| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| MCKAY J** S** | Court 1 | 9:00AM |
| WRIGHT J** D** | Court 1 | 9:00AM |
Last updated: 11 Sep 2026, 10:39 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
Dalby Magistrates Court sits at the corner of Cunningham and Drayton Streets in the heart of Dalby, the largest town in Queensland's Western Downs region. This courthouse serves a community of roughly 12,758 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, along with the surrounding agricultural districts of the Darling Downs. Positioned about 83 kilometres north-west of Toowoomba and 211 kilometres from Brisbane, the Dalby courthouse is a central point of contact for legal matters across a broad rural catchment that includes Jandowae, Tara, Chinchilla and Bell. If you are searching the daily Dalby court list, this page explains how the court operates, what appears on its lists, and how to find the matter you need.
The Magistrates Court is the busiest tier of the Queensland justice system. According to the Magistrates Courts of Queensland Annual Report, over 90 per cent of all matters that go before a court in Queensland are heard first in a Magistrates Court. For most residents of the Western Downs, Dalby is therefore the first and often the only point of contact with the courts. Understanding how the list works, when the court sits, and what each entry means saves time and reduces stress, whether you are a defendant, a witness, a lawyer, or a family member supporting someone through a hearing.
About Dalby Magistrates Court
Dalby Magistrates Court is a summary jurisdiction court constituted under the Justices Act 1886 and the Magistrates Courts Act 1921. It hears and determines local, state and Commonwealth summary offences, conducts committal proceedings for more serious indictable offences, and manages a range of civil and application-based matters. The court forms part of the wider Queensland Magistrates Court network, which operates across 52 registries and delivers registry services to many regional and remote communities throughout the state.
The Dalby registry is located within the historic Dalby Court House, one of the town's recognisable civic buildings alongside the Council Chambers and St John's Anglican Church. The courthouse handles the day-to-day flow of criminal charges, traffic matters, domestic and family violence applications, and civil disputes for the Dalby district. When a charge is too serious to be finalised summarily, the court conducts a committal hearing to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to commit the defendant to the District or Supreme Court for finalisation.
Court location and contact details
- Address: Corner of Cunningham and Drayton Streets, Dalby QLD 4405
- Postal address: PO Box 277, Dalby QLD 4405
- Region: Western Downs Regional Council area
- Postcode: 4405
- State electorate: Warrego
- Federal division: Maranoa
Registry hours can vary, so it is wise to confirm current opening times with the Queensland Courts before travelling, particularly on Wednesdays and around public and court holidays when registry services are not available. Requests such as adjournments, medical certificates and appearance queries should be directed to the Dalby registry rather than a general statewide inbox, as this ensures your correspondence reaches the right court promptly.
What appears on the Dalby court list
The daily Dalby court list is published by court location and updated regularly. Each entry sets out the defendant or party name, the courtroom, the presiding magistrate or judge, the time, and the type of appearance. Learning to read these entries makes it far easier to locate your matter and understand what will happen on the day.
Common matter types you will see
- Mention: A brief appearance where the court checks the progress of a matter, sets the next step, or receives a plea.
- Sentence: The stage where a magistrate determines the penalty after a guilty plea or a finding of guilt.
- Committal: A hearing to decide whether an indictable charge should be sent to the District or Supreme Court.
- Bail application: An application to be released from custody while awaiting the outcome of a matter.
- DVO application: A request for a Domestic Violence Order to protect a person from domestic and family violence.
- Callover: A review of listed matters used to manage their progress and set future hearing or trial dates.
- Directions hearing: A procedural appearance where the court gives directions on how a matter will move toward hearing.
Domestic and family violence matters form a significant part of the workload across Queensland Magistrates Courts. The Magistrates Court of Queensland Annual Report 2024-2025 recorded 25,871 domestic violence protection order applications statewide, alongside 8,123 child protection applications, an increase of 22.59 per cent on the previous year. These figures illustrate why regional courthouses like Dalby carry a workload well beyond simple traffic and minor criminal matters.
Dalby District and Supreme Court sittings
The same Dalby courthouse precinct also hosts higher court sittings on circuit. Judges of the District Court of Queensland travel to regional centres to hear serious criminal matters, conduct jury trials, and manage indictment presentations and mentions. Published Dalby law lists show District Court criminal sittings covering indictment presentations, mentions and appearances before a presiding judge, with jury panels called as required for trial sittings.
This circuit model is central to regional justice in Queensland. The District Court of Queensland Annual Report 2024-2025 noted that more than two-thirds of all the court's criminal matters are lodged and finalised in centres outside Brisbane. For the Western Downs, Dalby's District Court sittings mean that serious matters can be dealt with closer to the community rather than requiring every party to travel to Brisbane. Where a Supreme Court matter arises for the district, the higher court framework connects Dalby to the broader Queensland judicial hierarchy.
How Dalby fits into the regional court network
Dalby is one of a cluster of Darling Downs and Western Downs courthouses that work together to serve a large rural area. Nearby sitting locations include Chinchilla, Oakey and Tara, while the major regional hub sits at Toowoomba to the south-east. Matters that begin at Dalby may be committed to higher courts that sit at larger centres. For anyone tracking listings across the district, checking the Toowoomba Magistrates Court list alongside Dalby can help build a full picture of where a matter is being heard.
How to search the Dalby court list today
Finding a specific matter is simpler when you know the details in advance. Before searching, have the party name, the approximate date, and the type of matter ready. Court lists are typically organised alphabetically by location and then by name, so knowing the correct spelling of a surname speeds up the process considerably.
- Identify the correct court location, in this case Dalby, and confirm the sitting date.
- Browse the daily list for the defendant or party name, checking the courtroom and time.
- Note the appearance type so you understand what will happen, whether a mention, sentence, committal or callover.
- Arrive early, allowing time for security screening and to locate the correct courtroom within the building.
Lists can change at short notice as matters are added, adjourned or transferred, so it is sensible to check again on the morning of the hearing. If a matter does not appear where expected, it may have been moved to another sitting day or committed to a higher court.
Understanding the Western Downs justice catchment
Dalby's role reflects the geography it serves. The Western Downs is a productive agricultural and energy region, and the courthouse handles matters arising from a dispersed population spread across farming communities and smaller townships. Because many residents live a significant distance from larger centres, the local Magistrates Court provides essential access to justice without the need to travel to Toowoomba or Brisbane for routine matters.
Court records show that Dalby has served this function for a very long time. Historical newspaper reports document criminal and civil sittings of the Western District Court at Dalby dating back to the nineteenth century, underlining the town's enduring position as a judicial centre for the inland Darling Downs. That continuity is part of why Dalby remains a recognisable name in Queensland's regional court network today.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dalby Magistrates Court located?
The court is on the corner of Cunningham and Drayton Streets, Dalby QLD 4405, in the Western Downs region. The postal address is PO Box 277, Dalby QLD 4405.
What kinds of matters does Dalby Magistrates Court hear?
It hears summary criminal offences, traffic matters, committal proceedings for serious charges, civil disputes, and domestic and family violence applications. District Court criminal sittings are also held at the Dalby courthouse on circuit.
How do I find out when a matter is listed at Dalby?
Check the daily Dalby court list, which is organised by location and name. Have the party's full name and the expected date ready, and confirm again on the morning of the hearing because lists can change.
What does a mention mean on the court list?
A mention is a short appearance where the court reviews the progress of a matter, sets the next step, or takes a plea. It is usually not the final hearing.
Does Dalby handle serious indictable offences?
The Magistrates Court finalises most summary matters and conducts committal hearings for serious charges. Indictable offences are committed to the District or Supreme Court, and District Court judges travel to Dalby on circuit to hear these matters.
Which nearby courts should I check as well?
Depending on where a matter is being heard, you may also wish to view the Roma court list to the west or the Kingaroy court list to the north-east. You can also browse every venue in the state from the Queensland court list hub.
