NSW Tamworth Local Court List Today

The Tamworth Local Court sits at the corner of Marius and Fitzroy Streets in the centre of Tamworth, New South Wales, and it is the first place most criminal and civil matters in the region are heard. As the busiest court tier in the state, the Local Court finalises the overwhelming majority of legal matters that enter the NSW justice system, and Tamworth's registry serves a catchment that stretches well beyond the city itself. Whether you are a solicitor confirming a listing, a family member supporting someone through a hearing, or a member of the public tracking a matter of interest, the daily court list published above gives you the case name, courtroom allocation and scheduled time where those details are available.

Tamworth is the principal regional centre of the New England North West, roughly 400 kilometres north of Sydney and served by a NSW TrainLink rail service and a regional airport. The Tamworth Regional local government area recorded a usual resident population of 63,070 at the 2021 Census, living across 27,727 dwellings, with 12.7 per cent of residents identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. That demographic profile matters for the court, because the volume and mix of matters listed at Tamworth reflect the size and needs of the community it serves.

What the Tamworth Local Court deals with

The Local Court hears the great majority of criminal matters from beginning to end. In New South Wales, the Local Court finalises around 98 per cent of all criminal and civil cases that reach the court system, which is why the list at Tamworth moves quickly and covers a wide spread of matter types on any given sitting day. Most of what is heard falls into the category of summary offences, which are less serious charges dealt with by a single magistrate rather than a jury.

Typical matters listed at Tamworth include:

• Summary criminal offences such as offensive conduct, minor assault and property damage
• Drink driving, drug driving and other traffic offences under the road transport legislation
• Bail applications, where the court decides whether an accused person is released before their matter is finalised
• Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) applications, both domestic and personal
• Committal proceedings for indictable matters that will later move to a higher court
• Sentencing for guilty pleas and matters proven after hearing

More serious indictable offences, including major assaults, sexual offences and large-scale fraud, generally begin at the Local Court but are committed for trial or sentence to the higher courts. Those matters are heard at the Tamworth District Court, which operates from the same courthouse building and deals with indictable crime, appeals from Local Court decisions, and civil claims above the Local Court's monetary limit.

Children's Court and specialist lists

Tamworth also hosts a monthly Children's Court circuit that manages care and protection matters and criminal proceedings involving young people, shared between a visiting Children's Magistrate and the local bench. Dedicated care lists, short care hearings and crime sentence lists are scheduled across specific weeks of the month, which is one reason the composition of the daily list can change significantly from one sitting to the next.

Crime statistics shaping the Tamworth court list

Understanding the local crime picture helps explain why particular categories dominate the Tamworth list. Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows that several major offence categories in the Tamworth region sit well above the state average when adjusted for population.

Key figures for the Tamworth local government area include:

• Domestic violence related assaults reached 799 recorded incidents in the year to June 2025, up from 657 in the year to June 2024
• DV related assault rates have been reported at roughly 1.7 to 2.7 times the NSW average, depending on the reporting period, adjusted for population
• Break and enter into dwellings has run at around three times the statewide rate per head of population
• Malicious damage to property was recorded at 833 incidents in the year to June 2025, up from 781 the previous year
• 188 motor vehicles were recorded as stolen and 132 sexual assaults were reported across the same twelve month period

Over the decade to September 2024, BOCSAR data placed the increase in domestic violence related assault incidents in Tamworth at roughly 96 per cent, one of the sharper long-term rises in the New England North West. These trends translate directly into court workload, particularly in AVO applications, bail matters and domestic violence sentencing, all of which feature heavily on the Tamworth list.

There is also encouraging movement in some categories. The wider New England North West region recorded an 18.2 per cent drop in youth court actions in a recent reporting period, and several property offence categories have stabilised or declined across the two years to December 2025. For anyone monitoring outcomes in the region, the Tamworth District Court list and the Local Court list together give the fullest daily picture.

Sitting arrangements and how listings work

Tamworth is a busy regional court with a substantial and diverse workload, and sitting capacity has been expanded over time to keep pace. Additional sitting days have been added to allow the court to deal with longer hearings and sentence matters, and Audio Visual Link (AVL) facilities at the courthouse allow certain appearances, testimony and video link hearings to proceed without every party attending in person.

The list you see above is drawn directly from official NSW court publications and refreshed multiple times throughout the day, so amendments to the schedule are reflected as they are released. Individual names are partially masked to protect privacy, and no personal data or search history is stored. Because lists can change at short notice, and courts are occasionally consolidated or cut on the day, it is always sensible to confirm your matter with the Tamworth registry before travelling.

Court and registry details

• Address: Corner of Marius and Fitzroy Streets, Tamworth NSW 2340
• Postal: PO Box 347, Tamworth NSW 2340
• Phone: 1300 679 272
• Registry hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
• Facilities: Audio Visual Link, wheelchair access, accessible restrooms and interpreter services on request

Getting to the courthouse and what to expect

The courthouse is a short walk from Tamworth Railway Station. On foot, exit onto Marius Street and head north for roughly 500 metres to the corner of Marius and Fitzroy Streets, a walk of about seven minutes. Metered street parking is available on the surrounding streets, though it is often short-stay, and paid parking is available nearby, including the Kable Avenue car park. Cafes and services along Peel Street are within easy walking distance if you need to wait between listings.

When attending, allow extra time for security screening at the entrance. Recording devices are not permitted in the courtroom, and food and drink should be left outside. Bring any summons, court papers or legal correspondence relating to your matter, and if you need an interpreter or disability support, contact the registry in advance so arrangements can be made. Hearings are generally open to the public, subject to the presiding judicial officer's discretion in individual cases.

A note on the modern Local Court

The Local Court of New South Wales traces its origins to the bench of magistrates established in Sydney in the late eighteenth century, and today it comprises more than one hundred courts with power to hear criminal, civil and family law matters. In 2026, magistrates of the Local Court became judges, meaning the officers presiding at Tamworth now sit as Judges of the Local Court. Regional courthouses like Tamworth carry a large share of that statewide caseload, which is why timely, accurate access to the daily list matters so much to practitioners and the public alike. If your matter relates to a neighbouring circuit, you may also find the Gunnedah Local Court list or the Armidale Local Court list useful, as both sit within the same New England North West region.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Tamworth Local Court located?

The court is at the corner of Marius and Fitzroy Streets, Tamworth NSW 2340. It shares the same building as the Tamworth District Court, and the registry can be reached on 1300 679 272.

How often is the Tamworth court list updated?

The list is sourced from official NSW court publications and refreshed multiple times each day, so any changes to courtroom allocation or scheduled times are reflected as they are released. For certainty, confirm your listing with the registry before attending.

What types of cases are heard at the Tamworth Local Court?

The court hears summary criminal offences, traffic and drink driving matters, bail applications, AVO applications and committal proceedings. More serious indictable matters are committed to the District Court, which operates from the same courthouse.

Can I attend a hearing as a member of the public?

Yes. Local Court hearings are generally open to the public, subject to the presiding judicial officer's discretion to close a court or restrict who may be present in particular circumstances.

Is parking available near the courthouse?

Metered short-stay street parking is available nearby, along with paid options such as the Kable Avenue car park. The courthouse is also a short walk from Tamworth Railway Station.

Do I need a lawyer for a matter at the Tamworth Local Court?

You can represent yourself, but obtaining legal advice is strongly recommended, particularly for criminal charges or matters where a conviction, licence or penalty may be at stake.