If you need to check the Ararat Magistrates' Court list today, this page brings together every matter listed before the court in one place, updated for each sitting day and presented without any login, registration or fee. The Ararat Magistrates' Court sits at 63-75 Barkly Street, on the corner of Barkly and Ingor Streets in central Ararat, Victoria 3377, and its daily law list covers criminal hearings, family violence and personal safety intervention order applications, civil disputes, traffic and driving matters, and mentions listed before the presiding magistrate. Names on the published list are partially masked for privacy, and because listings can move at short notice, the registry remains the final authority on any hearing time or courtroom allocation.
Ararat is a small but historically significant regional court that serves one of western Victoria's oldest communities. The town sits roughly 198 kilometres west of Melbourne along the Western Highway, at the junction with the Pyrenees Highway, and acts as the gateway to the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. The Rural City of Ararat recorded a population of 11,880 at the 2021 Census across an area of 4,211 square kilometres, with the town of Ararat itself home to just over 8,000 residents. The court's catchment therefore stretches well beyond the town centre to take in surrounding localities such as Lake Bolac, Moyston, Pomonal, Streatham, Tatyoon, Wickliffe and Willaura.
What the Ararat Magistrates' Court list today covers
The Magistrates' Court is the entry point for the overwhelming majority of legal matters in Victoria, and Ararat is no exception. Around nine in ten criminal cases in the state begin and end in the Magistrates' Court, so the daily list at Ararat reflects the full spread of summary work handled at this level. On any given sitting day the list may include first mentions, contest mentions, summary case conferences, guilty pleas, sentencing, bail applications and committal proceedings for more serious indictable charges that will later be transferred to a higher court.
The criminal jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court hears and determines all summary offences, some indictable offences heard summarily, and conducts committal hearings that decide whether there is sufficient evidence for a matter to proceed to the County Court or Supreme Court. Common categories you will see on the Ararat list include drink and drug driving, driving while disqualified or unlicensed, theft, criminal damage, assault, drug possession, and breaches of court orders. Traffic and driving offences alone make up a substantial share of regional magistrates' court workloads across Victoria.
Civil disputes and monetary claims
Alongside its criminal work, the court exercises a civil jurisdiction. The Magistrates' Court can hear civil disputes up to the value of $100,000 arising from debts, claims for damages, other monetary disputes or applications for equitable relief. For residents and businesses across the Ararat Rural City, this covers matters such as unpaid invoices, consumer disputes, building and contract disagreements, and property damage claims. Civil listings are handled through the same registry that supports the criminal division, with the Ballarat headquarters registry providing administrative backing for the circuit.
Intervention orders and family violence matters
Two types of intervention order can be made in the Magistrates' Court: family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These applications form a significant and growing part of the regional court list. Family violence intervention order applications have risen sharply across Victoria over the past decade, and regional courts like Ararat carry an important share of that demand. If you are attending in relation to an intervention order, the court provides a safe waiting area and audio visual link facilities so that affected family members can give evidence remotely where appropriate. Anyone in immediate danger should always call 000 first.
Ararat's place in the Ballarat court circuit
Ararat operates as a circuit venue supported by the much larger Ballarat headquarters court, which serves as the administrative hub for the Ararat and Bacchus Marsh sittings. Ballarat is one of Victoria's most fully equipped regional courts, hosting specialist divisions including a Drug Court, an Assessment and Referral Court, a Court Integrated Services Program and dedicated intervention order and diversion registries. Because Ararat is a smaller circuit court, more complex or specialist proceedings and some higher volume list days are coordinated through Ballarat, and postal correspondence for Ararat is directed to PO Box 604, Ballarat VIC 3350. If your matter has been transferred or you are unsure which venue applies, the Ballarat Magistrates Court list is a useful companion resource.
The Magistrates' Court of Victoria operates from more than 51 venues statewide, making it the most geographically distributed court in the state. Ararat sits within a cluster of western Victorian courts that share circuit magistrates and registry staff. The nearest neighbouring venue is Stawell, a short drive north-west, and parties with matters spanning both towns often need to track sittings at each. You can review the Stawell Magistrates Court list if your matter has been listed there instead.
Practical information for attending Ararat Magistrates' Court
The courthouse is centrally located on Barkly Street, the main commercial strip through Ararat, and sits next to the Ararat Police Station. Parking is limited to on-street spaces in front of and around the court building, so arriving early is strongly recommended, particularly on busy list days. The court is closed between 1pm and 2pm on sitting days for the lunch adjournment, and it does not sit every weekday, so it is essential to confirm that your listed date is an actual sitting day before travelling.
On arrival you will pass through security screening, which usually requires emptying your pockets and placing items in a tray to be scanned. The registry is located on the ground floor, and you should make your appearance known there when you arrive. If you are legally represented, your solicitor will generally notify the registry on your behalf and direct you to the correct courtroom. Come prepared to be at court for most of the day, as matters are not always heard in strict list order and delays are common.
Facilities available at the court
- Audio visual link (AVL): remote appearances and evidence, including for witnesses and people in custody.
- Wheelchair access: the building and entrances are accessible.
- Accessible toilets and standard toilet facilities on site.
- On-street parking: limited spaces in front of the court, best secured early.
Contact details for Ararat Magistrates' Court
- Address: 63-75 Barkly Street, Ararat, Victoria 3377 (corner of Barkly and Ingor Streets)
- Postal address: PO Box 604, Ballarat VIC 3350
- Phone: (03) 7003 4110
- Fax: (03) 4349 5225
- Email: araratcoordinator@courts.vic.gov.au
How to read the daily court list
Each entry on the Ararat daily law list typically shows the party name in partially masked form, the type of hearing, the listed time and the courtroom or session. The list is organised so that mentions, contests, applications and sentencing matters can be identified at a glance. Because a single magistrate may work through dozens of matters in a sitting, your listed time indicates when the court session begins rather than the precise minute your name will be called. Practitioners often check the list the evening before and again on the morning of the hearing, as overnight changes and custody matters can reshape the order.
If you cannot locate your matter, it may have been adjourned to a later date, transferred to Ballarat, or resolved administratively. The registry can confirm the current status. Parties registered with the court's electronic filing and notification service can also receive automatic email or SMS alerts when a matter is listed or when a hearing date changes, which reduces the risk of missing an appearance. For a broader view of every sitting venue in the state, the Victoria court lists hub links through to each regional and metropolitan court.
Support services and legal help in the Ararat region
Attending court can be stressful, and a range of free and low-cost support is available. Duty lawyers, community legal centres and Victoria Legal Aid can assist eligible people with criminal, family violence and some civil matters. Court Network volunteers provide non-legal support, information and a calming presence for people navigating the building for the first time. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander court users, culturally appropriate support services and referral pathways operate across the Magistrates' Court of Victoria. Interpreter services can be arranged in advance through the registry for people who need language assistance.
The Ararat Children's Court deals with criminal matters where the accused is under 18, as well as child protection and family matters on designated days. Because children's matters are heard separately and are subject to strict privacy protections, they are handled through dedicated sittings rather than the general adult list. If your matter involves a young person, contact the registry directly to confirm the correct sitting day and the support available.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ararat Magistrates' Court located?
The court is at 63-75 Barkly Street, Ararat, Victoria 3377, on the corner of Barkly and Ingor Streets, next to the Ararat Police Station. Postal correspondence goes to PO Box 604, Ballarat VIC 3350.
What time does the Ararat court open?
Court hours generally run through the day with a closure between 1pm and 2pm on sitting days. The court does not sit every weekday, so confirm your listed date is a sitting day before attending. Arriving well before your listed time is recommended.
What types of cases are heard at Ararat Magistrates' Court?
The court hears summary criminal offences, some indictable matters, committal hearings, traffic and driving offences, civil disputes up to $100,000, and family violence and personal safety intervention order applications.
How do I find my matter on the Ararat court list today?
Check the daily law list for your partially masked name, hearing type and listed time. If you cannot find your matter, it may have been adjourned, transferred to Ballarat, or resolved. The registry can confirm the current status.
Is Ararat Magistrates' Court connected to Ballarat?
Yes. Ararat operates as a circuit venue administered through the Ballarat headquarters court, which coordinates registry services and more complex or specialist proceedings for the surrounding western Victorian courts.
Can I appear at Ararat court by video link?
The court is equipped with audio visual link facilities, which can be used for remote appearances, witness evidence and matters involving people in custody, subject to the court's approval. Contact the registry to arrange an AVL appearance.
Are the names on the court list accurate and final?
Listings are published for public information and names are partially masked for privacy. Because matters can be rescheduled, adjourned or moved at short notice, always treat the registry as the final source of truth for any hearing detail.