The Gayndah Magistrates Court is the local courthouse serving Queensland's oldest town and the wider North Burnett region, sitting at 20 Capper Street in the heart of the Gayndah business centre. As a regional registry of the Magistrates Court of Queensland, it is the first level of the state's court hierarchy and the point where the overwhelming majority of local criminal, civil and domestic violence matters begin. For residents of Gayndah, Ideraway, Mundubbera and the surrounding citrus and cattle districts, this is the courthouse that handles everyday justice, from traffic infringements and minor theft to bail applications and the early stages of serious indictable offences that are later committed to a higher court.
If you are looking for the Gayndah court list, this page explains how the court works, what it hears, when it sits, and how to find the daily law list so you can confirm your matter, your courtroom and your appearance time before you travel. Because Gayndah is a smaller circuit registry rather than a busy metropolitan centre, sitting days are limited and preparation matters, so understanding the court's role in advance can save you an unnecessary trip and a great deal of stress.
About the Gayndah Magistrates Court
The court operates from the heritage-listed Gayndah Court House, a Classicism-style building erected in 1928 and added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 January 1995 under reference number 601294. Designed in the office of the Queensland Department of Public Works while Andrew Baxter Leven was Government Architect, the courthouse replaced an earlier brick building located roughly half a mile away, and it remains one of the town's most significant civic landmarks alongside the 1934 Shire Hall and the 1861 State School. Few Queensland courthouses can claim close to a century of continuous service on the same site.
Gayndah itself carries genuine historical weight. Officially gazetted in 1852, it is widely recognised as the oldest town in Queensland, and it was once considered a serious contender to become the state capital when Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859. Today the locality recorded a population of 1,949 at the 2021 census and serves as the administrative centre for the North Burnett Region, a local government area covering roughly 19,670 square kilometres with a population of about 10,068. The court's catchment is therefore geographically large but sparsely populated, which is why a compact registry model suits the district.
Court location, contact and business hours
The essential details for the Gayndah courthouse are set out below. Always verify current information with Queensland Courts before attending, as registry arrangements at smaller regional courts can change.
- Address: 20 Capper Street, Gayndah QLD 4625 (PO Box 249, Gayndah QLD 4625)
- Phone: (07) 4161 4100
- Email: courthouse.gayndah@justice.qld.gov.au
- Business hours: 8.45am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm on Wednesday
- Postcode: 4625
- Region: North Burnett, Wide Bay-Burnett, within the state electorate of Callide and the federal division of Flynn
Gayndah is approximately 326 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, around 147 kilometres from Bundaberg and about 149 kilometres from Maryborough, a driving distance of roughly four hours from the capital. For anyone travelling from the coast for a hearing, checking the list the day before is strongly recommended given the distances involved.
What matters does the Gayndah Magistrates Court hear?
As the entry point to the Queensland court system, the Magistrates Court hears the widest volume and broadest range of matters of any court tier. Cases are decided by a magistrate sitting alone, without a jury, which allows matters to be resolved more quickly and at lower cost than in the District or Supreme Courts. At Gayndah, the court's work generally falls into several clear categories.
Criminal and summary matters
The court deals with summary offences and the early stages of more serious charges. This includes public order offences, minor assaults, stealing, drink driving and other traffic offences, drug possession, and property damage. For indictable offences that must ultimately be heard higher up, the Magistrates Court conducts the committal process, testing whether there is enough evidence for a matter to proceed to the District or Supreme Court. Serious charges such as armed robbery, sexual assault and grievous bodily harm are committed from here to the District Court, while the most serious offences including murder and manslaughter proceed to the Supreme Court.
Civil disputes
The Magistrates Court has civil jurisdiction for claims of a smaller monetary value, typically minor debt recovery, consumer disputes and other civil claims below the thresholds that send larger matters to the District Court, which generally hears civil claims between $150,000 and $750,000. Many everyday financial and contractual disputes for North Burnett residents will start and finish at this level.
Domestic and family violence applications
Applications for domestic violence protection orders are a substantial and growing part of the Magistrates Court's workload statewide. According to the Magistrates Court of Queensland Annual Report 2024-2025, domestic violence protection order applications across the state totalled 25,871, underlining how central this jurisdiction has become to the court's daily function. Regional registries such as Gayndah play an important role in making these protections accessible to people who live far from the major coastal centres.
Childrens Court and other specialist work
When a magistrate exercises Childrens Court jurisdiction, the court hears most offences committed by children and young people, with those proceedings closed to the public to protect the identity and welfare of the young person involved. Statewide, child protection applications reached 8,123 in 2024-2025, a 22.59% increase on the prior year, reflecting rising demand across regional Queensland. Magistrates may also perform coronial and other administrative functions depending on the circuit arrangements for the district.
How to find the Gayndah court list today
Queensland Courts publishes a daily law list for each courthouse, updated each business day, which shows the matters scheduled to be heard, the courtroom, and the time each matter is listed. Checking the list before you attend confirms whether your case is proceeding, whether it has been adjourned, and exactly when you need to be present. Because Gayndah operates on limited sitting days rather than daily hearings, confirming the schedule is especially important here.
Steps to check your listing
- Locate the Gayndah daily law list published by Queensland Courts for the relevant sitting date.
- Search for your name or your matter number to confirm the courtroom and listed time.
- Note whether your matter is a mention, a callover, a hearing or a committal, as this affects how long you should expect to be at court.
- Arrive early, allowing time for security screening and to speak with duty lawyers or your legal representative if required.
If you cannot find your matter on the list, contact the registry on (07) 4161 4100 before travelling, as the case may have been transferred, adjourned or listed on a different circuit day.
The Queensland court hierarchy in context
Understanding where Gayndah sits in the wider system helps explain what happens after a first appearance. The Magistrates Court of Queensland operates from around 130 locations across a state spanning some 1.85 million square kilometres, making it the most accessible court for most Queenslanders. Above it, the District Court is the intermediate court, with the District Court of Queensland Annual Report 2023-2024 reporting 6,659 new criminal lodgements and 4,096 civil lodgements. At the apex, the Supreme Court holds unlimited civil jurisdiction and hears the most serious criminal trials.
For North Burnett residents, matters that escalate beyond the Magistrates Court level are generally directed to larger regional registries. Nearby centres form part of the same practical circuit, and you can compare arrangements at the Murgon court list and the Kingaroy court list, both of which serve neighbouring South and North Burnett communities. For coastal proceedings, the Maryborough magistrates court list covers the nearest major Wide Bay registry, and a full state overview is available through the Queensland court list directory.
Practical tips before you attend court
A little preparation makes a court appearance far less daunting, particularly at a smaller regional courthouse where facilities and services are more limited than in the city. The following points reflect the most common issues people encounter.
- Confirm the sitting day. Gayndah does not sit every day, so always verify that the court is sitting on your scheduled date.
- Dress and behave respectfully. Neat clothing, punctuality and switching off your phone all make a practical difference to how your matter proceeds.
- Bring your documents. Take any paperwork, notices, identification and evidence relevant to your matter.
- Consider legal advice. Duty lawyer services and Legal Aid may be available for eligible people, especially in criminal and domestic violence matters.
- Allow travel time. Given the distances across the North Burnett, plan your journey so you arrive well before your listed time.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Gayndah Magistrates Court located?
The court is at 20 Capper Street, Gayndah QLD 4625, in the town's business centre, operating from the heritage-listed 1928 courthouse. The registry can be reached on (07) 4161 4100.
What are the court's opening hours?
Registry hours are 8.45am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm on Wednesday. Hours can change, so confirm before attending.
How do I find out if my case is listed at Gayndah today?
Check the Gayndah daily law list published by Queensland Courts for the relevant sitting date, or phone the registry on (07) 4161 4100 if you cannot locate your matter.
What types of cases does the Gayndah Magistrates Court hear?
It hears summary criminal matters, traffic offences, minor civil disputes, domestic violence protection order applications, committal proceedings for more serious charges, and Childrens Court matters when a magistrate exercises that jurisdiction.
Does the Gayndah court sit every day?
No. As a smaller regional registry, Gayndah operates on limited sitting days rather than daily hearings, which is why confirming the sitting date in advance is essential.
What happens if my matter is too serious for the Magistrates Court?
Serious indictable offences are committed from the Magistrates Court to the District Court or, for the most serious offences, the Supreme Court, usually heard at a larger regional registry.