The Richlands Magistrates Court is one of the busiest suburban court venues in South-East Queensland, serving Brisbane's rapidly growing south-western corridor from its site on the corner of Old Progress and Archerfield Roads, Richlands Qld 4077. If you are trying to find out whether a matter is being heard today, who is listed, and what time to arrive, this page brings the practical details together in one place so you can prepare before you attend. The court sits within the wider Queensland Magistrates Court network, which operates from roughly 130 locations across a state spanning about 1.85 million square kilometres, making it one of the largest court systems in Australia.
Below you will find verified contact details, sitting arrangements, the types of matters heard at Richlands, and guidance on reading the daily law list. The information is drawn from the current Queensland Courts directory and the court's own 2026 practice notes, so you can plan your day with confidence rather than relying on outdated third-party listings.
Richlands Magistrates Court list today: how listings work
The Richlands court list is published as part of the statewide Queensland daily law lists. Magistrates Court lists are refreshed for the current day at 6:45am and then updated again at 8:45am, which allows the registry to add matters arising from overnight arrests. If you are checking a listing early in the morning, it is worth reloading the page after 8:45am so you are looking at the final version rather than the first release.
Each daily law list identifies the defendant or party name, the assigned courtroom, and the scheduled time. Richlands operates more than one courtroom on a typical sitting day, so the room number on the list matters just as much as the time. When you arrive, court volunteers at the entrance tick attendees off against the list and direct people to the correct room, which reduces confusion during the busy morning call-over period.
What time should you arrive?
Most first mentions, bail undertakings, and notices to appear at Richlands are listed for 9:00am on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. Even if your individual matter is unlikely to be called first, defendants are generally required to appear at the first mention whether they are on a bail undertaking or a notice to appear. Arriving early gives you time to clear the security screening point at the entrance, find your courtroom, and speak with a duty lawyer if you need one.
Contact details and registry hours
The following details reflect the current Queensland Courts directory listing for the Richlands venue. If you cannot locate your matter on the published list, the registry is the correct first point of contact rather than any private legal directory.
- Address: Corner of Old Progress and Archerfield Roads, Richlands Qld 4077 (registry mail: PO Box 39)
- Phone: (07) 3565 4000
- Email: courthouse.richlands@justice.qld.gov.au
- Business hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday, closing at 4:00pm on Wednesday
- Facilities: Videoconferencing and a remote witness room, plus a public car park on site
A volunteer Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations service also operates from the Richlands registry, generally between 9am and 12pm and 1pm and 3pm on weekdays, which is useful if you need documents witnessed while attending court. Note that JP service hours and court sitting times can differ, so it is sensible to confirm before making a special trip.
What matters are heard at Richlands Magistrates Court?
As a Magistrates Court, Richlands is the entry point for the vast majority of matters that enter the Queensland justice system. The Magistrates Court finalises roughly 95 percent of all criminal matters in the state, so the work heard at Richlands covers a broad cross-section of everyday legal proceedings. The main categories include:
- Summary criminal offences, such as public order matters, minor assault, stealing, and drug possession, dealt with by a magistrate without a jury.
- Traffic and regulatory matters, including drink driving, drug driving, unlicensed driving, and speeding charges that carry the risk of licence loss.
- Bail and remand applications for people charged within the Richlands division.
- Committal hearings, where more serious indictable offences are examined before being sent to the District or Supreme Court.
- Civil disputes within the Magistrates Court's monetary jurisdiction, which extends to claims up to $150,000.
- QCAT matters, with a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal adjudicator typically visiting on Wednesdays outside public holiday and conference periods.
Duty lawyers are available at Richlands for adults every sitting day and on Thursdays for children, and a duty lawyer will also see any child in custody on other days. If you cannot afford private representation, speaking with the duty lawyer before your matter is called can make a meaningful difference to how your first appearance proceeds.
How a first appearance usually unfolds
When your name is called you move to the bar table in the centre of the courtroom, with the police prosecutor on one side and yourself or your lawyer on the other. The magistrate reads the charge and asks how you wish to proceed: to plead guilty, plead not guilty, or seek an adjournment. On a guilty plea the prosecutor reads the police summary and hands up any relevant history, after which you or your representative can explain your circumstances before the magistrate decides on a penalty. Understanding this sequence in advance takes much of the stress out of a first court date.
Queensland Magistrates Court activity in context
The volume of work moving through Queensland's Magistrates Courts helps explain why suburban venues like Richlands run full lists most sitting days. The Magistrates Court of Queensland Annual Report 2024-2025 recorded 25,871 domestic and family violence protection order applications and 8,123 child protection applications, the latter representing a 22.59 percent increase on the previous year. The report also noted a decrease of 9,541 adult criminal defendants, a fall of about 5.85 percent, showing that caseloads shift year to year even as the overall system remains heavily used.
To put the higher courts in perspective, the District Court of Queensland received 6,373 criminal lodgements in 2024-2025 and finalised the same number, achieving a 100 percent clearance rate, while its civil jurisdiction handled 3,928 lodgements. Matters that begin at Richlands as committals can end up contributing to these District and Supreme Court figures, which is why the committal stage handled by magistrates is so important to the flow of the justice system.
Because Richlands sits within Brisbane's outer south-west, its division serves a densely populated and growing catchment, so registry practices and listing schedules can differ slightly from inner-city courts. Early legal advice, and a clear understanding of the call-over and mention days, tends to improve both preparation and the outcome on the day.
Finding related Queensland court lists
Many people checking Richlands are also tracking matters at nearby South-East Queensland venues. If your matter has been transferred or you are appearing at more than one location, you may find it helpful to view the Ipswich court list, which serves the neighbouring western corridor, or the Beenleigh court list to the south. Gold Coast matters are published on the Southport court list today page, and you can browse every sitting location through the full Queensland magistrates court list directory. Keeping the correct venue open saves time when listings change at short notice.
Tips for attending Richlands Magistrates Court
- Check the list again after 8:45am, as overnight matters are added in the second update of the day.
- Allow extra time for the security screening point before entering the courtrooms.
- Dress neatly and arrive well before your listed time, since your matter may be called earlier than expected.
- Bring any paperwork relating to your charge, including your notice to appear or bail undertaking.
- Speak to the duty lawyer on arrival if you do not have your own representation.
- Turn your phone to silent, as recording and photography inside a courtroom are not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Richlands court list published?
The Richlands daily law list is published for the current day at 6:45am and updated again at 8:45am to include overnight arrests. Reloading the page after 8:45am gives you the most complete version of the list.
Where is Richlands Magistrates Court located?
The court is on the corner of Old Progress and Archerfield Roads, Richlands Qld 4077, in Brisbane's south-west. There is a public car park on site, and a security screening point at the entrance.
What phone number should I call about a Richlands matter?
The current Queensland Courts directory lists the Richlands registry on (07) 3565 4000. You can also email courthouse.richlands@justice.qld.gov.au if your matter does not appear on the published list.
What types of cases are heard at Richlands?
Richlands hears summary criminal offences, traffic matters such as drink and drug driving, bail and remand applications, committals for more serious charges, civil claims up to $150,000, and QCAT matters on the magistrate's civil list.
Do I have to attend my first mention in person?
In most cases yes. Defendants are generally required to appear at the first mention whether they are on a bail undertaking or a notice to appear. If you are unsure, contact the registry or speak with a duty lawyer before your listed date.
Is a duty lawyer available at Richlands?
Yes. Duty lawyers are available for adults on every sitting day and on Thursdays for children, and will also see any child in custody on other days. There is no charge to speak with the duty lawyer on the morning of your appearance.