocated to Murwillumbah while renovations were carried out at the coastal courthouse. That arrangement is a useful reminder that Northern Rivers courts share resources, and that a matter first listed at one venue can occasionally be heard at another nearby court.

What cases are heard at Murwillumbah Local Court

Criminal and traffic matters

The bulk of the Murwillumbah list is criminal and traffic work. This includes summary offences such as common assault, minor theft, property damage and drug possession, together with driving offences like low, mid and high-range drink driving, drive while suspended, speeding and negligent driving. Serious indictable offences also start in the Local Court, where a magistrate deals with the early stages before the matter is committed to a higher court. Committed matters from this district are generally heard at the Lismore District Court, which handles trials and sentences beyond the Local Court's power.

Apprehended Violence Orders and bail

Murwillumbah Local Court hears applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) and Apprehended Personal Violence Orders (APVOs), which are protective orders designed to keep a person in need of protection safe. The court also determines bail applications, decides whether a defendant is released or refused bail, and hears appeals against certain licence decisions and earlier Local Court orders. Domestic and family violence work is a substantial part of the modern Local Court's caseload right across New South Wales.

Civil disputes and small claims

The Local Court resolves civil disputes about money and property through two divisions. The Small Claims Division hears claims up to $20,000, a threshold lifted from $10,000 in February 2019, and its proceedings are deliberately less formal, with the strict rules of evidence relaxed. The General Division hears claims above $20,000 and up to $100,000, with a lower cap of $60,000 for damages arising from personal injury or death. Disputes above these limits are dealt with in the District Court or the Supreme Court. Typical civil matters include unpaid invoices, loan agreements, motor vehicle damage claims and debt recovery.

Murwillumbah in the Northern Rivers court network

Murwillumbah sits roughly 31 kilometres south-west of Tweed Heads, 52 kilometres north-north-west of Byron Bay and 67 kilometres east of Kyogle, which places it at the centre of a cluster of Northern Rivers courts that regularly share listings and circuit magistrates. If your matter has been moved, or if you are checking listings for a related case, the following nearby venues are the ones you are most likely to need. You can view the Tweed Heads Local Court list for the coastal end of the shire, the Byron Bay Local Court list to the south, and the schedule for Mullumbimby Local Court, which opens on limited days each month.

NSW Local Court statistics that put Murwillumbah in context

Local courts like Murwillumbah carry the overwhelming majority of criminal justice work in the state. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), the NSW criminal courts finalised 151,113 defendant appearances in the year to June 2025, a rise of 7.4 per cent on the previous year. The Local Court alone accounted for 94 per cent of those finalisations, or 141,616 matters, an increase of 7.7 per cent year on year. These figures show why a regional Local Court's daily list moves quickly and why matters are often grouped tightly across a single sitting day.

The same BOCSAR data set records that domestic-violence-related finalisations rose 12.1 per cent and now make up 27.1 per cent of all Local Court finalisations, up from 26.0 per cent a year earlier. Around 86 per cent of finalised defendants had at least one proven charge, while roughly 8 per cent of matters were withdrawn by the prosecution. Traffic and vehicle offences remained the single largest category of proven principal offence across the state, followed by offences against justice procedures and orders. The proportion of proven defendants receiving a custodial penalty edged up from 9.1 per cent to 10.0 per cent, and defended hearings in the Local Court took a median of 263 days to finalise. Understanding these patterns helps first-time attendees appreciate that mentions are usually brief while defended hearings can take considerably longer to reach a final result.

Preparing for your court date at Murwillumbah

A little preparation reduces stress and helps your matter run smoothly. Before your appearance, consider the following steps:

• Confirm your listing on the Murwillumbah court list on the morning of your court date, and note your courtroom and start time.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes early to clear the entrance, find parking and locate your courtroom.
• Dress neatly and turn off your phone before entering the courtroom. Food, drink and recording devices are not permitted inside.
• Bring any paperwork, evidence or references relevant to your matter, along with photo identification.
• If you need an interpreter, arrange it in advance through the registry so the service is ready on the day.
• Seek legal advice early. Legal Aid NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service and local community legal centres can assist, and a duty solicitor may be available at court for some matters.

Frequently asked questions about Murwillumbah Local Court

How do I find the Murwillumbah Local Court list for today?

Search the NSW Online Registry or the state's interactive court list by court location and date, or check the Murwillumbah listing page. The daily list shows the party name, case number, courtroom, start time and listing type for each matter set down that day.

What days does Murwillumbah Local Court sit?

The court operates on scheduled sitting days, generally Tuesday to Friday. Because sitting arrangements can be adjusted, always confirm the current list before travelling to court.

Can I represent myself at Murwillumbah Local Court?

Yes. You are entitled to represent yourself in both criminal and civil matters, although obtaining legal advice beforehand is strongly recommended, particularly where the other side is legally represented or where a penalty could affect your licence, record or liberty.

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

The Local Court, presided over by a magistrate, deals with summary offences and civil claims up to $100,000, and conducts the early stages of serious matters. Indictable matters that proceed to trial or sentence are committed to the District Court, which for this district usually means Lismore.

Is parking available near the courthouse?

Yes. Free and metered street parking is available adjacent to the Main Street courthouse, though it can fill quickly on busy sitting days, so arriving early is advisable.

How far in advance are court lists published?

NSW court lists generally show matters up to three weeks ahead and up to one week in the past, which lets you confirm an upcoming appearance or check a recent outcome.