Caloundra Magistrates Court List

The Caloundra Magistrates Court sits at 3 Gregson Place, Caloundra, Queensland 4551, serving one of the fastest-growing coastal catchments in South East Queensland. As the southern anchor of the Sunshine Coast court network, it hears the everyday criminal, traffic, civil and domestic and family violence matters that arise across Caloundra and its surrounding suburbs, including Golden Beach, Currimundi, Pelican Waters, Caloundra West and the wider Pumicestone Passage communities. This page gives you a clear, current picture of how the court operates, where it fits within the Queensland justice system, and how to find the daily law list before you attend.

Caloundra is a coastal town of roughly 96,305 residents recorded at the 2021 Census, forming the southern gateway to the Sunshine Coast Region. The wider region reached an estimated 370,828 people in 2024 and is projected to exceed 540,000 by 2046, which places sustained pressure on local justice services. Population growth of more than 79,000 people across the region between 2011 and 2021, a 30 per cent rise, has expanded the pool of matters flowing into local courtrooms year on year. Understanding this growth context helps explain why the Caloundra registry remains a busy fixture in the Sunshine Coast legal landscape.

Where the Caloundra Magistrates Court fits in Queensland's justice system

The Magistrates Court is the entry point for the overwhelming majority of legal proceedings in Queensland, and Caloundra is no exception. Across the state, the Magistrates Court operates in approximately 130 locations, and it finalises the vast majority of all criminal offences dealt with in the justice system. The Magistrates Court of Queensland Annual Report 2024-2025 recorded 25,871 domestic violence protection order applications, 8,123 child protection applications (a 22.59 per cent increase on the prior year), and a decrease of 9,541 adult criminal defendants (down 5.85 per cent), showing how workloads shift across reporting periods.

Caloundra deals with summary criminal charges, traffic and drink-driving matters, bail applications, civil disputes, and the committal stage of more serious indictable offences that are ultimately finalised in the District or Supreme Court. If your matter is indictable and destined for a higher court, the Magistrates Court manages the early procedural steps before it is committed upward. For an overview of how these tiers connect statewide, the Queensland court list hub sets out the full structure across Magistrates, District and Supreme jurisdictions.

What kinds of matters Caloundra hears

• Criminal (summary): minor assault, stealing, public nuisance, drug possession and similar offences dealt with by a Magistrate rather than a jury.
• Traffic and drink-driving: speeding, unlicensed driving, and drink or drug-driving charges, which make up a large share of daily mentions.
• Domestic and family violence: applications for protection orders, with support available on site for people attending.
• Civil disputes: claims within the Magistrates Court monetary limit of up to $150,000.
• Committals: the early management of serious indictable charges before they move to a higher court.
• Coronial matters: reportable deaths handled through the coronial contact line for the region.

Court location, contact details and facilities

The courthouse is centrally located in the Caloundra CBD, a short distance from Bulcock Street and the Caloundra bus station, with the Caloundra Police Station immediately adjacent. The building contains two Magistrates courtrooms and offers videoconferencing and a remote witness room, which allows vulnerable witnesses and interstate parties to participate without appearing in person. A Justice of the Peace is generally available at the courthouse on sitting days, and volunteers assist visitors in finding the correct courtroom on arrival.

There is free public parking near the court, and a bus stop is located on West Terrace near Oval Avenue. Caloundra does not operate a security screening point at the entrance, so entry is straightforward, though visitors should still arrive early. The area around Gregson Place is close to Caloundra Christian College and can become congested near 8.30am, so allow extra travel time if you have an early mention.

Who presides at Caloundra

Caloundra has a resident Magistrate, with Magistrates from the nearby Maroochydore magistrates court list rostered to sit as required to manage demand. This shared-bench arrangement is common across the Sunshine Coast circuit, where sitting Magistrates move between locations to keep lists moving and reduce delays for local defendants and applicants.

How to find the Caloundra court list today

The daily law list tells you which courtroom your matter is in, the presiding Magistrate, and the order of appearances. Because the Magistrates Court processes such high volumes, checking the list the evening before or first thing in the morning is the most reliable way to avoid confusion. You can confirm your specific court date through several official channels rather than relying on memory alone.

• Bail documents: if you were granted bail, your next date appears on the bail undertaking.
• Notice to Appear: issued by police, this lists your first mention date.
• QP9 court brief: the police summary that includes your first mention date for the charges.
• Online lookup: the Queensland criminal case lookup portal, using your name and date of birth.
• Registry contact: phoning the Caloundra registry directly during business hours.

If you are travelling from further afield, it is worth checking neighbouring registries as well, since related matters are sometimes transferred. Nearby options include the Noosa court list to the north and the Landsborough and Nambour courthouses in the hinterland, all of which service the broader Sunshine Coast catchment.

Sunshine Coast context and why local court access matters

The Sunshine Coast is now Queensland's third most populated region after Brisbane and the Gold Coast, growing at roughly 1.52 per cent per year, or about 5,500 new residents annually. Caloundra alone spans a local urban area of about 113 square kilometres and includes coastal suburbs such as Golden Beach (5,646 residents), Currimundi (6,570 residents), Pelican Waters (7,393 residents) and Caloundra West (7,270 residents) at the 2021 Census. A growing, geographically spread population increases the practical importance of a local courthouse, so residents are not forced to travel to Maroochydore or Brisbane for routine mentions.

Statewide, the scale of the Magistrates Court underlines this point. In 2024-2025, adult criminal matters still ran into the tens of thousands of defendants and hundreds of thousands of charges, and domestic violence protection order applications remained above 25,000 for the year. Local courts like Caloundra absorb a meaningful slice of this workload, keeping justice accessible at the community level across a state that covers about 1.85 million square kilometres.

Preparing for your appearance at Caloundra

Whether you are a defendant, a witness, or a support person, a little preparation makes the day far smoother. Arrive with time to spare, dress neatly, and bring any paperwork relating to your matter, including your Notice to Appear, bail documents or QP9. On arrival, check the daily list posted at the court or online to confirm your courtroom, then wait to be called. For simple traffic mentions the duty lawyer service may have limited scope, so if imprisonment is a realistic risk it is wise to arrange your own legal representation in advance.

For domestic and family violence applicants, support is available on site, and remote witness facilities can be arranged where appropriate to reduce contact between parties. If your matter is likely to be committed to a higher court, familiarise yourself with the process at the Maroochydore District Court, which handles many of the region's serious indictable matters after they leave the Magistrates Court.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Caloundra Magistrates Court located?

The court is at 3 Gregson Place, Caloundra, Queensland 4551, in the Caloundra CBD near Bulcock Street, with the Caloundra Police Station next door and free public parking nearby.

What are the Caloundra court opening hours?

Business hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8.30am to 4.00pm on Tuesday. It is best to arrive well before your listed time, as the area can be busy around 8.30am.

What matters does the Caloundra Magistrates Court handle?

It deals with summary criminal charges, traffic and drink-driving offences, bail applications, civil disputes up to $150,000, domestic and family violence protection order applications, and the committal stage of serious indictable offences.

How do I find out my Caloundra court date?

Check your bail documents, Notice to Appear or QP9 brief, use the Queensland criminal case lookup portal with your name and date of birth, or phone the Caloundra registry on (07) 5293 4100.

Is there a duty lawyer at Caloundra?

A duty lawyer service operates at the court, though for many traffic and drink-driving matters where imprisonment is unlikely its scope is limited, so arranging your own representation is often advisable.

Does Caloundra Magistrates Court have security screening?

Caloundra does not operate a security screening point at the entrance. Volunteers are on hand once you enter to help you find the correct courtroom.