| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ARNUSCH J** R** | Court 1 | 9:00AM |
| LARKINS T** W** | Court 1 | 9:00AM |
| WATTS D** W** H** | Court 1 | 8:30AM |
| WINN L** L** | Court 1 | 9:00AM |
Last updated: 13 Aug 2026, 9:37 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Biloela Magistrates Court is the principal venue for first-instance legal matters across the Banana Shire, the sprawling central Queensland local government area that covers roughly 28,610 square kilometres and was home to 14,513 residents at the 2021 Census. As the administrative seat of the shire and its largest town, Biloela anchors a court district that reaches well beyond the town's own population of 5,692 people, drawing defendants, applicants and witnesses from surrounding communities such as Moura, Thangool, Baralaba, Taroom and the wider Callide Valley. If you have a matter listed here, this page explains what the court does, where it sits, how the daily lists work, and what to expect on the day.
Sitting within Queensland's lower court tier, the Biloela registry deals with the vast majority of legal matters that begin in the region. Most criminal prosecutions in Queensland start in a Magistrates Court, and the practical reality for Banana Shire residents is that their first court appearance almost always happens in Biloela rather than in a larger centre. Understanding the court's jurisdiction, sitting pattern and procedures helps applicants and defendants prepare properly and avoid the stress of turning up unready.
Biloela Magistrates Court address, contact details and hours
The Biloela Magistrates Court is located at 28 Melton Street, Biloela QLD 4715, with postal correspondence directed to PO Box 984, Biloela QLD 4715. The registry can be reached by phone on (07) 4992 8700 and by email at courthouse.biloela@justice.qld.gov.au. Registry counter hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9.30am to 4.30pm on Tuesday, in line with the staggered opening times used across many regional Queensland registries.
Because Biloela is a regional circuit location rather than a daily-sitting metropolitan court, the courtroom does not run every business day. Court days are scheduled in advance through the Magistrates Court calendar published by Queensland Courts, so anyone with a matter should confirm the specific listing date on their notice or bail undertaking. The registry counter remains open for filing, payments and enquiries on the weekdays listed above even when the courtroom itself is not in session.
Getting to the courthouse
Biloela sits about 550 to 575 kilometres north-west of Brisbane and roughly 120 kilometres inland from the coastal city of Gladstone, at an elevation of around 185 metres in the Callide Valley. The town has no regular public transport network, so a private vehicle is effectively essential for reaching the courthouse, and people travelling from outlying localities should allow generous driving time. The nearest airport with scheduled services is at Thangool, approximately 11 kilometres from the town centre.
What matters the Biloela Magistrates Court hears
The Magistrates Court is a court of summary jurisdiction, which means a single magistrate hears and decides matters without a jury. Across Queensland, the maximum penalty a magistrate can impose is generally three years' imprisonment, rising to four years when the court sits as the Drug and Alcohol Court. That sentencing ceiling shapes which matters stay in Biloela and which are sent to a higher court.
Typical matters finalised at Biloela include:
- Summary criminal offences such as public nuisance, minor assault, low-level drug possession and stealing of modest value.
- Traffic and driving offences, including drink and drug driving, unlicensed driving, and driving while disqualified, which are a significant part of any regional list.
- Civil disputes up to $150,000 under the Magistrates Courts Act 1921 (Qld).
- Domestic and family violence applications for protection orders under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld).
- Bail and remand applications, along with initial mentions for more serious charges.
- Committal proceedings, the preliminary hearings that decide whether a serious indictable charge has enough evidence to proceed to a higher court.
- Certain indictable offences dealt with summarily, where the law allows a magistrate to finalise a matter that would otherwise go to trial by jury.
Volume at Biloela is modest compared with the state's busy metropolitan registries. On a representative recent sitting day the published Queensland daily law list showed a small number of matters at Biloela, in contrast to well over two hundred at Brisbane and around ninety at Beenleigh. That lighter caseload reflects the town's size, but it does not reduce the seriousness of any individual matter or the value of arriving prepared.
Matters that move to a higher court
When a charge is too serious for summary disposal, or a civil claim exceeds the Magistrates Court limit, the matter is committed or transferred upward. For Banana Shire residents this usually means travelling to the District Court or Supreme Court sittings at Rockhampton, roughly 120 to 136 kilometres to the north. The Rockhampton Supreme and District Court handles the region's trials on indictment and its larger civil disputes, so it is worth understanding that pathway early if a serious charge is involved.
Daily court lists and how to find your listing
Queensland's daily law lists are published and refreshed every court day. Magistrates Court lists are updated at 6.45am and again at 8.45am to account for overnight arrests, while Supreme and District Court lists for the following day are generally posted by 6.00pm. Checking the current list on the morning of your appearance is the most reliable way to confirm your courtroom, your matter's position on the list and any last-minute changes.
Court lists identify the parties, the nature of each matter and the order in which cases are expected to be called. Being able to read the list quickly saves time and anxiety, particularly at a circuit court where a single sitting may run through criminal mentions, domestic violence applications and civil callovers in the same day. Anyone monitoring central Queensland listings often cross-checks nearby registries too, since practitioners and defendants frequently have matters spread across the region. You can review the broader picture through the Queensland daily court lists, and the neighbouring Gladstone court list is the most commonly paired venue given the two towns share duty lawyer and support services.
Support services at Biloela Magistrates Court
Regional courts rely heavily on visiting support and duty services, and Biloela is no exception. Gladstone Women's Health provides information, referral and court support at both the Gladstone and Biloela Magistrates Courts on days when domestic and family violence matters are heard, assisting aggrieved people to navigate the process, understand documents and feel supported in the courtroom. This support is provided free of charge and is distinct from formal legal advice.
Duty lawyer coverage for domestic and family violence matters in the wider region is coordinated through the Central Queensland Community Legal Centre, which staffs the Rockhampton, Gladstone and Yeppoon Magistrates Courts on set days. Because coverage rotates and is not guaranteed at every Biloela sitting, anyone who wants advice on the day should ask Court Support Services at the registry about what is available, and should consider arranging representation in advance for a defended hearing or a contested protection order.
Preparing for your court day
A little preparation goes a long way at a regional court. Practical steps include:
- Confirm your listing date and courtroom against your notice and the current daily law list.
- Arrive early, allowing for travel from outlying localities where drive times can be substantial.
- Dress neatly and bring any documents, bail paperwork or references relevant to your matter.
- Turn your phone to silent and follow the court officer's directions once inside.
- If you need legal advice, seek it before the sitting rather than hoping a duty lawyer will be available on the day.
The Banana Shire legal landscape in context
The economy of the Banana Shire is built on coal mining, beef production, power generation and both dryland and irrigated cropping, industries that shape the kinds of matters passing through the local court, from traffic and workplace-related charges to civil disputes tied to rural enterprise. The shire was established as a division in 1879 with a population of just 2,155, and its name comes not from the fruit but from a dun-coloured bullock called "Banana". Biloela became the council seat as the district grew, and today the town's median age of around 36 reflects a working community of families and long-term residents.
Neighbouring Magistrates Courts within reasonable reach include Gladstone to the east and Emerald to the west, both of which serve overlapping practitioner networks. Residents comparing sitting schedules across the region sometimes also check the Emerald court list when a matter or a lawyer moves between venues. This regional interconnection is a defining feature of justice in central Queensland, where a relatively small number of magistrates and legal practitioners service an enormous geographic area.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Biloela Magistrates Court located?
The court is at 28 Melton Street, Biloela QLD 4715, with postal mail directed to PO Box 984, Biloela QLD 4715. The registry phone number is (07) 4992 8700.
Does the Biloela Magistrates Court sit every day?
No. Biloela is a circuit venue that sits on scheduled court days set out in the Queensland Magistrates Court calendar, rather than every business day. The registry counter is open on weekdays for filing and enquiries even when the courtroom is not sitting, so always confirm your listing date.
What types of cases are heard at Biloela?
The court hears summary criminal charges, traffic offences, civil disputes up to $150,000, domestic and family violence applications, bail applications and committal proceedings. Serious indictable matters are committed to the District or Supreme Court at Rockhampton.
How do I find the daily court list for Biloela?
Queensland Magistrates Court lists are refreshed each court day at 6.45am and 8.45am. Checking the current list on the morning of your appearance confirms your courtroom and the order in which matters will be called.
Is there a duty lawyer at Biloela Magistrates Court?
Duty lawyer and court support coverage in the region rotates between venues and is not guaranteed at every Biloela sitting. Support for domestic and family violence matters is available through visiting services on hearing days, but anyone needing advice should seek it in advance or ask Court Support Services at the registry.
Where do serious cases from Biloela go?
Charges beyond a magistrate's sentencing power, and civil claims above $150,000, are transferred to the District Court or Supreme Court sittings at Rockhampton, approximately 120 to 136 kilometres north of Biloela.
