| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| SLEE, R** V J** H** | Courtroom 1 | 10:00 am |
| TINNING, J** V R** S** | Courtroom 1 | 10:00 am |
| CLARK, X** V H** J** | Courtroom 1 | 10:00 am |
| COX, M** V D** G** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| ILSLEY, E** V I** B** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| COLLINS, V** V T** J** | Courtroom 1 | 10:00 am |
Last updated: 08 Sep 2026, 9:47 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Echuca Magistrates' Court is a regional circuit venue of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, sitting in the historic Murray River town of Echuca in the state's north. It handles the everyday criminal, civil, traffic and family violence matters that arise across the Shire of Campaspe, a local government area covering roughly 4,519 square kilometres and home to about 38,735 residents at the 2021 Census. For people living in Echuca, Moama, Kyabram, Rochester, Tongala and the surrounding farming districts, this courthouse offers a local point of access to the justice system, sparing many the longer trip to Bendigo or Melbourne. If you have been listed to appear, or you are searching for a case, this page explains how the court works, what it hears, and how to find the daily court list for Echuca.
Echuca itself recorded a usual resident population of 15,056 at the 2021 Census, with the combined Echuca and Moama township straddling the Victoria and New South Wales border reaching 22,568 people. The town is the administrative centre of the Shire of Campaspe and lies within traditional Yorta Yorta country, its name a Yorta Yorta word meaning "meeting of the waters". This border position matters in practice, because many defendants, witnesses and family members travelling to court come from the NSW side of the river, and matters heard here frequently involve cross-border driving, licensing and family violence issues.
Where the Echuca Magistrates' Court is located
The courthouse sits on Heygarth Street in central Echuca, Victoria 3564, close to the corner of Hare Street. Because it operates as a circuit court, the venue is attended by a registrar on sitting days only rather than every business day. On the days the counter is open, hours generally run from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm. Parking is on-street near the courthouse, with additional parking available on Heygarth Street and nearby public areas, so arriving early to find a space and clear security is sensible.
Registry support for Echuca is coordinated through the Loddon Mallee region. When the local counter is closed, court users can reach a registrar by phoning (03) 9087 5735, emailing echucacoordinator@courts.vic.gov.au, or attending the Bendigo Law Courts at 188 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. Filing, listing changes and urgent enquiries on non-sitting days are handled through that regional hub, so it is worth confirming your hearing details in advance rather than assuming the Echuca counter will be staffed on the day you call.
Getting to court and accessibility
Echuca is served by regional coach and local bus services running through the town centre, and visitors arriving from outside the town can use taxis or rideshare to reach Heygarth Street. The courtroom and public areas are wheelchair accessible and include facilities to assist people with mobility or hearing needs. If you have a specific access requirement, an interpreter need, or you are a witness who requires a remote appearance, contact the registry ahead of your visit so arrangements can be put in place before your matter is called.
What the Echuca Magistrates' Court hears
The Magistrates' Court is the entry point for almost every criminal case in Victoria, and the great majority of matters are finalised here rather than in the higher courts. At Echuca the criminal jurisdiction hears and determines all summary offences, deals with some indictable offences that can be heard summarily, and conducts committal hearings that decide whether more serious charges proceed to the County Court or Supreme Court. Common local matters include drink-driving and drug-driving charges under the Road Safety Act 1986, careless and dangerous driving, unlicensed driving, theft, property damage, and public order offences.
The court also carries a substantial civil and family violence workload. In its civil jurisdiction, the Magistrates' Court can hear disputes up to $100,000, covering debts, claims for damages, and other monetary or equitable disputes. On the family violence side, the court hears applications for family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders, which are among the most frequently listed matters at regional Victorian venues. Understanding which stream your matter falls into helps you read the daily list correctly and know roughly how long your appearance is likely to take.
Criminal matters and driving offences
- Summary offences: lower-level charges finalised in the Magistrates' Court, such as low-range drink-driving, minor assaults and disorderly conduct.
- Indictable offences heard summarily: certain more serious charges that a magistrate can determine with the accused's consent, avoiding a jury trial.
- Committal hearings: preliminary steps for serious indictable matters that will ultimately be decided in the County Court or Supreme Court of Victoria.
- Traffic and licensing: speeding, unlicensed and disqualified driving, and drink or drug driving under the Road Safety Act 1986, which can carry licence loss and heavy fines.
Civil disputes and intervention orders
- Debt and damages claims up to the $100,000 monetary limit of the Magistrates' Court.
- Family violence intervention orders protecting people from family members, including interim and final orders.
- Personal safety intervention orders for disputes between people who are not family members.
- Enforcement matters, including infringement and fine-related listings coordinated through the regional registry.
The Koori Court and specialist support at Echuca
Echuca is one of the Victorian regional venues that has hosted a Koori Court division, a sentencing court for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have pleaded guilty. The Koori Court brings Elders and Respected Persons into the sentencing conversation alongside the magistrate, using a less formal layout and plain language to make the process more meaningful and culturally safe. Given Echuca's location in Yorta Yorta country and its significant First Nations community, this division is an important part of the local court landscape and reflects the broader Victorian move toward therapeutic and problem-solving approaches to justice.
Finding the Echuca daily court list
Before any sitting day, the court publishes a daily list showing the matters scheduled to be heard, the courtroom, the presiding magistrate where available, and the time each case is expected to start. Reading the list the evening before or early on the morning of your hearing is the single most useful thing you can do to prepare, because listings can move between courtrooms and start times can shift as the day progresses. If you cannot find your name, contact the registry rather than assuming your matter has been struck out, as circuit listings are sometimes reorganised at short notice.
You can browse current listings through our Victorian Magistrates' Court lists hub, which brings together sitting venues across the state in one place. If your matter is being handled through the regional registry, the nearby Bendigo Magistrates' Court list is worth checking as well, since Echuca coordination runs through Bendigo on non-sitting days. Defendants whose charges escalate beyond the summary level may later appear before the higher courts, and you can follow those matters through the County Court of Victoria daily list.
How Echuca fits within the Victorian court system
The Magistrates' Court of Victoria operates from more than 51 venues, ranging from large metropolitan courts such as Melbourne, Dandenong and Frankston through to regional centres like Bendigo, Shepparton and Mildura and smaller circuit venues including Echuca, Kerang, Swan Hill and Cobram. This network exists so that justice can be delivered close to where people live. Echuca's role as a circuit court means it draws on the administrative strength of the larger Loddon Mallee registry at Bendigo while still allowing residents of the Campaspe region to attend hearings locally. For a wider view of listings across the state, the Victoria court lists overview covers every jurisdiction from the Magistrates' Court up to the Supreme Court.
Preparing for your appearance
Whether you are a defendant, a witness or a support person, a little preparation goes a long way at a regional court. Confirm your hearing date and courtroom from the daily list, gather any documents you have been asked to bring, and allow time to park and pass through security. If you intend to plead guilty, having your character references and any relevant paperwork ready can help the matter proceed on the day. If you are unrepresented and unsure of the process, contacting the registry or seeking legal advice before the hearing is strongly recommended, because failing to appear when listed can result in the matter proceeding in your absence or a warrant being issued.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Echuca Magistrates' Court?
The court is located on Heygarth Street, Echuca, Victoria 3564, near the corner of Hare Street. On-street and nearby public parking is available, and the venue is served by regional coach and local bus services.
Is the Echuca court open every day?
No. Echuca operates as a circuit court and is attended by a registrar on sitting days only. On non-sitting days, court users are directed to the Bendigo Law Courts at 188 Hargreaves Street or can contact the registry by phone or email.
What types of cases does the Echuca Magistrates' Court hear?
It hears summary criminal offences, some indictable offences dealt with summarily, committal hearings, traffic and driving matters, civil disputes up to $100,000, and family violence and personal safety intervention order applications.
How do I find the Echuca court list for today?
The daily list for each sitting day shows the matters scheduled, the courtroom and expected start times. You can view current listings through the Victorian Magistrates' Court lists on this site, and check with the registry if your matter is not shown.
Who do I contact about an Echuca matter on a non-sitting day?
Registry support runs through the Loddon Mallee region at Bendigo. Court users can call (03) 9087 5735, email echucacoordinator@courts.vic.gov.au, or attend the Bendigo Law Courts in person.
