| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| I**, A** FRIGHTEN | Court 1 | 9:30AM |
Last updated: 03 Sep 2026, 1:56 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Port Augusta Magistrates Court is the primary criminal court for South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North region, sitting at 4 Flinders Terrace, Port Augusta SA 5700. It serves a city of roughly 13,500 residents and a catchment that stretches deep into the state's outback, making it one of the busiest regional criminal registries north of Adelaide. If you have a matter listed here, this page explains what the court does, how criminal listings work, and what to expect when you appear.
Port Augusta sits about 310 kilometres by road from Adelaide, at the head of Spencer Gulf, and is often described as the "crossroads of Australia" because three major highways and two rail lines meet nearby. That central position is exactly why the court carries such a heavy regional load: it is the closest permanent criminal court for dozens of surrounding towns and remote communities, and it hosts circuit sittings for higher courts that would otherwise require a 600-kilometre round trip to the capital.
What the Port Augusta criminal court deals with
The Magistrates Court is the entry point for almost every criminal charge laid in the region. In its criminal jurisdiction, it hears summary offences, which can be dealt with by a fine, a good behaviour bond, community service, or imprisonment of up to two years. It also handles minor indictable offences and conducts committal hearings for serious indictable matters before they are transferred up to the District Court or Supreme Court.
Typical matters in the Port Augusta criminal list include:
- Traffic offences such as drink driving, drug driving, driving while disqualified, and careless or dangerous driving
- Minor assaults and public order offences
- Drug possession and low-level supply charges
- Property offences including theft, shoplifting, and criminal damage
- Breaches of bail, bonds, and court orders
- Applications and breaches relating to Intervention Orders
More serious charges, including armed robbery, aggravated assault, serious sexual offences, and drug trafficking, start in the Magistrates Court but are ultimately determined higher up the hierarchy. Under the District Court Act 1991 (SA), the District Court handles serious indictable criminal trials and civil claims up to $1,000,000, one of the highest intermediate-court civil limits in the country. The most serious offences of all, such as murder, manslaughter, and treason, are reserved for the Supreme Court.
Circuit sittings of the higher courts
Port Augusta is one of only two regional centres in South Australia, alongside Mount Gambier, where both the District Court and the Supreme Court conduct circuit sittings several times a year. This means residents of the Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North do not always have to travel to Adelaide for a serious trial to be heard. When a matter progresses beyond the Magistrates Court, it may be listed for a regional trial through the Port Augusta District Court circuit, which keeps higher-court justice accessible to a geographically vast part of the state.
Specialist criminal lists at Port Augusta
Port Augusta runs several specialist and diversionary lists that reflect the needs of its community. These are not separate courts but focused streams within the criminal jurisdiction.
Nunga Court (Aboriginal Sentencing Court)
Port Augusta is one of only a handful of South Australian locations, along with Ceduna, Murray Bridge, and Port Adelaide, that runs an Aboriginal Sentencing Court, commonly known as the Nunga Court. It provides a culturally appropriate sentencing process for Aboriginal defendants who have pleaded guilty, involving Elders and community members in the process. Given that the surrounding region includes communities such as Davenport, where the 2016 census recorded that more than 98% of residents identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, this list plays a significant role in the local justice system.
Domestic Violence Court and Intervention Orders
The Port Augusta registry operates a Domestic Violence Court that deals with family violence matters, including associated criminal charges and restraining orders. Intervention Orders, made under the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009, are among the highest-volume protective matters in the South Australian court system, and applications and breaches are regularly listed at Port Augusta.
Court Diversion Program
The court also administers a Diversion Program for people who have committed certain offences and who have impaired intellectual or mental functioning, whether through mental illness, intellectual disability, personality disorder, acquired brain injury, or a neurological disorder such as dementia. The program aims to address underlying causes rather than simply impose a penalty.
How Port Augusta criminal listings work
Daily criminal case lists tell you which matters are being heard, in which courtroom, and before which judicial officer. Understanding the terminology helps you read the list correctly and arrive prepared:
- Mention: a brief procedural appearance where the matter is reviewed and a future date may be set
- First appearance: the initial listing after a charge is laid
- Committal: the process that moves a serious indictable matter up to a higher court
- Hearing or trial: a substantive appearance where evidence is presented
- Sentencing: where a penalty is determined after a plea or finding of guilt
Listings can change at short notice, so it is always wise to confirm the current position with the registry before travelling. Because the court draws defendants and witnesses from across a huge catchment, allowing extra time for the journey and for security screening on arrival is sensible. Those weighing up matters in the capital can compare listings against the criminal court list in Adelaide to understand how the same offence types are handled at the state's busiest registry.
Contact and location details
- Address: 4 Flinders Terrace, Port Augusta, South Australia 5700
- Postal: The Registrar, Port Augusta Magistrates Court, PO Box 45, Port Augusta SA 5700
- Phone: +61 8 8648 5120
- Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Why the Port Augusta court matters regionally
The scale of the region the court serves is easy to underestimate. Port Augusta is the fifth-largest city in South Australia and functions as the gateway to the Flinders Ranges and the outback. The court's reach extends to nearby regional registries and remote circuit locations, meaning a single sitting week can involve matters from towns hundreds of kilometres apart. The nearby Port Augusta Prison at Stirling North, with a capacity of 549 inmates and one of only two facilities in the state that accommodates female prisoners, further concentrates criminal justice activity in the area.
For anyone tracking how regional and metropolitan criminal caseloads compare, the higher-court picture is instructive. According to the Supreme Court of South Australia's 2023-24 annual report, the court received 3,526 civil lodgements statewide, a reminder that the volume flowing through the hierarchy is substantial even before criminal matters are counted. Serious matters that begin at Port Augusta and are elevated may ultimately be resolved through the South Australia District Court criminal jurisdiction, whether in Adelaide or on circuit.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Port Augusta criminal court located?
The court sits at 4 Flinders Terrace, Port Augusta, South Australia 5700. The same building houses the Magistrates Court and hosts District Court and Supreme Court circuit sittings.
What types of criminal matters are heard at Port Augusta?
The Magistrates Court hears summary offences and minor indictable offences, and conducts committals for serious charges. Summary matters can attract penalties up to two years' imprisonment. More serious indictable offences are transferred to the District or Supreme Court, which sit on circuit at Port Augusta.
Does Port Augusta have a higher court?
Port Augusta does not have a permanent District or Supreme Court, but both conduct circuit sittings there several times a year, making it one of only two regional South Australian centres, with Mount Gambier, to host higher-court trials.
What is the Nunga Court at Port Augusta?
The Nunga Court is a culturally appropriate Aboriginal Sentencing Court for Aboriginal defendants who have pleaded guilty. Elders and community members take part in the sentencing process. Port Augusta is one of only a few SA locations that runs this list.
How do I find the daily criminal list for Port Augusta?
Daily criminal case lists show the matters set down, the courtroom, and the presiding judicial officer. Details can change at short notice, so confirm with the registry before attending. You can also review listings for other regional centres across the South Australia court lists to plan around related matters.
How far is Port Augusta court from Adelaide?
Port Augusta is about 310 kilometres by road from Adelaide, roughly a three-hour drive. Its central location is a key reason the higher courts sit there on circuit rather than requiring every regional defendant to travel to the capital.
