| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| FERNIE H** B** | Court 1 | 9:00AM |
| GRIEVE D** D** | Court 1 | 9:00AM |
| MAHONEY L** J** | Court 1 | 8:30AM |
Last updated: 03 Sep 2026, 7:18 pm. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Clermont Magistrates Court is the entry point for almost every criminal, civil and traffic matter that begins in the Clermont district of Central Queensland. The courthouse sits at 44 Daintree Street, Clermont QLD 4721, with all filing and registry enquiries handled through the Emerald registry at Egerton Street, PO Box 989, Emerald QLD 4720. If you have a matter listed here, or you are simply trying to confirm a hearing date, this page helps you track the daily court list, understand how the callover runs, and plan your visit to one of the oldest court locations in inland tropical Queensland.
Clermont is a small but historically significant town of 2,952 residents recorded at the 2021 census, spread across a locality area of 5,158.9 square kilometres in the Isaac Region. The town lies roughly 109 kilometres north-north-west of Emerald, 274 kilometres south-west of Mackay and about 380 kilometres west-north-west of Rockhampton, sitting at the junction of the Gregory and Peak Downs highways. Because of this remote location, the Clermont courthouse is a circuit venue rather than a permanently staffed registry, and the practical scheduling of matters here reflects that reality.
How the Clermont Magistrates Court operates
The Clermont Magistrates Court is part of the Magistrates Court of Queensland, the busiest tier of the state court system and the level where all criminal and most civil cases first enter the justice system. The Magistrates Court operates from around 130 locations across Queensland and is authorised under the Magistrates Courts Act 1921 and the Justices Act 1886. The current head of jurisdiction is Chief Magistrate Judge Janelle Brassington, appointed on 8 July 2022, supported by Deputy Chief Magistrates Anthony Gett and Stephen Courtney. Appeals from a Magistrates Court decision are heard by the District Court of Queensland.
Clermont is serviced through the Emerald Magistrates Court circuit. The Emerald court circuits to Blackwater, Clermont and Moranbah, which means a magistrate travels to Clermont on scheduled sitting days rather than the town hosting a resident magistrate every business day. For anyone in the surrounding coalfields communities, this circuit model keeps local justice accessible without requiring every defendant to travel hundreds of kilometres to a larger regional centre.
Court business hours and contact details
On court days the Clermont courthouse operates from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. On non-court days the building is staffed from 9.30am to 4.30pm. The direct telephone number is (07) 4987 9696, and the email is courthouse.clermont@justice.qld.gov.au. Registry and filing enquiries are directed to the Emerald registry on (07) 4843 9300, with the email courthouse.emerald@justice.qld.gov.au. Because Clermont matters are administered through Emerald, contacting the Emerald registry is usually the fastest way to confirm listings, lodge documents or check on a file.
Understanding the callover system
The Clermont callover generally begins at 9:00am on sitting days and covers several categories of business in a set order. These include civil callover and QCAT matters, arrests and remands, general callover, traffic and special matters, hardship applications, restricted licence applications, transport and other government departmental matters, domestic and family violence applications, and the Childrens Court. A key practice direction for this court requires that all defendants be bailed 30 minutes before the callover commences, which gives the duty solicitor time to take instructions before matters are called. Arriving early is essential if you want the benefit of duty lawyer assistance.
What types of matters are heard at Clermont
The Magistrates Court deals with the highest volume of matters in the Queensland court hierarchy. At Clermont, the typical daily list includes summary criminal offences, traffic offences such as drink driving and unlicensed driving, bail and remand applications, committal proceedings for more serious charges, minor civil disputes, domestic and family violence protection order applications, and Childrens Court matters. Proceedings must generally be brought within the district or division where the alleged offending or conduct occurred, which is why local circuit courts like Clermont continue to matter for residents across the Central Highlands and Isaac regions.
More serious indictable offences that exceed the Magistrates Court's sentencing scope are committed or transferred upward to the District Court. The Clermont District Court operates from the same 44 Daintree Street address and hears jury or judge-alone trials, pre-trial directions, pleas, sentencing and full hearings for major matters. Understanding whether your matter will stay in the Magistrates Court or move to the District Court is one of the most common questions people have when they first receive a notice to appear.
Traffic and licensing matters
Traffic offences make up a large share of the summary workload in regional Queensland courts. Given Clermont's position on two major highways and its role as a service centre for coal mining operations, licensing matters, work licence applications and hardship applications are a regular feature of the callover. If you rely on your licence for employment in the mining or agricultural sectors, seeking early legal advice about a restricted or work licence is worthwhile, since these applications have strict eligibility rules and must be prepared correctly.
A historic courthouse in a frontier town
Clermont holds a notable place in Queensland's legal and settlement history. In December 1863 the newly surveyed town was appointed a place for holding Courts of Petty Sessions, and the town reserve was officially declared in 1864. By 1865, Pugh's Almanac described Clermont as one of the most promising townships in the interior, already home to a bank, hospital, court-house, newspaper office, workshops, stores and several hotels. This makes the local court one of the longer-running judicial venues in inland northern Australia.
The town grew from a gold rush that began in 1861, when prospectors found payable gold near Hood's Lagoon. It is estimated that more than 7,380 kilograms of gold was recovered in the Clermont goldfields between 1861 and 1901. Nearby, the Peak Downs Copper Mining Company smelted Queensland's first copper in late 1864 and operated until 1907. At the 1868 Queensland census, Clermont had a population of 821 and was the ninth most populous town in the colony, ahead of Gladstone, Townsville and Mackay at the time. Today the district's economy centres on large coal mines and surrounding pastoral properties, and the court reflects the needs of that working community.
Planning your visit to the Clermont courthouse
If you or a family member has a matter listed at Clermont, preparation makes the day far less stressful. Confirm your listing in advance, arrive well before the 9:00am callover, and dress and behave respectfully in the courtroom. Those attending should be aware that court etiquette in Queensland requires people to bow to the Queensland Coat of Arms behind the bench on entry, and to stand when addressing the magistrate or when addressed by the bench. If you are unrepresented, ask about duty solicitor availability as soon as you arrive, remembering that defendants are bailed 30 minutes before callover specifically to allow those consultations to happen.
Because Clermont is a circuit location, not every category of matter is heard every week. If your matter is complex, urgent or involves custody, it may be more efficient to confirm scheduling directly with the Emerald registry, which administers the file. Residents travelling from surrounding towns should also factor in the significant driving distances across the Isaac and Central Highlands regions when planning their day.
Related court lists you may need
Many people checking the Clermont list also need to follow matters in nearby centres on the same circuit or in adjoining districts. You can view the daily Emerald Magistrates Court list, which is the administering registry for Clermont and the hub for the wider Central Highlands circuit. If your matter is closer to the coalfields, the Moranbah court list covers another stop on the same Emerald circuit. For matters further east, the Rockhampton court list today is a major regional venue, while a broader overview of listings across the state is available through the Queensland Magistrates Court hub page.
Frequently asked questions about the Clermont Magistrates Court
Where is the Clermont Magistrates Court located?
The court is at 44 Daintree Street, Clermont QLD 4721 (PO Box 283). All registry and filing enquiries are handled by the Emerald registry at Egerton Street, PO Box 989, Emerald QLD 4720.
What are the phone numbers for the Clermont court?
The Clermont courthouse can be reached on (07) 4987 9696. For filing, listings and general registry enquiries, contact the Emerald registry on (07) 4843 9300.
What time does the Clermont court start?
The callover generally starts at 9:00am on sitting days. Defendants are bailed 30 minutes beforehand so the duty solicitor can take instructions, so arriving well before 9:00am is strongly advised.
Is Clermont a full-time court?
No. Clermont is a circuit venue serviced by the Emerald Magistrates Court, which also circuits to Blackwater and Moranbah. A magistrate attends on scheduled sitting days rather than every business day.
What matters are heard at the Clermont Magistrates Court?
The court hears summary criminal charges, traffic offences, bail and remand applications, minor civil disputes, domestic and family violence applications, hardship and restricted licence applications, and Childrens Court matters. Serious indictable offences are committed to the District Court.
How do I check the Clermont court list?
You can track scheduled matters through this page and confirm hearing dates directly with the administering Emerald registry, which manages Clermont files and listings.
