VIC Dandenong Magistrates Court List Today

The Dandenong Magistrates' Court sits at 35 Pultney Street, Dandenong, Victoria 3175, roughly 30 to 35 kilometres south east of Melbourne's central business district. It forms part of the Dandenong Police Station and Law Courts complex on the corner of Langhorne and Pultney Streets, a two level building of about 8,108 square metres that houses eight courtrooms, magistrates' chambers, registry counters and public waiting areas. If you are searching for the Dandenong court list today or need to confirm where and when your matter is being heard, this page explains how the court works, what it hears, and how to find the daily hearing details quickly.

Court operating hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday, and the registry is closed on weekends and public holidays. Postal correspondence is directed to PO Box 392, Dandenong Victoria 3175. General enquiries can be made on (03) 7003 4119, with a separate court coordinator, intervention order registry, civil registry and Drug Court contact channel for each type of matter. Because the court manages a high daily caseload, most listings begin at 9:30am or 10:00am, and it is standard practice to arrive at least 30 minutes early to clear security and locate your allocated courtroom.

What the Dandenong Magistrates' Court hears

The Magistrates' Court is the entry point for almost every criminal and civil case in the state. More than 93 per cent of Victoria's criminal and civil matters begin and end in the Magistrates' Court, and the court operates from more than 51 venues across Victoria. Dandenong is one of the busiest metropolitan venues in that network, serving the City of Greater Dandenong and surrounding south eastern suburbs including Noble Park, Springvale, Keysborough, Dandenong North and Lyndhurst.

The criminal jurisdiction of the court hears and determines all summary offences, deals with some indictable offences that can be heard summarily, and conducts committal hearings that decide whether serious charges should proceed to the County Court of Victoria for trial. Nationally, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported that around 94 per cent of all defendants finalised in Victoria are dealt with in the Magistrates' Courts, which shows how central this level of the court hierarchy is to everyday justice.

Criminal matters

Criminal matters at Dandenong span driving and traffic offences, assault, theft, drug offences, property damage and breaches of court orders. The court can hear a guilty plea and sentence on the same day for straightforward matters, or adjourn a contested case to a later contest mention and then a contested hearing. Common outcomes include fines, community correction orders, adjourned undertakings, diversion for eligible first time offenders, and terms of imprisonment for the most serious summary matters.

Civil disputes

The civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court can hear disputes valued up to $100,000, covering unpaid debts, claims for damages, consumer and trader disputes and other monetary or equitable claims. Matters above that threshold are generally heard in the County Court or the Supreme Court. Civil listings at Dandenong include pre hearing conferences, mentions and hearings, and the civil registry manages complaints, defences and default judgment applications.

Intervention orders

Dandenong hears both family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These are among the highest volume applications in the metropolitan region. The court provides a remote witness facility and audio visual link so that affected family members can give evidence safely, and a dedicated intervention order registry manages applications, service and variations.

Specialist courts and support programs at Dandenong

Dandenong holds a distinctive position in the Victorian system because it is the only metropolitan venue outside the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to operate a Drug Court, and it also runs a Koori Court. These specialist lists reflect the scale and diversity of the community it serves.

• Drug Court: A supervised program for people whose offending is linked to drug or alcohol dependency. Eligible participants are generally facing an immediate term of imprisonment of no more than two years and receive a combination of judicial supervision, treatment and case management rather than a straightforward custodial sentence.
• Koori Court: A sentencing court for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have pleaded guilty, allowing Elders and Respected Persons to participate in a culturally informed sentencing conversation with the magistrate.
• Assessment and Referral Court (ARC): Supports people living with mental illness or cognitive impairment to address the underlying factors that contribute to their offending.
• Court Integrated Services Program (CISP): Provides bail support and links accused people to health, housing and treatment services while their matter proceeds.

Facilities on site include wheelchair access, accessible toilets, hearing loops, a remote witness room and audio visual link capability, which allows some parties, witnesses and people in custody to appear without attending the building in person.

Why Dandenong is such a high volume court

The court's workload mirrors the community around it. The City of Greater Dandenong recorded 158,208 residents at the 2021 Census, covers about 129 square kilometres, and is widely recognised as Australia's most culturally diverse municipality, with residents drawn from more than 150 birthplaces and around 69 per cent speaking a language other than English at home. That diversity is reflected in the daily work of the court, where accredited interpreters are frequently required across a wide range of languages.

Statewide context helps explain the pressure on venues like Dandenong. Victoria has one of the largest court systems in the country, and the Magistrates' Court alone handles the overwhelming majority of matters that reach the courts each year. Because criminal, civil, family violence and specialist lists all run through the same building, a single sitting day at Dandenong can involve hundreds of individual matters across its eight courtrooms.

How to find the Dandenong daily court list

The published daily list tells you the courtroom number, the presiding magistrate, the time your matter is listed and the type of hearing. Checking it the evening before, and again on the morning of your hearing, is the most reliable way to avoid confusion, because listings can be reallocated between courtrooms at short notice. People often search for the Dandenong court list tomorrow the night before so they can plan travel, parking and any legal representation in advance.

If your matter sits within the wider Victorian system, it can help to understand how the different court levels connect. Our overview of the Victorian court lists explains how the Magistrates', County and Supreme Courts fit together and where each type of matter is heard. Many Dandenong committals are ultimately escalated, so it is also worth knowing how listings work at higher courts such as the County Court of Victoria daily list if your case proceeds beyond the summary stage.

Getting to court and parking

Parking is available across three areas around the complex: the Langhorne Street entrance offers 25 public spaces, the Pultney Street entrance offers 9 public spaces plus 2 accessible spaces, and the corner of Pultney and Wilson Streets provides a further 140 public spaces. Dandenong is well served by train and bus, and the court is a short walk from Dandenong Station, which makes public transport a practical option on busy sitting days when parking fills early.

Preparing for your hearing

Whether you are an accused person, a witness, a plaintiff or a support person, a small amount of preparation makes the day run more smoothly. The following points cover the essentials.

• Confirm your courtroom and listing time on the daily list before you leave home.
• Arrive 30 minutes early to allow time for security screening and to find your room.
• Bring any documents, notices or evidence relevant to your matter, along with photo identification.
• Dress neatly and turn your phone to silent before entering the courtroom.
• If you need an interpreter, arrange this with the registry in advance rather than on the day.
• Consider seeking legal advice early, as duty lawyer assistance may be limited on busy days.

People representing themselves can find general guidance on court procedure, evidence and what to expect useful before attending. If your matter is criminal, understanding the difference between a mention, a contest mention and a contested hearing will help you follow what happens in the courtroom.

Nearby courts in the south east

Dandenong is one of several Magistrates' Court venues serving Melbourne's south east and east. Depending on where an offence occurred or where a matter is transferred, related listings may appear at neighbouring courts. You can check the Frankston Magistrates' Court list for matters in the Frankston region, or the Ringwood Magistrates' Court list for the outer eastern suburbs. Confirming the correct venue before you travel saves a wasted trip, because a matter listed at one court cannot be dealt with at another.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Dandenong Magistrates' Court located?

The court is at 35 Pultney Street, Dandenong, Victoria 3175, within the Dandenong Police Station and Law Courts complex on the corner of Langhorne and Pultney Streets, about 30 to 35 kilometres south east of Melbourne's CBD.

What are the court's opening hours?

The registry and court operate from 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday and are closed on weekends and public holidays. Most hearings are listed from 9:30am or 10:00am.

How do I check the Dandenong court list today?

Check the published daily hearing list, which shows your courtroom, hearing time, magistrate and matter type. Reviewing it the night before and again on the morning of your hearing is the most reliable approach, as courtrooms can change at short notice.

What types of cases does the Dandenong Magistrates' Court hear?

It hears summary criminal offences, some indictable offences, committals, civil disputes up to $100,000, and family violence and personal safety intervention orders. It also runs specialist lists including the Drug Court, Koori Court and Assessment and Referral Court.

Does Dandenong have a Drug Court?

Yes. Dandenong is the only metropolitan venue outside the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to operate a Drug Court, along with a Koori Court, reflecting the scale and diversity of the community it serves.

Is there parking at the court?

Yes. There are 25 public spaces at the Langhorne Street entrance, 9 public spaces plus 2 accessible spaces at the Pultney Street entrance, and 140 public spaces at the corner of Pultney and Wilson Streets. The court is also a short walk from Dandenong Station.