VIC Melbourne Magistrates Court List Today

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court is the busiest and largest venue in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria system, sitting at the centre of the state's justice framework at 233 William Street in the Melbourne CBD. If you are trying to confirm a hearing time, locate a defendant's matter, or simply understand how this court fits into the wider Victorian court hierarchy, this page brings the daily list and the practical detail together in one place. The court operates directly opposite the County Court and diagonally across from the Supreme Court, forming a compact legal precinct where the overwhelming majority of criminal matters in Victoria begin their journey through the system.

Every adult criminal case in Victoria commences in the Magistrates' Court, and Melbourne is where the highest volume of that work is concentrated. The court hears summary offences, conducts committal proceedings for serious indictable charges before they move up to higher courts, and manages a substantial civil and intervention order workload. Understanding what happens here, and how to read the daily court list before you arrive, can save hours of waiting and reduce a great deal of unnecessary stress on the day of a hearing.

Melbourne Magistrates' Court at a glance

The court is located at 233 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, with postal correspondence directed to GPO Box 882, Melbourne VIC 3001. Registry and counter hours run Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and the building is closed on weekends and public holidays for general business. The Bail and Remand Court operates on an extended schedule, sitting from 8:30am until 9:00pm seven days a week to deal with urgent custody and after-hours matters that cannot wait for the next business day.

The current building opened in 1995, replacing the historic former Magistrates' Court on the corner of Russell and La Trobe Streets, which had served the city for 81 years and is now part of RMIT University. Courthouses have occupied sites in central Melbourne since 1843, and Victoria has appointed magistrates since 1836, giving this jurisdiction one of the longest continuous judicial histories in the country. The present court was formally established under the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 (Vic).

Key facts and figures

• Address: 233 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Registry hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Bail and Remand Court: 8:30am to 9:00pm, seven days a week
• Building: Eight floors, with the first six accessible to the public
• Civil jurisdiction limit: Disputes up to $100,000
• Nearest train station: Flagstaff Station, roughly half a block down William Street
• Established: Current building opened 1995; jurisdiction under the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 (Vic)

How busy is the Melbourne Magistrates' Court?

The scale of the Magistrates' Court in Victoria is difficult to overstate. Data published by the Sentencing Advisory Council shows that across the ten years to 30 June 2023, the Magistrates' Court of Victoria sentenced 882,896 people, including 14,402 companies, averaging more than 88,000 cases every year. This dwarfs the higher courts over the same period, where the County Court sentenced around 16,600 people and the Supreme Court sentenced just 730. In practical terms, the Magistrates' Court handles roughly 90 per cent of all matters that come before the Victorian court system.

More recent figures confirm the sheer throughput. In the 2023 to 2024 financial year the Magistrates' Court sentenced 85,462 cases, down 8.9 per cent from 93,778 the previous year, with the twenty-year average sitting at 83,587 cases annually. Traffic and vehicle offences were the single most common category of matter, making up 42 per cent of all cases sentenced, while a fine was the most frequent penalty imposed at 54 per cent of cases. The average fine came to $732 for individuals and $3,852 for companies. As the largest venue in a network of more than 51 courts across the state, Melbourne carries a significant share of this statewide caseload.

Why the daily list matters

With hundreds of criminal cases heard on the third floor alone on a typical day, and matters spread across multiple courtrooms and specialist lists, arriving without checking the daily court list first is a recipe for confusion. A case may be called at any time between 9:00am and 4:30pm, and long wait times are a regular and well-documented feature of attending in person. Checking your listing in advance tells you which courtroom to attend and helps you plan your day, rather than sitting in a crowded waiting area for hours with no clear indication of when your matter will be reached.

What the Melbourne Magistrates' Court hears

The jurisdiction of this court is broad, which is part of why its caseload is so large. It is best understood across several distinct streams of work, each with its own registry, procedures, and specialist support services.

Criminal matters

The criminal jurisdiction determines all summary offences, hears some indictable offences that can be dealt with summarily, and conducts committal hearings for serious charges. Committals are a critical function: most committal hearings across Victoria are held here in Melbourne, testing whether the prosecution evidence is strong enough for a matter to proceed to trial. Where a case involves a serious indictable offence such as armed robbery, serious assault, or major fraud, it begins with a filing hearing at the Magistrates' Court and, after the committal process, is transferred to the County Court of Victoria or the higher court for trial and sentencing.

Civil disputes

The civil jurisdiction allows the court to hear and determine monetary claims up to $100,000. This covers debt recovery, claims for damages, contractual disagreements, and applications for equitable relief. For businesses and individuals chasing unpaid money or defending a claim, this is the venue where the majority of everyday commercial disputes in Victoria are resolved without the cost and delay of proceeding to a higher court.

Intervention orders

The court manages two categories of intervention order: family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These applications are handled through a dedicated intervention order counter and waiting room, reflecting the sensitivity and volume of this work. Family violence and personal safety intervention order hearings are not published in the public online hearing search, which protects the privacy and safety of the people involved.

Specialist courts and support programs

Beyond its mainstream lists, Melbourne runs a range of specialist and therapeutic programs. These include the Assessment and Referral Court (ARC) list for accused people with a mental illness or cognitive impairment, the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) for bail support, and diversion coordination for eligible first-time and lower-level offenders. The Children's Court sits within the same building and deals with criminal matters, intervention orders, and child protection cases where a party is under 18.

How to check the Melbourne Magistrates' Court daily list

Court lists, sometimes called cause lists, are the official schedules of matters set down for hearing on a given day. They typically show the case name or parties, the courtroom, the type of hearing, and the presiding magistrate. There are a few ways to access them for Melbourne.

• CourtListAU: Search the consolidated daily list on this page to find a matter quickly by name or case type, without navigating multiple government portals.
• CMS Portal Hearing Search: The official Magistrates' Court of Victoria system lets you search the criminal and civil lists by case number or by surname. From 30 June 2026, the CMS Portal hearing search replaced the earlier criminal and civil components of the EFAS system.
• Foyer display: A printed list is displayed in glass frames in the ground floor foyer, to the right of the elevators, for those already at the court building.

If you are unsure which venue your matter is listed at, it is worth confirming before you travel, as Melbourne's metropolitan matters are sometimes distributed across suburban courts such as Dandenong Magistrates' Court and other regional venues. You can browse the full range of Victorian court listings to check schedules at any location across the state.

Getting to the court and what to expect

Public transport is the most reliable way to reach the court. Flagstaff Station sits roughly half a block down William Street, and Melbourne Central Station is also within comfortable walking distance. Several tram routes run along William Street and neighbouring CBD streets. There is no dedicated court car park, and while metered street parking exists in the surrounding blocks, it is frequently limited during business hours. Several multi-storey public car parks operate nearby for all-day parking.

A word of caution for anyone attending on a traffic matter that may result in a licence disqualification: do not drive to court, because you may not be permitted to drive home if your licence is cancelled or suspended on the day. Airport-style security screening applies at the entrance, so allow extra time to pass through. Smoking is prohibited inside the building and within five metres of it. Once inside, expect to observe standard courtroom etiquette, including standing when the magistrate enters and addressing the bench respectfully.

Interpreters and support

If English is not your first language, you can request an interpreter, and this should be arranged as early as possible before your hearing date rather than left until the morning of court. Registry staff at the counters can assist with general procedural questions such as where to go and how to lodge documents, but they are not able to give legal advice. A range of support services operate on site, including victims of crime assistance, family violence support, and the Court Network volunteer program.

Where the Melbourne Magistrates' Court sits in the hierarchy

Understanding the court structure helps clarify why so many matters pass through Melbourne before moving elsewhere. The Magistrates' Court is the entry point and the highest-volume tier. Matters that exceed its jurisdiction, whether serious indictable crimes or civil claims above $100,000, progress to the County Court, and the most serious matters and appeals ultimately reach the Supreme Court of Victoria, which exercises unlimited jurisdiction in both criminal and civil matters. Appeals from the Magistrates' Court are generally heard in the County Court. This tiered structure means a single case can appear on lists across several courts over its lifetime, which is exactly why a searchable, consolidated listing service is so useful.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Melbourne Magistrates' Court open?

Registry and counter services operate Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Court sittings generally run from 9:00am to 4:30pm, often with a lunch adjournment between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. The Bail and Remand Court operates separately from 8:30am to 9:00pm, seven days a week.

How do I find out what courtroom my case is in?

Check the daily list on this page or use the official CMS Portal Hearing Search by entering your case number or surname. A printed list is also displayed in the ground floor foyer near the elevators. Family violence and personal safety intervention order hearings are not shown in public online searches.

What is the maximum civil claim the court can hear?

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court can determine civil disputes up to a value of $100,000, covering debts, damages claims, and other monetary or equitable matters. Claims above this threshold are dealt with by the County Court.

Can I park at the court?

There is no dedicated court car park. Limited metered street parking is available nearby, along with several commercial multi-storey car parks. If your matter may result in a licence disqualification, avoid driving, as you may not be able to drive home afterwards. Flagstaff Station and nearby tram routes are the most reliable options.

Does the court hear cases involving people under 18?

No. Criminal matters, intervention orders, and child protection cases involving anyone under 18 are dealt with by the Children's Court, which is located within the same building but operates as a separate jurisdiction.