| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| BROWN, K** V W** J** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| OPIA, C** V M** T** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| MASON, J** V W** J** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| BROWN, K** V C** J** | Courtroom 1 | 09:30 am |
| JANSZ, B** V G** W** | Courtroom 1 | 10:00 am |
Last updated: 10 Sep 2026, 9:54 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Kerang Magistrates' Court is the summary jurisdiction courthouse serving the Gannawarra Shire and the wider Loddon Mallee district in north-central Victoria. Sitting on Victoria Street in the heart of Kerang, roughly 279 kilometres north-west of Melbourne along the Murray Valley Highway, this venue handles the criminal, civil and intervention order matters that arise across one of the state's most sparsely populated rural regions. If you have received a summons, a charge sheet or a notice to appear, this page explains how the court operates, when it sits, what to expect on the day, and how to check the daily hearing list before you travel.
Because Kerang is a circuit venue rather than a court that sits five days a week, knowing the sitting schedule matters more here than at a metropolitan location. A wasted trip to a regional courthouse can mean a 500-kilometre round journey from Melbourne, or an hour or more on the road from Cohuna, Koondrook, Quambatook or Leitchville. The information below is drawn from the Magistrates' Court of Victoria and the Court Services Victoria listing system so you can plan your appearance with confidence.
Where the Kerang Magistrates' Court sits and when
The courthouse is located at Victoria Street, Kerang, Victoria 3579. Postal correspondence is directed to PO Box 512, Swan Hill 3585, which reflects the administrative link between the two Murray-region registries. The court's document exchange reference is DX 216739. Only on-street parking is available around the Victoria Street precinct, so arriving early to find a space near the building is sensible, particularly on busy list days.
Kerang is a one-day-a-week sitting venue. The court sits on Thursdays, with the registry open from 9:30am to 4:00pm and closed between 1:00pm and 2:00pm over the lunch adjournment. Sitting days can be varied around public holidays and court vacation periods, and additional or cancelled dates do occur, so the sitting calendar published by the Magistrates' Court should always be checked before you attend. The building offers wheelchair access for people with mobility needs.
Contacting the registry
General enquiries for the Kerang venue are handled on (03) 9087 5736, with a fax line of (03) 5473 0222 and an email address of kerangcoordinator@courts.vic.gov.au. Registry staff can confirm your listing date, explain what documents to bring, and direct you to support services, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you what outcome to expect. For advice about your specific matter you will need a lawyer, duty lawyer or a community legal service.
What matters are heard at Kerang
The Magistrates' Court is the entry point for the overwhelming majority of legal proceedings in Victoria. Across the state, the Magistrates' Court handles roughly ninety per cent of all criminal cases, and a regional venue like Kerang deals with the everyday matters that arise in its community rather than the high-profile trials reserved for the higher courts.
The criminal jurisdiction at Kerang hears and determines all summary offences, deals with some indictable offences that can be heard summarily, and conducts committal hearings where more serious charges are tested before being sent to the County Court or Supreme Court. Typical summary matters include:
- Drink and drug driving, driving while disqualified, and other traffic offences dealt with under the Road Safety Act
- Common assault, criminal damage, theft and low-level property offences
- Breaches of court orders, bail conditions and community corrections orders
- Public order and drug possession matters
Beyond the criminal list, the court's work in a rural district commonly extends to family violence intervention order and personal safety intervention order applications, minor civil disputes and enforcement matters, and mention hearings where a matter is first listed, adjourned or resolved by plea. Family violence intervention order and personal safety intervention order hearings are not published in the online hearing search, which protects the safety and privacy of the people involved.
The hierarchy above the Magistrates' Court
It helps to understand where Kerang sits within the Victorian court structure. Summary matters begin and usually end in the Magistrates' Court. Indictable matters that are too serious for summary determination are committed upward, with County Court circuit sittings held at regional centres such as Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura and Wodonga, and the Supreme Court dealing with the gravest offences. A single magistrate hears matters at Kerang without a jury, which keeps proceedings faster and less formal than a jury trial, though the consequences of a finding of guilt are no less real.
How to check the Kerang court list before you attend
Daily court lists are essentially timetables of every matter scheduled to be heard in a particular court on a given day. They set out the case, the listing type and the courtroom, and they are the fastest way to confirm that your matter is proceeding as expected. Because listings can shift when cases settle, adjourn or run shorter or longer than planned, you are strongly encouraged to check the list the evening before your hearing or first thing on the morning of your court date.
From 30 June 2026, the Magistrates' Court of Victoria replaced its former EFAS system with the CMS Portal Hearing Search for the criminal and civil jurisdictions. Through the hearing search you can look up a listing by name, by court and by date, entering either a case number or the surname of the accused, defendant or respondent. If you would prefer not to navigate the government portal, our platform republishes the daily list so you can find the current Victorian magistrates court list for Kerang and every other sitting venue in the state in one place.
Reading a listing correctly
When you find your matter on the list, note the courtroom, the listed start time and the type of hearing. A listed time is the time your matter is expected to be reached, not a guarantee that it will be called at that precise moment; a magistrate works through the list in order and delays are common. Plan to be present and available from the start of the sitting rather than arriving only for your listed time, and allow for the possibility of waiting.
Preparing for your day at the Kerang Magistrates' Court
Good preparation reduces stress and can materially affect how your matter proceeds. Whether you are pleading guilty, contesting a charge or supporting someone else, a few practical steps make a difference.
- Arrive early. Give yourself time to park on the street, pass through the entrance, find your courtroom and speak with a duty lawyer if one is available.
- Bring your paperwork. Carry your charge sheet, summons or notice, any correspondence from the court, and any documents that support your case, such as character references or medical material.
- Dress and behave respectfully. Neat clothing, switching off your phone, and standing when the magistrate enters all signal that you take the proceedings seriously.
- Consider legal help. Victoria Legal Aid runs a duty lawyer service at many courts for eligible people, and a local or regional solicitor can advise on your options before you appear.
If you cannot attend on your listed date, do not simply fail to appear. Missing a criminal listing can lead to a warrant for your arrest or a matter being heard and decided in your absence. Contact the registry as early as possible to ask about the process for seeking an adjournment or changing your court date, and get any legal advice you need before that conversation.
The community Kerang serves
Kerang is the commercial centre of an irrigation district built on livestock, horticulture, lucerne and grain, sitting on the Loddon River in Victoria's north. At the 2021 Census the town recorded a population of 3,960, and it is the council seat of the Shire of Gannawarra, a local government area of about 3,735 square kilometres that had a population of 10,683 in 2021. That combination of a small resident base spread across a very large agricultural area is exactly why a weekly circuit court, rather than a daily metropolitan-style registry, suits the district.
The court's catchment overlaps with neighbouring Murray-region venues, and matters are frequently moved between them depending on listing capacity and the nature of the charge. People appearing at Kerang often have related dealings with the Swan Hill Magistrates' Court to the north, with which Kerang shares its postal registry, or with the Echuca Magistrates' Court to the east along the Murray. Larger criminal and civil workloads in the region are concentrated at the Mildura Magistrates' Court list, which also hosts County Court circuit sittings.
Specialist and support services in the Victorian system
Victoria operates several specialist court programs designed to address the underlying drivers of offending through therapeutic approaches, including diversion for eligible first-time and lower-level offenders, the Assessment and Referral Court for people with a mental illness or cognitive impairment, and bail support through the Court Integrated Services Program. Availability of these programs varies between venues, and a rural circuit court will not run every specialist list found in Melbourne, so it is worth asking the registry or a duty lawyer which options apply to your matter at Kerang.
Court Network volunteers, interpreter services and family violence support workers are also part of the broader Court Services Victoria framework. If English is not your first language, you can request an interpreter in advance so that one is arranged for your hearing. If you are attending in connection with a family violence matter, safety planning and support are available, and the court's online safety guidance explains how to browse court information discreetly.
Frequently asked questions about the Kerang Magistrates' Court
What days does the Kerang Magistrates' Court sit?
Kerang is a circuit venue that sits on Thursdays, with the registry open 9:30am to 4:00pm and closed for lunch between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Sitting days can change around holidays and court vacations, so always confirm against the current sitting calendar before you travel.
Where is the Kerang Magistrates' Court located?
The courthouse is on Victoria Street, Kerang, Victoria 3579. Postal mail goes to PO Box 512, Swan Hill 3585. Only on-street parking is available nearby, and the building has wheelchair access.
How do I find out if my case is listed at Kerang today?
Check the daily court list the night before or on the morning of your hearing. You can search the Magistrates' Court CMS Portal Hearing Search by name, court and date, or view the republished daily list for Kerang on our Victorian court list pages.
What phone number should I call for the Kerang registry?
General enquiries are handled on (03) 9087 5736. Registry staff can confirm listing details and point you to support services but cannot provide legal advice.
What types of cases are heard at Kerang?
The court hears summary criminal offences, some indictable offences dealt with summarily, committal hearings, minor civil matters, and intervention order applications. Family violence and personal safety intervention order hearings are not shown in the public online hearing search.
What should I do if I cannot attend my hearing date?
Contact the registry as soon as possible to ask about adjourning or changing your date, and obtain legal advice first. Failing to appear at a criminal listing can result in a warrant or the matter being decided without you.
