The Coolangatta Magistrates Court is the southernmost courthouse on the Gold Coast, sitting at 136 Musgrave Street in Coolangatta, Queensland 4225, just metres from the New South Wales border. As a division of the Magistrates Court of Queensland, it delivers first-instance justice for the surrounding coastal communities, hearing criminal, traffic, civil and regulatory matters for residents across the southern Gold Coast, Currumbin, Kirra, Tugun and Bilinga. If you have a matter listed here, this page explains what the court does, where to find the daily law list, and what to expect on your hearing day.
Coolangatta is a compact registry, but it plays an important role in the Queensland court network. The suburb had a population of 6,491 at the 2021 census and forms part of the City of Gold Coast, the state electorate of Currumbin and the federal division of McPherson. Because the courthouse is only about 29 kilometres south-south-east of Southport and roughly 113 kilometres from Brisbane, it functions as a convenient local venue that keeps southern Gold Coast residents from having to travel to the busier Southport precinct for straightforward matters.
Where the Coolangatta Magistrates Court sits in the Queensland court system
The Magistrates Court is the entry point for almost every criminal and civil proceeding in Queensland, and it deals with the largest volume of matters of any court in the state. The Magistrates Court of Queensland operates across approximately 130 locations, spanning metropolitan centres, regional cities and remote communities from the Torres Strait Islands to Cape York. Coolangatta is one of those local hubs, providing accessible justice at the ground level of the judicial hierarchy.
Every matter that begins in a Magistrates Court is heard by a magistrate rather than a judge and jury. Magistrates decide summary offences, conduct committal proceedings for more serious indictable charges, hear bail applications, and resolve minor civil disputes. When a charge is too serious to be finalised summarily, the magistrate commits the case to a higher court. For the southern Gold Coast, those committed matters are typically escalated to the Southport Supreme and District Court, which handles indictable offences and larger civil claims for the region.
Court address, contact details and opening hours
The verified contact details for the Coolangatta Magistrates Court, sourced from Queensland Courts, are set out below. Registry counter hours can differ slightly from telephone enquiry hours, so it is always worth confirming before you attend.
- Address: 136 Musgrave Street, PO Box 375, Coolangatta QLD 4225
- Phone: (07) 5513 9700
- Email: courthouse.coolangatta@justice.qld.gov.au
- Business hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 8.30am to 4.00pm on Tuesday
- Local government area: City of Gold Coast (Division 14)
- State electorate: Currumbin | Federal division: McPherson
A Justice of the Peace and Commissioner for Declarations service also operates from the ground-floor registry, with volunteers generally available on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 3pm. This free service lets you have documents witnessed, certified or signed without an appointment, which is useful if you need statutory declarations or affidavits prepared in connection with a court matter.
What types of cases are heard at Coolangatta Magistrates Court
The court hears a broad mix of everyday legal matters at first instance. Because it serves a busy coastal and tourism corridor next to the state border, traffic and driving matters make up a significant share of its list. The most common categories you will see called include:
- Traffic and driving offences such as drink driving, drug driving, unlicensed driving, driving while disqualified and speeding-related charges
- Summary offences including minor assault, public nuisance, obstructing police, and low-level drug possession
- Property offences such as low-value stealing, shoplifting and minor fraud eligible for summary disposal
- Regulatory and statutory offences brought under Queensland state law or local council by-laws
- Bail and remand applications, along with early mention hearings for more serious charges before they are transferred to a higher court
- Domestic and family violence applications, including applications for and variations of protection orders
- Minor civil disputes dealt with in the civil registry
To put the scale of Magistrates Court work in context, the Magistrates Court of Queensland Annual Report 2024-2025 recorded 25,871 domestic violence protection order applications and 8,123 child protection applications statewide, the latter a 22.59% increase on the previous year. These figures underline how much of the day-to-day legal load in Queensland is carried at the local court level, where courts like Coolangatta operate.
How to find the Coolangatta court list
The daily law list, sometimes called the callover or the court list, tells you which matters are being heard, in which courtroom, and at what time. Checking the list the afternoon before your hearing helps you confirm your court date, arrive at the correct courtroom and avoid the stress of last-minute searching. You can view the current Coolangatta court list and the Coolangatta Magistrates Court list for today and upcoming sitting days through this page rather than trawling through multiple government PDFs.
If your matter has been moved, or you are checking listings for a related proceeding elsewhere on the Gold Coast, it is worth cross-referencing the Southport Magistrates Court list, since the two registries frequently share the region's workload. Matters are sometimes listed at Southport when Coolangatta is not sitting, or when a case is more suited to the larger precinct.
Attending the Coolangatta Magistrates Court
Turning up prepared makes a genuine difference to how your day unfolds. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your listed time so you can pass through the entrance, locate your courtroom and speak with the duty lawyer if one is available. Dress neatly, turn your phone to silent, and address the magistrate as "Your Honour" when your matter is called. If you are running late or cannot attend, contact the registry on (07) 5513 9700 as early as possible, because failing to appear can result in a warrant being issued or your matter being decided in your absence.
Duty lawyers and legal help
Legal Aid Queensland duty lawyers can provide free advice to eligible people at Magistrates Court locations, and Coolangatta has historically offered a duty solicitor for first-time court appearances. Duty lawyer availability can be limited to certain days and times, so if your matter is serious or you want representation on the day, it is sensible to arrange your own solicitor in advance or contact Legal Aid Queensland before your hearing date.
Facilities and accessibility
The Coolangatta registry is located on the ground floor at Musgrave Street, within easy reach of public transport and parking in the town centre. The registry can assist with lodging documents, general procedural questions and directing you to the right courtroom, although registry staff cannot give you legal advice about your case. If you require an interpreter, disability access support or a remote appearance arrangement, contact the court ahead of time so the necessary facilities can be organised.
Coolangatta in the wider Gold Coast and Queensland court network
Coolangatta operates as a subsidiary Magistrates Court to the major Gold Coast courthouse at Southport, which opened its current extensions in 1998 and houses both District Court and Magistrates Court facilities for the region. This structure means straightforward local matters can be dealt with close to home in Coolangatta, while more serious or complex cases are directed to the larger Southport precinct with its greater capacity and higher court jurisdiction.
For anyone tracking hearings across Queensland, it can help to think of the court system as a hierarchy. Summary matters start in the Magistrates Court, more serious indictable offences and mid-range civil claims move up to the District Court, and the most serious criminal trials and largest civil disputes are heard in the Supreme Court. If you regularly follow listings beyond the Gold Coast, our broader coverage of Queensland court lists brings every tier together in one searchable place, from Brisbane to the far north.
Practitioners and members of the public who deal with matters across South East Queensland often check several registries in a single week. A solicitor with a mention at Coolangatta on a Monday might have a committal at Southport on a Wednesday and a regional appearance further south. Court networks in the region are closely linked, so if you are comparing sitting days it can be useful to also review the Beenleigh court list, another high-volume Magistrates Court serving the corridor between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Coolangatta Magistrates Court located?
The court is at 136 Musgrave Street, Coolangatta QLD 4225, in the southernmost suburb of the Gold Coast, close to the New South Wales border. Postal correspondence goes to PO Box 375, Coolangatta QLD 4225.
What are the Coolangatta Magistrates Court opening hours?
According to Queensland Courts, the court operates 8.30am to 4.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8.30am to 4.00pm on Tuesday. Registry counter and telephone enquiry times can vary, so confirm before attending.
How do I find out if my matter is listed at Coolangatta today?
Check the daily court list for Coolangatta, ideally the afternoon before your hearing. The list confirms your courtroom, your listed time and the magistrate hearing your matter, which helps you arrive prepared.
What kinds of cases does the Coolangatta Magistrates Court hear?
It hears traffic and driving offences, summary criminal matters, minor property and drug charges, domestic violence protection order applications, bail applications and minor civil disputes. Serious indictable matters are committed to a higher court.
Is there a duty lawyer at Coolangatta Magistrates Court?
Legal Aid Queensland duty lawyers can assist eligible people on certain sitting days, and a duty solicitor has historically been available for first-time appearances. For serious matters, arrange your own solicitor in advance where possible.
What if I cannot attend my hearing?
Contact the registry on (07) 5513 9700 as soon as you can. Failing to appear without notice can lead to a warrant being issued or your matter being decided without you present.
Which higher court handles serious Gold Coast matters from Coolangatta?
Serious indictable offences and larger civil claims are generally escalated to the Southport Supreme and District Court, the major courthouse serving the Gold Coast region.