The Ayr Magistrates Court is the busiest courtroom in the Lower Burdekin, sitting at the heart of a sugarcane district that stretches across one of North Queensland's most productive farming regions. If you need the Ayr court list for today or tomorrow, want to confirm a hearing time, or are simply trying to understand how a matter moves through this regional courthouse, this page brings together the verified details, local context and practical guidance you need in one place. The daily law list for Ayr is published by Queensland Courts each morning, and knowing how to read it, when it updates and what each entry means can save you a great deal of stress before you ever walk through the door at 163 Queen Street.
Ayr is the administrative centre of the Shire of Burdekin and, according to the 2021 Census, the locality recorded a population of 8,603 people, while Ayr and its immediate surrounds counted 9,740 usual residents across 4,768 dwellings. The wider Burdekin Shire is home to 16,692 residents spread over 5,044 square kilometres of dry-tropics country between Townsville and Bowen. Because Ayr serves as the council seat and the largest town in the delta, its Magistrates Court carries the caseload for a broad rural catchment, hearing matters for people from Home Hill, Brandon, Giru, Airville and the smaller cane-farming localities that surround the Burdekin River.
How to find the Ayr court list today
The Ayr daily law list is prepared and released by Queensland Courts on the morning of each sitting day. Magistrates Court lists across the state are first uploaded at 6:45am and then refreshed again at 8:45am, which allows the list to capture any overnight arrests that need to appear before the magistrate that same day. This two-stage update is important to remember: if you check the list very early and cannot find a name, it is worth refreshing your browser after 8:45am, because the second publication often adds custody and watch-house matters that were not present in the first version.
On a typical sitting day the Ayr Magistrates Court will carry a moderate list for a regional centre. A representative daily count showed 45 matters listed at Ayr, which sits well above tiny circuit locations such as Charters Towers or Bowen and reflects the town's role as the legal hub of the Burdekin. Each entry on the list will usually show the party or defendant name, the matter or case number, the courtroom, and the scheduled time. Reading these columns carefully helps you arrive at the right room at the right time rather than waiting through unrelated matters.
What the daily law list shows
- Name of the party or defendant so you can locate your own matter or the case you are following.
- Matter type, which indicates whether the appearance is a criminal mention, a civil claim, a committal or a callover.
- Court number and time, telling you which courtroom to attend and roughly when your matter will be reached.
- Listing status, showing whether the case is for a first mention, an adjournment, a hearing or sentencing.
Times printed on any court list are a guide rather than a fixed appointment. Magistrates work through their lists in an order that balances custody matters, self-represented parties, legal representatives with multiple appearances, and the complexity of each case. It is sensible to arrive early, allow for the whole morning if necessary, and treat the listed time as the earliest point at which your matter might be called.
Where the Ayr Magistrates Court is located
The court sits in the heritage-listed Ayr Court House at 163 Queen Street, Ayr, Queensland 4807, roughly 200 metres from the town centre and easy to reach from the Bruce Highway. Ayr is located 88 kilometres south of Townsville, about an hour's drive, which makes the local courthouse a genuine convenience for Burdekin residents who would otherwise face a long trip north for even routine matters. The building itself is significant: it was constructed between 1935 and 1941 by day labour, designed by architect Douglas Francis Woodcraft Roberts in a restrained classical style, and was the third court house built in Ayr on a site adjacent to the earlier 1897 courthouse. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 January 1995 under reference number 601126.
Contact details and registry
- Address: 163 Queen Street, PO Box 594, Ayr QLD 4807
- Phone: (07) 4784 2801
- Email: courthouse.ayr@justice.qld.gov.au
- Registry for enquiries and filing: 31 Walker Street, PO Box 985, Townsville QLD 4810, phone (07) 4781 8600
A practical point worth noting is that filing and registry enquiries for Ayr are handled through the Townsville registry rather than at the Ayr counter itself. If you need to lodge documents, ask about fees, or make an enquiry about an existing file, the Townsville registry is the point of contact. For those managing matters that span both centres, the Townsville Magistrates Court list is a useful companion resource, since higher-volume and registry-based work is often coordinated from there.
What the Ayr Magistrates Court hears
The Magistrates Court is the entry point of the Queensland court hierarchy, and it is where the overwhelming majority of legal matters begin and end. Statewide, the Magistrates Courts of Queensland deal with roughly 95 per cent of all court cases, which means that for most people who ever come into contact with the justice system, a court like Ayr is the only courtroom they will see. The court is presided over by a magistrate rather than a judge and jury, and since 2022 the head of the jurisdiction has been Chief Magistrate Judge Janelle Brassington.
In its criminal jurisdiction, the Ayr Magistrates Court handles summary offences and the early stages of more serious charges. Minor matters are dealt with summarily, meaning the magistrate hears and decides them without a jury, while serious indictable offences are referred to a higher court through a committal process once the strength of the evidence has been tested. In its civil jurisdiction, a Queensland Magistrates Court can decide disputes where the amount in question is up to and including $150,000; claims above that threshold are handled by the District Court or the Supreme Court.
Common matters listed at Ayr
- Criminal mentions and summary hearings for offences such as public order matters, minor assaults and property offences.
- Traffic and drink-driving matters, including drink driving, drug driving and licence-related offences, which form a steady share of any regional list.
- Committal proceedings for serious charges that will ultimately be heard in the District or Supreme Court.
- Civil claims and minor debt disputes up to the $150,000 monetary limit.
- Domestic and family violence applications, which are dealt with sensitively and often prioritised.
- Bail applications and adjournments, including overnight custody matters added in the 8:45am list update.
Because Ayr is a single-magistrate regional court rather than a large metropolitan complex, its list tends to move through a mix of these matter types on the same day. Where a charge is too serious for the Magistrates Court to finalise, it is committed upward. Appeals from decisions of a Queensland Magistrates Court are heard by the District Court, and the more serious trials for the region are dealt with through the Townsville Supreme and District Court circuit, which serves the broader North Queensland catchment.
Planning your visit to court
Preparing properly for a court appearance reduces uncertainty and helps your matter run smoothly. Whether you are a defendant, a witness, a party to a civil claim or a support person, a little planning goes a long way in a regional courthouse where the whole day's business is handled in one or two rooms.
Before you arrive
- Check the Ayr court list on the morning of your hearing and refresh it after 8:45am to confirm your courtroom and time.
- Arrive early, ideally 20 to 30 minutes before the listed time, so you can find your room and speak with your lawyer or the duty lawyer if one is available.
- Dress neatly and respectfully, which is expected in any Queensland courtroom.
- Bring your documents, including any paperwork, your notice to appear, and identification.
- Silence your phone and be prepared to switch it off inside the courtroom.
On the day
When you reach the courthouse, check the noticeboard or the printed list to confirm your courtroom, then wait quietly until your name and matter number are called. If you are represented, your lawyer will usually speak on your behalf. If you are self-represented, address the magistrate as "Your Honour", stand when the magistrate enters or leaves, and speak clearly when your matter is reached. If you cannot attend for a genuine reason such as illness, contact the court or your legal representative as early as possible, because failing to appear without notice can have serious consequences, including a warrant being issued.
The Burdekin legal district in context
Ayr's role as a court town is inseparable from its history and geography. The town was surveyed in 1882 in the fertile delta of the Burdekin River, and the surrounding region was first settled in the 1860s. Today the Burdekin is one of Queensland's premier sugarcane districts, and the rhythms of the crushing season, the harvest and the movement of a large seasonal workforce all feed into the pattern of matters that come before the local court. The shire has existed as a local government entity since 1888, and Ayr has been its administrative heart throughout that time.
Neighbouring courts fill out the picture of justice in this part of North Queensland. Smaller circuit and regional courthouses such as the Bowen court list and the Charters Towers Magistrates Court handle lighter caseloads for their own communities, while Ayr and Townsville anchor the busier end of the region. For anyone following matters across the district, comparing the daily lists at these locations gives a clear sense of how work is distributed between the coastal cane towns and the inland centres.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Ayr court list updated?
The Ayr Magistrates Court daily law list is uploaded at 6:45am and updated again at 8:45am each sitting day. The second update captures overnight arrests, so if you are looking for a custody matter it is best to check after 8:45am and refresh your browser to see the latest version.
Where is the Ayr Magistrates Court?
The court is at 163 Queen Street, Ayr, Queensland 4807, about 200 metres from the town centre and 88 kilometres south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway. The building is the heritage-listed Ayr Court House, constructed between 1935 and 1941.
How do I contact the Ayr Magistrates Court?
You can call the court on (07) 4784 2801 or email courthouse.ayr@justice.qld.gov.au. Registry enquiries and document filing for Ayr are handled through the Townsville registry at 31 Walker Street, Townsville, on (07) 4781 8600.
What kinds of cases does the Ayr Magistrates Court hear?
The court hears summary criminal matters, traffic and drink-driving offences, committal proceedings for serious charges, civil disputes up to $150,000, domestic violence applications, and bail matters. Queensland's Magistrates Courts deal with about 95 per cent of all court cases in the state.
Can I appeal a decision made at Ayr Magistrates Court?
Yes. Decisions of a Queensland Magistrates Court can generally be appealed to the District Court of Queensland. Magistrates Courts themselves do not hear appeals. If you are considering an appeal, seek legal advice promptly because strict time limits apply.
Do I need a lawyer for the Ayr Magistrates Court?
You are not required to have a lawyer, and many people appear self-represented for minor matters. However, for anything involving a possible criminal record, a licence disqualification, or a contested hearing, legal advice is strongly recommended. A duty lawyer service may be available at court for eligible people, and Legal Aid Queensland can advise on eligibility.
What should I do if I cannot attend my court date?
Contact the court or your legal representative as soon as possible. Failing to appear without a valid reason can result in your matter being decided in your absence or a warrant being issued for your arrest, so it is always better to communicate early and, where possible, apply for an adjournment.