If you have received a notice to attend Portland Magistrates' Court, checking the daily court list is the fastest way to confirm your courtroom, your listing time, and the type of hearing you are scheduled for. Portland is a circuit venue in the far south-west of Victoria, sitting at 67 Cliff Street, Portland VIC 3305, roughly 362 kilometres west of Melbourne and about 97 kilometres west of Warrnambool. Because the court sits on limited days rather than every weekday, knowing exactly when your matter is listed matters more here than at a busy metropolitan registry, and reviewing the published list the afternoon before your hearing helps you avoid arriving on a non-sitting day.
The court forms part of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, the busiest court in the state. More than 93 per cent of all criminal and civil matters in Victoria begin and end in the Magistrates' Court, which means the overwhelming majority of people who ever set foot in a Victorian courtroom do so at a venue like Portland rather than in the County or Supreme Court. Across the 2023 to 2024 financial year the Magistrates' Court sentenced 85,462 cases statewide, and over the two decades to June 2024 it sentenced an average of 83,587 cases each year. These figures show how central the summary jurisdiction is to everyday justice in regional communities such as the Shire of Glenelg.
What Portland Magistrates' Court deals with
As a summary court, Portland Magistrates' Court hears and determines a wide range of matters that affect residents of Portland, Heywood, Casterton, Merino and the surrounding rural districts. Its jurisdiction covers criminal offences, civil disputes, intervention orders, and specialist court programs. Most adult criminal cases in Victoria start in the Magistrates' Court, and many are also finalised there without ever proceeding to a higher court.
Criminal matters
The criminal jurisdiction hears all summary offences, determines some indictable offences that can be dealt with summarily, and conducts committal hearings for more serious charges before they are sent to a higher court. Traffic and driving matters make up a large share of the workload. Across Victoria, traffic and vehicle offences were the single most common category of offence sentenced in the Magistrates' Court, accounting for around 42 per cent of cases, and a fine was the most common sentence overall at roughly 54 per cent of cases, with the average fine for an individual sitting near $732. If your matter involves a charge such as drink driving, unlicensed driving, or a low-range traffic offence, it will almost certainly be heard in this jurisdiction.
Civil matters
The Magistrates' Court can hear civil disputes valued up to $100,000, including debt recovery, claims for damages, contractual disagreements, and applications for equitable relief. For a regional business owner or resident, this means a monetary dispute can often be resolved locally rather than requiring a trip to a metropolitan registry. Civil listings at Portland are scheduled around the venue's sitting calendar, so confirming your date on the current list is essential.
Intervention orders
Two types of intervention orders can be made at this court: family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders. These are among the most sensitive and time-critical matters the court handles, and support is available for both applicants and respondents. If you are attending in relation to an intervention order, arriving early and knowing your courtroom helps you access the safety and support services on the day.
Specialist and support services
Portland Magistrates' Court offers access to the Koori Court, a sentencing court for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have pleaded guilty and taken responsibility for an offence, delivered with the involvement of Elders and Respected Persons. Eligible accused persons on bail can also be supported through the Court Integrated Services Program, known as CISP, which links participants with services that address the underlying drivers of offending such as housing, drug and alcohol treatment, and mental health support.
Court location, contact details and facilities
The courthouse is located at 67 Cliff Street, Portland, in the heart of the city and within walking distance of the Portland foreshore. Postal correspondence is directed to PO Box 244, Warrnambool VIC 3280, reflecting the close administrative link between the Portland circuit and the larger Warrnambool Magistrates' Court, which acts as the regional hub for the South West Coast. General enquiries can be made by phone on (03) 9063 0119, by fax on (03) 4505 3711, or by email at portland@courts.vic.gov.au.
Parking at the venue is on-street only, so allow extra time to find a space, particularly on a sitting day when the list is full. The court provides wheelchair access, public toilets, and an audio visual link facility that allows some appearances and evidence to be conducted remotely where the court considers it appropriate. If you require an interpreter, this should be arranged in advance so the service is available when your matter is called.
How Portland fits into the wider Victorian court network
The Magistrates' Court of Victoria operates from more than 51 venues across the state, ranging from high-volume metropolitan courts like Melbourne, Dandenong and Broadmeadows to regional centres and small circuit courts. Portland is one of the smaller circuit venues, serving a Shire of Glenelg population of close to 19,700 people and the city of Portland itself, which recorded 10,016 residents at the 2021 census. Because the population base is smaller and more dispersed than a metropolitan catchment, the court sits on selected days rather than continuously, and matters are grouped efficiently into those sitting days.
This circuit model is common across rural Victoria. Nearby venues that share the same regional structure include Warrnambool, Hamilton and Colac, and matters may occasionally be transferred between them depending on availability and the nature of the case. If your hearing has been moved or you are checking a related matter, our full Victorian court lists directory lets you browse daily lists for every sitting venue across the state in one place, updated each day.
Checking the Portland court list before your hearing
Daily court lists are published ahead of each sitting day and set out the parties, the courtroom, the presiding magistrate where allocated, and the scheduled time. Reviewing the Portland Magistrates' Court list the day before allows you to confirm three things that matter most: that your case is actually listed, which courtroom you need, and what time to arrive. Court sitting days can begin at 9am, and matters may be called at any point during the sitting, so being present and ready when your name is announced avoids the risk of your case being dealt with in your absence.
A listing time is a start time for the session, not a guaranteed time for your individual matter. It is common for several cases to be listed together, with each called in turn. Bringing any paperwork, a means of contacting your lawyer, and something to read while you wait is sensible practice. If you cannot attend on your scheduled date, you should seek advice promptly, because changing a court date is only possible in limited circumstances and generally requires an application to the court.
Getting legal help
Many people who attend Portland Magistrates' Court represent themselves, particularly for straightforward traffic or civil matters, but legal advice can make a significant difference to the outcome of a criminal charge or a contested intervention order. Victoria Legal Aid, community legal centres in the South West region, and the duty lawyer service available at court can all provide guidance. For serious charges, obtaining advice before your first listing gives you time to understand your options, including whether an application for diversion or a specialist program may be available in your circumstances.
If your matter is likely to be complex or contested, arranging representation early is worthwhile. Even a short consultation can clarify what to expect on the day, what documents to bring, and how the summary process works from the first mention through to any plea or hearing.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Portland Magistrates' Court located?
The court is at 67 Cliff Street, Portland VIC 3305, in south-west Victoria. Postal mail is directed to PO Box 244, Warrnambool VIC 3280. Parking is on-street only.
What days does Portland Magistrates' Court sit?
Portland is a circuit venue and sits on selected days rather than every weekday. Because sitting days vary, always confirm your specific date on your notice and check the current daily court list before travelling to the courthouse.
How do I check the Portland court list for today?
Daily lists are published before each sitting day and show the courtroom, listing time and parties. Review the list the afternoon before your hearing to confirm your matter is listed and to note your courtroom and start time.
What kinds of cases are heard at Portland Magistrates' Court?
The court hears summary criminal offences, some indictable offences, committal hearings, civil disputes up to $100,000, and family violence and personal safety intervention orders. It also provides access to the Koori Court and the Court Integrated Services Program.
Can I appear at Portland Magistrates' Court by video link?
The venue has an audio visual link facility, and some appearances can be conducted remotely where the court considers it appropriate. Whether your matter can proceed by video link depends on the type of hearing, so check with the registry in advance.
What is the phone number for Portland Magistrates' Court?
General enquiries can be made on (03) 9063 0119, by fax on (03) 4505 3711, or by email at portland@courts.vic.gov.au.
How far is Portland from Melbourne and Warrnambool?
Portland is approximately 362 kilometres west of Melbourne and about 97 kilometres west of Warrnambool, making it one of the more remote court venues in the Victorian network.