The Inglewood Magistrates Court is a circuit court that serves the town of Inglewood and the wider Goondiwindi Region in the Darling Downs, providing residents of south-west Queensland with local access to the state justice system without the need to travel to a major regional centre. Sitting at 25 Albert Street, Inglewood QLD 4387, the courthouse operates as part of the Magistrates Court of Queensland, the busiest tier of the state's court hierarchy. If you are looking for the Inglewood court list, sitting dates, or details about how matters are heard in this small rural registry, this guide brings together verified information to help you prepare with confidence.
Inglewood is a rural town of just 936 residents at the 2021 Census, spread across a locality of roughly 357 square kilometres and positioned about 260 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, 149 kilometres south-west of Toowoomba and midway between Warwick and Goondiwindi. Because the population base is small, the court operates on a circuit basis rather than sitting every business day. The registry functions that support Inglewood, including filing and general enquiries, are handled from the Warwick courthouse at the corner of Guy and Fitzroy Streets, which reflects how regional Queensland pools administrative resources across neighbouring towns.
Where the Inglewood Magistrates Court fits in the Queensland court system
The Magistrates Court is the entry point for almost every legal matter in Queensland. According to figures cited for the Magistrates Court of Queensland, this level of the judiciary hears approximately 95 per cent of all court cases in the state, making it by far the most frequently used court by ordinary Queenslanders. All criminal proceedings in Queensland begin in the Magistrates Court, with minor offences dealt with summarily and more serious matters committed to a higher court once the strength of the evidence has been tested.
The court operates under two principal pieces of legislation, the Magistrates Courts Act 1921 (Qld) and the Justices Act 1886 (Qld). Magistrates are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Attorney-General and face mandatory retirement at age 70. The court is led statewide by the Chief Magistrate of Queensland, Judge Janelle Brassington, who has held the role since 8 July 2022, supported by Deputy Chief Magistrates. Decisions made in a Magistrates Court, including matters heard at Inglewood, may be appealed to the District Court of Queensland, which for the Darling Downs is most often accessed through the Toowoomba Supreme and District Court circuit.
What matters are heard at Inglewood
As a small circuit venue, Inglewood typically deals with the everyday legal business of the surrounding agricultural district. The matters most commonly listed include:
- Summary criminal offences such as traffic matters, public order offences and minor assaults
- Committal proceedings for indictable offences that will ultimately be finalised in a higher court
- Bail applications and adjournments for defendants in custody or on remand
- Minor civil disputes and debt claims within the Magistrates Court monetary limits
- Domestic and family violence protection order applications
- Traffic and licensing matters affecting drivers across the Goondiwindi Region
Because the court sits on scheduled circuit days rather than continuously, listings are consolidated so that a visiting magistrate can deal efficiently with the district's caseload in a concentrated sitting. This is a common arrangement across rural Queensland, where courts in towns like Inglewood, Texas and Millmerran are serviced by magistrates who travel a regional circuit.
Inglewood Magistrates Court contact and location details
The following verified details will help you plan a visit or make an enquiry. It is always sensible to confirm sitting arrangements before travelling, as circuit dates can change and some matters may be relocated or dealt with by telephone or videoconference.
- Court address: 25 Albert Street, Inglewood QLD 4387
- Phone: (07) 4598 2300
- Email: courthouse.warwick@justice.qld.gov.au
- Registry (filing and enquiries): Corner Guy and Fitzroy Streets, PO Box 208, Warwick QLD 4370
- Registry hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
- Local government area: Goondiwindi Region
- State electorate: Southern Downs | Federal division: Maranoa
Because Inglewood shares its registry and email with Warwick, correspondence about appearances, orders and filing is directed through the Warwick Magistrates Court registry team. This pairing is a practical reflection of the geography of the region, with Inglewood positioned 109 kilometres west-south-west of Warwick along the Cunningham Highway corridor.
A brief history of Inglewood and its court district
Inglewood was surveyed as a town in 1862 on the higher, northern side of Macintyre Brook, near the junction of Canning Creek, a location that had long served as a resting point for bullock teams and travelling livestock. A school opened in 1872 and the Inglewood divisional board was established in 1879 as one of 74 divisions created across Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879, with a founding population of 1,378.
The district grew steadily over the following decades. The railway reached Inglewood in 1906, connecting the town to Warwick and later westward to Goondiwindi, and tobacco became a major economic driver from the 1890s, boosted by an influx of European migrants, many of them Italian, after the Second World War. The Coolmunda Dam, completed in 1968 with a capacity of around 1,730 hectares, secured the town's water supply and underpinned irrigated cropping that continues to shape the local economy today, alongside the olive industry for which Inglewood is now well known.
The former Shire of Inglewood, which covered 5,876.7 square kilometres, existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the Shire of Waggamba and the Town of Goondiwindi to form the present Goondiwindi Region. That regional council now spans 19,258 square kilometres and had a population of 10,310 at the 2021 Census, meaning the Inglewood court continues to serve a vast but sparsely settled catchment along the Queensland and New South Wales border.
How to find the Inglewood court list
Daily law lists and court calendars for Queensland Magistrates Courts, including Inglewood, are published by Queensland Courts. Sitting dates for smaller circuit venues are set out in the annual Magistrates Court calendars, which are released each year and can be checked in advance so parties, legal representatives and witnesses know exactly when the court will next convene in the town.
When reviewing a court list, it helps to understand what the entries mean. A list will generally show the name of each party, the type of matter, the courtroom or venue, and the scheduled time. Because Inglewood is a circuit court, a single sitting day may carry a full list of matters that have been accumulating since the previous sitting, so parties are usually asked to arrive early and be prepared to wait until their matter is called.
Preparing for your appearance
Whether you are appearing on a criminal charge, responding to a civil claim, or supporting someone else, a little preparation makes the day run more smoothly. Consider the following:
- Confirm the sitting date and start time before you travel, particularly during harvest and holiday periods when circuits can shift
- Arrive with time to spare, as parking and access in a small town courthouse are straightforward but security screening still applies
- Bring all relevant paperwork, including any notice, summons or bail undertaking you have received
- Dress neatly and plan to remain until your matter is finalised or adjourned
- If you cannot attend, contact the Warwick registry as early as possible to discuss your options
People who need to deal with a matter that has been escalated beyond the summary jurisdiction, or who are managing filings across multiple venues, often find it useful to understand how the wider state network operates. The Queensland Magistrates Court overview explains the structure that connects every local venue, from the largest metropolitan complex to circuit courthouses like Inglewood.
Nearby courts in the Darling Downs and border region
Inglewood does not operate in isolation. It forms part of a cluster of courts serving the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi border region, each handling matters for its own catchment while feeding into the same District Court appeal pathway. Residents of the Goondiwindi Region will often have dealings with more than one of these venues depending on where an alleged offence occurred, since proceedings must generally be brought in the district or division where the relevant conduct took place.
The most closely connected venue is the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court, which serves the regional business centre roughly 91 kilometres west-south-west of Inglewood. Together with Warwick to the east, these three courts cover the bulk of the border district's legal work, with Toowoomba providing the higher court capacity for more serious criminal and civil matters.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Inglewood Magistrates Court located?
The court is located at 25 Albert Street, Inglewood QLD 4387, in the Goondiwindi Region of south-west Queensland. It can be reached by phone on (07) 4598 2300.
Does the Inglewood Magistrates Court sit every day?
No. Inglewood is a circuit court serving a small rural population of around 936 people, so it sits on scheduled dates rather than every business day. Sitting dates are published in the annual Queensland Magistrates Court calendars, and it is best to confirm the next sitting before travelling.
Which registry handles Inglewood court matters?
Filing and general enquiries for Inglewood are managed by the Warwick registry at the corner of Guy and Fitzroy Streets, Warwick QLD 4370, which is open 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Correspondence is sent to courthouse.warwick@justice.qld.gov.au.
What types of cases does the court hear?
As a Magistrates Court, Inglewood deals with summary criminal offences, committal proceedings, bail applications, minor civil disputes, traffic matters and domestic and family violence protection orders. More serious indictable matters are committed to the District Court of Queensland.
Can I appeal a decision made at Inglewood?
Yes. Decisions of a Queensland Magistrates Court may be appealed to the District Court of Queensland, which for the Darling Downs region is generally accessed through the Toowoomba circuit.
How far is Inglewood from Brisbane and Toowoomba?
Inglewood is approximately 260 kilometres south-west of Brisbane and 149 kilometres south-west of Toowoomba, sitting midway between Warwick and Goondiwindi on the Darling Downs.