The Dromana Magistrates' Court is a regional sitting venue of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, serving Dromana, Rosebud, Sorrento, Portsea, Safety Beach and the wider southern Mornington Peninsula. As the entry point to Victoria's court system, this court hears the largest share of everyday legal matters in the region, from summary criminal charges and traffic offences to civil disputes and intervention order applications. If you have received a summons, a charge sheet, or an infringement notice directing you to appear, the daily court list published here helps you confirm your hearing date, courtroom and listing time before you travel to Codrington Street.
The court sits within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, roughly 57 to 75 kilometres south of the Melbourne central business district depending on your route. Because the Magistrates' Court is the first tier of the Victorian judicial structure, sitting below the County Court of Victoria and the Supreme Court, it resolves the overwhelming majority of criminal and civil matters without those cases ever needing to progress to a higher jurisdiction. Understanding how this court works, what it lists, and how to read the daily cause list can save you time, reduce stress on the day, and help you arrive prepared.
About the Dromana Magistrates' Court
Dromana has had a functioning court presence for well over 150 years. Public Record Office Victoria records show a Court of Petty Sessions operating in Dromana from 1868, with the venue continuing as a Magistrates' Court through the twentieth century to the present day. That long history makes it one of the older continuous court locations on the Mornington Peninsula, reflecting the area's growth from a small seaside settlement into a suburb that recorded a population of 6,626 at the 2021 Census.
The court is a regional venue rather than a headquarter court, which means it sits on scheduled days rather than every weekday. Published access hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm, with the registry and sitting rooms closed between 1:00pm and 2:00pm on sitting days. Because sitting patterns at smaller Peninsula venues can change, always verify the current daily list and confirm whether your matter is being heard at Dromana or has been transferred to a nearby court such as Frankston.
Location, contact and access details
- Address: Codrington Street, Dromana VIC 3936
- Postal address: PO Box 105, Dromana VIC 3936
- Phone: 03 5984 7400
- Local government area: Shire of Mornington Peninsula
- State electorate: Nepean | Federal division: Flinders
- Sitting days: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00am to 4:30pm (closed 1:00pm to 2:00pm)
On-street parking is generally available around the court building, and the venue provides wheelchair-accessible entry, accessible toilets and facilities to assist visitors with mobility or hearing needs. Regional bus and coach services operate across the Mornington Peninsula, and from central Dromana stops most visitors can reach the courthouse on foot or by a short taxi trip. If you require an interpreter, hearing loop assistance, or a support person, contact the registry ahead of your hearing date so arrangements can be made.
What matters the court hears
As a Magistrates' Court venue, Dromana deals with the broad base of the Victorian caseload. The types of matters commonly listed include:
- Summary criminal offences such as minor assaults, theft, drug possession and public order matters that are heard and determined by a magistrate without a jury.
- Committal proceedings for more serious indictable offences, where the magistrate decides whether there is sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to the County Court or Supreme Court.
- Traffic and infringement matters, including drink and drug driving, driving while disqualified, speeding, and licence-related applications.
- Civil disputes involving money, goods or services. Complaints can be filed in the Magistrates' Court for a monetary value up to $100,000.
- Family Violence Intervention Orders and Personal Safety Intervention Orders, which protect people at risk of harm and are among the most frequently listed application types across Victorian courts.
Matters that fall outside the Magistrates' Court jurisdiction, such as serious indictable trials, larger civil claims, and appeals, are handled by higher courts. For that reason committal hearings at Dromana can act as a filtering stage, ensuring only matters with a proper evidentiary basis move up to the County Court of Victoria, which sits above the Magistrates' Court in the state hierarchy.
The Magistrates' Court of Victoria in numbers
The scale of the Magistrates' Court jurisdiction helps explain why a regional venue like Dromana matters to the communities it serves. The court is the busiest in the state, and recent official figures show just how much work moves through it each year.
- There were 160,959 criminal cases finalised across the Magistrates' Court of Victoria in 2022-23, an increase of 21 per cent on the previous year, according to the court's annual reporting.
- The same period recorded a 53 per cent reduction in cases that had run longer than 12 months, reflecting a sustained effort to clear pandemic-era backlogs.
- The Sentencing Advisory Council reports that the Magistrates' Court sentenced 85,462 cases in 2023-24, down 8.9 per cent from 93,778 in 2022-23.
- Between July 2004 and June 2024, the court sentenced an average of 83,587 cases each year, with the single highest annual figure of 99,723 recorded in 2015-16.
- More than 93 per cent of criminal matters in Victoria are dealt with in the Magistrates' Court rather than progressing to the County or Supreme Court.
- Court venues across the state are grouped into 13 administrative regions, each built around a headquarter court supported by regional sitting locations such as Dromana.
These figures underline a simple point: the vast majority of Victorians who deal with the justice system do so at a Magistrates' Court, which is why accurate daily listings for venues across the state are so useful to defendants, lawyers, witnesses and family members alike.
How to read the Dromana daily court list
The daily court list, sometimes called the cause list, is the schedule of matters set down to be heard on a given sitting day. Reading it correctly means you can locate your matter quickly and avoid missing a call. When you check the list, look for the following details:
- Your name or the party name exactly as it appears on your summons or charge sheet.
- The listing time, remembering that a matter may be called at any point during the sitting day rather than exactly at the printed time.
- The courtroom number so you know where to wait.
- The hearing type, such as a mention, a contest mention, a summary hearing, a committal, or a sentence.
If you cannot locate your matter on the Dromana list, it may have been adjourned, transferred, or listed at another Peninsula venue. In those situations it is worth checking the Frankston Magistrates' Court list, as Frankston is the nearest headquarter court and often absorbs overflow and specialist listings from smaller surrounding venues.
What to bring on your hearing day
- Valid photo identification such as a driver's licence or passport.
- Your court notice, summons or official correspondence.
- Any documents, statements or evidence relevant to your matter.
- Contact details for your lawyer or duty lawyer if you have legal representation.
Arrive early, allow time for security screening, and dress neatly, as first impressions in a courtroom can matter. If you are unrepresented, ask registry staff whether a duty lawyer service is available on the day, as free legal help is often on hand for eligible people facing criminal or family violence matters.
Dromana within the Peninsula and Victorian court network
Dromana does not operate in isolation. It forms part of a connected network of Peninsula and metropolitan courts that share caseloads, magistrates and specialist lists. Frankston serves as the principal court for the region, while the busiest venue in the state, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street, handles the highest volume of criminal and civil work anywhere in Victoria. Because listings, adjournments and transfers move between these venues, following the correct court list for your specific matter is essential.
To see how Dromana fits alongside every other sitting location in the state, and to browse daily lists for regional and metropolitan venues in one place, visit the Victoria court list hub. From there you can compare listings across venues, track where a matter has been relisted, and plan your day with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Dromana Magistrates' Court located?
The court is on Codrington Street, Dromana VIC 3936, within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. On-street parking is available nearby and the building offers wheelchair-accessible facilities.
What days does the Dromana Magistrates' Court sit?
Published access hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm, with a closure between 1:00pm and 2:00pm on sitting days. Because regional sitting patterns can change, confirm the current daily list before attending.
What kinds of cases are heard at Dromana?
The court hears summary criminal offences, committal proceedings for more serious matters, traffic and infringement cases, civil disputes up to $100,000, and family violence and personal safety intervention order applications.
What should I do if my matter is not on the Dromana list?
Your matter may have been adjourned or transferred. Check nearby venues, particularly Frankston as the regional headquarter court, and contact the registry on 03 5984 7400 if you are unsure where your case has been listed.
How serious a case can the Magistrates' Court decide?
The Magistrates' Court finalises summary offences and civil claims up to $100,000. Serious indictable offences are tested at a committal hearing and, if they proceed, are transferred to the County Court or Supreme Court of Victoria.
Can I get legal help on the day of my hearing?
Duty lawyer services are often available at Victorian courts for eligible people facing criminal or family violence matters. Ask registry staff on arrival, or arrange representation in advance through a private solicitor or Victoria Legal Aid.