The Horsham Magistrates' Court is the principal court venue for the Wimmera region of western Victoria, sitting at 22 Roberts Avenue, Horsham, Victoria 3400. As the busiest tier of the Victorian justice system, the Magistrates' Court hears the overwhelming majority of legal matters that arise across the state, and the Horsham registry serves a catchment centred on a regional city of roughly 16,985 residents (2021 Census) that acts as the administrative heart of the Rural City of Horsham. This page explains what the court does, how its daily hearing lists work, which matters are heard here, and how to prepare before you attend, so you can find accurate Horsham court list information without confusion.
Understanding where a case is heard matters because the Magistrates' Court is the entry point for nearly every criminal, civil and intervention order proceeding in Victoria. According to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, more than 93 per cent of the state's criminal and civil cases begin and end in this jurisdiction. That single figure explains why a regional venue like Horsham handles a steady flow of summary hearings, mentions, contested matters and applications each sitting week, and why the daily list is the most searched piece of information for anyone connected to a matter.
What the Horsham Magistrates' Court does
The court exercises three broad areas of jurisdiction: criminal, civil and intervention orders. In the criminal jurisdiction, the Magistrates' Court hears and determines all summary offences, deals with some indictable offences that can be heard summarily, and conducts committal hearings for more serious charges that will ultimately proceed to a higher court. In practical terms, this covers matters ranging from traffic and driving offences through to theft, assault and drug charges. Nationally, traffic and vehicle offences remain the single largest category of finalised matters, accounting for 42 per cent of Victorian defendants in 2024 to 2025, which reflects the everyday reality of what regional courts process.
In the civil jurisdiction, the Horsham Magistrates' Court can hear disputes up to the value of $100,000. These commonly involve unpaid debts, claims for damages, contractual disagreements and other monetary disputes, as well as some claims for equitable relief. For claimants and respondents in the Wimmera, this makes the local registry the natural forum for resolving smaller commercial and personal disputes without the cost and delay of travelling to Melbourne.
The court also manages intervention orders, which are among the most sensitive matters it handles. Two types can be made: family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These applications are heard at Horsham and, given the seriousness of the safety issues involved, the court provides remote witness facilities and audio visual links so vulnerable people can give evidence without being in the same room as the other party.
Horsham Magistrates' Court daily list and hearing times
The daily court list is the official record of which matters are being heard, in which courtroom, and at what time on a given sitting day. Publishing these lists is a long-standing feature of open justice: courts and tribunals produce lists so the public, the parties and legal practitioners know the day's business in advance. If you are trying to confirm a hearing, the list is the authoritative source, and it is updated ahead of each sitting day so that room allocations and start times are accurate.
The Horsham Magistrates' Court is open from 9am to 4pm and is closed between 1pm and 2pm on sitting days. Most criminal matters are listed for a morning mention at either 9:30am or 10am, so people appearing are generally asked to arrive early, allow time for security screening, and check the printed list at the door to confirm their courtroom. Because a single day can involve dozens of listed matters, arriving with your reference details ready will help court staff direct you quickly.
How to read a court list correctly
- Party name: criminal matters are usually listed under the accused's surname, while civil matters appear under the plaintiff and defendant names.
- Hearing type: common entries include mention, contest mention, summary hearing, committal and application, each of which signals a different stage of a case.
- Courtroom and time: the list assigns a courtroom and a start time, though matters are often called in order of readiness rather than strictly by the clock.
- Status notes: adjournments, bail conditions and remote appearances may be flagged, so read the full entry rather than just the name.
Where Horsham sits in the Victorian court structure
The Magistrates' Court is the first of three tiers. Matters too serious for summary determination are committed to the County Court, and the most serious offences are dealt with by the Supreme Court. Horsham is significant here because it is one of only twelve regional circuit locations where County Court judges also sit, alongside Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Morwell, Sale, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga. This means the Roberts Avenue precinct services both summary matters locally and, at circuit times, more serious indictable trials that would otherwise require travel to a metropolitan centre.
The scale of the Magistrates' Court statewide puts the local workload in context. The Sentencing Advisory Council reports that the Magistrates' Court of Victoria sentenced 85,462 cases in 2023 to 2024, and that between July 2004 and June 2024 it sentenced an average of 83,587 cases each year. Across all Victorian criminal courts, 95,917 defendants were finalised in 2024 to 2025, representing 18 per cent of all defendants nationally. Of defendants whose charges reached a court judgement, 95 per cent recorded a guilty outcome, and a fine was the most common principal sentence at 43 per cent, with a median amount of $500. These figures illustrate how much routine but consequential work passes through venues like Horsham. If you want to compare how neighbouring registries operate, the Ballarat court list covers the next major regional centre to Horsham's south-east.
Getting to the Horsham Magistrates' Court
The court is located at 22 Roberts Avenue, Horsham, with postal correspondence directed to PO Box 111, Horsham Victoria 3400. Horsham lies approximately 297 kilometres north-west of Melbourne and about 188 kilometres from Ballarat, making it a genuine regional hub for the surrounding Wimmera and Mallee districts. On-street parking only is available near the court, so allowing extra time to find a space before a morning listing is sensible. The court building offers wheelchair access, accessible toilets, standard toilets, an audio visual link and a remote witness facility, which supports both accessibility and the safe conduct of sensitive hearings.
What to bring and how to prepare
- Photo identification and any correspondence showing your court date and matter reference.
- Any documents, statements or evidence relevant to your hearing, organised and ready to hand up.
- Contact details for your lawyer, duty lawyer or support service if you have one.
- Arrive with time to spare, as the lunch closure between 1pm and 2pm can affect afternoon listings.
Support services available at court
The Magistrates' Court connects people with a range of support, including legal help, interpreter services, family violence support and diversion programs for eligible criminal matters. Diversion can allow a first-time or low-level offender to avoid a criminal record by completing conditions set by the court, and it remains an important disposition in the Magistrates' Court. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who plead guilty, culturally appropriate sentencing options are a continuing focus of the court statewide. If your matter involves personal safety, staff can direct you to the relevant intervention order support before your hearing begins. Anyone attending a nearby venue can also review the Mildura magistrates court listings, which serve the northern Wimmera and Mallee region.
Why accurate court list information matters
Court lists change. Matters are adjourned, added, moved between rooms or finalised at short notice, and start times shift as the day progresses. Relying on an out-of-date list can mean missing a hearing, which may have serious consequences including a warrant being issued or a matter being decided in your absence. This is why checking a current, well-maintained source of Horsham court hearings today is worth the few minutes it takes. For people managing matters in more than one location, it also helps to know that regional Victoria is served by a network of connected venues; the broader daily court list for Victoria brings these together in one place, while the Bendigo court list covers the major centre to Horsham's east.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Horsham Magistrates' Court located?
The court is at 22 Roberts Avenue, Horsham, Victoria 3400. Postal mail should be addressed to PO Box 111, Horsham Victoria 3400. Only on-street parking is available nearby.
What are the court's opening hours?
The Horsham Magistrates' Court is open from 9am to 4pm and closes between 1pm and 2pm on sitting days. Most criminal mentions are listed in the morning, so arriving early is recommended.
What types of cases are heard at Horsham?
The court hears criminal matters including summary offences, some indictable offences and committals, civil disputes up to $100,000, and both family violence and personal safety intervention orders.
How do I find out if my case is listed today?
Check the daily court list for Horsham, which sets out the party name, hearing type, courtroom and time for each matter. Lists are updated before each sitting day, so always confirm using the most recent version.
Does the Horsham court hear serious criminal trials?
Yes. In addition to summary matters, Horsham is one of twelve regional locations where County Court judges sit on circuit to hear more serious indictable criminal and civil cases, so the precinct handles both tiers of work.
What accessibility facilities are available?
The court provides wheelchair access, accessible toilets, an audio visual link and a remote witness facility, allowing people with mobility needs and vulnerable witnesses to participate safely.