VIC Swan Hill Magistrates Court List Today

The Swan Hill Magistrates' Court is the principal venue for summary justice in the Mallee region of north-west Victoria, sitting on the banks of the Murray River at 121 Curlewis Street, Swan Hill VIC 3585. As a circuit venue of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, it hears the everyday criminal, civil, family violence and traffic matters that shape life across the Swan Hill Rural City and the surrounding farming districts. If you have received a summons, a charge sheet, an intervention order application or a civil complaint, the daily hearing list published here is the fastest way to confirm where and when your matter is being heard.

Swan Hill is one of more than 51 court venues operated by the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, the busiest court in the state. The Magistrates' Court hears roughly 90 per cent of all matters that come before Victorian courts, which makes the regional venues like Swan Hill a critical entry point to the justice system for people who live hundreds of kilometres from Melbourne. Because the court operates on a circuit basis, it is attended by a registrar on sitting days only, and matters are grouped into scheduled sitting blocks rather than being heard every business day of the week.

What the Swan Hill Magistrates' Court deals with

The court exercises both a criminal and a civil jurisdiction. In criminal matters, it hears summary offences and the early stages of indictable charges, including first mentions, contest mentions, summary contests, bail applications and committal proceedings for the more serious charges that are ultimately determined in the County Court of Victoria. Common matters listed at Swan Hill include drink and drug driving, driving while disqualified, assault, theft, criminal damage, drug possession and breaches of court orders.

The civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court covers disputes about money or property up to a value of $100,000. This includes debt recovery, contract disputes, claims for damages, and claims arising from motor vehicle accidents. Where a claim exceeds that monetary threshold, it is generally commenced in a higher court instead. The Magistrates' Court does not run a separate small claims division, but it can refer a claim under $10,000 to a more informal arbitration process, which keeps costs and formality proportionate to the amount in dispute.

Family violence and intervention orders

Swan Hill also hears applications for family violence intervention orders and personal safety intervention orders, which are among the most frequently listed civil applications in regional Victoria. Applicants and respondents should arrive early, as these matters often involve safe waiting arrangements and remote appearance options for affected family members. Support workers and applicant practitioners are available on family violence list days to assist people who are attending without a lawyer.

Youth, child protection and specialist lists

On certain sitting days the Swan Hill venue also deals with matters involving accused persons under 18, along with child protection and related family division applications. This multi-jurisdictional role is common across the smaller Mallee courts, where a single venue must serve a large geographic catchment. For matters that fall within the youth jurisdiction, the age of the accused at the time of the alleged offending is the key threshold that determines whether the Children's Court framework applies.

Court location, contact details and opening hours

The Swan Hill Magistrates' Court is located at 121 Curlewis Street, Swan Hill VIC 3585, with wheelchair-accessible entry. The general telephone number is (03) 5072 3400, and court users can also reach a registrar on (03) 9087 5727 or by emailing the Swan Hill coordinator. On sitting days the court is open from 9am to 4pm. Because a registrar attends on sitting days only, registry support between sittings is provided through the Bendigo Law Courts at 188 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, which acts as the administrative hub for several courts in the Loddon Mallee circuit.

• Address: 121 Curlewis Street, Swan Hill VIC 3585
• General phone: (03) 5072 3400
• Registrar line: (03) 9087 5727
• Registry support venue: Bendigo Law Courts, 188 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo
• Opening hours: 9am to 4pm on sitting days
• Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance

How to read the Swan Hill daily court list

Each daily list sets out the matters scheduled for a given sitting day, usually organised by courtroom and start time. A single entry normally shows the party or defendant name, the case reference, the hearing type and the listed time. Understanding the hearing type helps you know what to expect: a mention is a short administrative appearance, a contest mention narrows the issues before a contested hearing, and a summary hearing is where evidence is heard and the matter is determined. Because a small regional venue such as Swan Hill may list only a handful of matters on a quiet day and dozens on a busy family violence or criminal list day, checking the list the evening before is the best way to plan your travel.

Listings can change at short notice. Matters are regularly adjourned, brought forward, moved between courtrooms, or transferred to another venue in the circuit such as Kerang, Robinvale or Mildura. For that reason the published list is a guide to the day's business rather than a fixed timetable, and you should still arrive early and confirm your appearance with the registry when you get there.

The Swan Hill court within the Loddon Mallee circuit

Swan Hill does not operate in isolation. It sits within a cluster of Murray and Mallee venues that share magistrates, registry staff and circuit scheduling. Nearby courts include the Kerang Magistrates' Court list to the south, the Robinvale Magistrates' Court to the north-west, and the larger Mildura Magistrates' Court list further up the Murray. Because circuit magistrates travel between these venues, a matter first mentioned at Swan Hill may later be listed at a neighbouring court, and practitioners who work across the region routinely track several daily lists at once.

This circuit model reflects the scale of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria as a whole. The court employs around 129 magistrates, supported by 26 reserve magistrates, 19 judicial registrars and more than 1,160 staff spread across its venues. That workforce absorbs an enormous volume of work: in a recent reporting year the court initiated more than 122,000 criminal cases and finalised over 134,000, alongside tens of thousands of civil complaints. Regional venues like Swan Hill carry a meaningful share of that state-wide caseload for the communities they serve.

Preparing for your hearing at Swan Hill

Whether you are appearing on a criminal charge, defending a civil claim or attending an intervention order matter, good preparation makes the day run more smoothly. Plan to be at court for most of the day, as matters are listed in blocks and are not always reached at the exact time shown on the list. Dress neatly and conservatively, allow time to pass through security screening at the entrance, and bring any documents, notices or evidence relevant to your matter.

• Arrive well before your listed time and check in with the registry on arrival.
• Bring your summons, charge sheet, complaint or order application and any supporting documents.
• If you are legally represented, confirm your solicitor knows the venue and start time.
• If you are self-represented, ask the registrar which courtroom your matter is listed in.
• Turn off phones inside the courtroom and follow the directions of court staff.

If you cannot attend, do not simply ignore the listing. Failing to appear on a criminal charge can result in the matter proceeding in your absence or a warrant being issued, while failing to respond to a civil complaint can lead to default judgment. Contact the registry as early as possible to discuss an adjournment or a remote appearance, both of which are more widely available in regional Victoria than they once were.

Appeals and matters beyond the Magistrates' Court

Not every dispute stays in the Magistrates' Court. Serious indictable charges are committed to the County Court of Victoria for trial or sentence, and civil claims above the $100,000 limit are commenced there as well. A person dissatisfied with a decision of the Magistrates' Court can also, in defined circumstances, appeal to the County Court, where the matter may be reheard. If your Swan Hill matter is likely to move up the court hierarchy, the Victorian County Court daily list is the place to track its next listing. For a full picture of every sitting venue across the state, the Victorian court lists directory brings the Supreme, County and Magistrates' court schedules into one searchable place.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Swan Hill Magistrates' Court located?

The court is at 121 Curlewis Street, Swan Hill VIC 3585, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance. It sits on sitting days from 9am to 4pm, and registry support between sittings is handled through the Bendigo Law Courts.

How do I find out if my case is listed today?

Check the daily court list for Swan Hill, which shows the matters scheduled for each sitting day by courtroom and time. Listings can change late, so confirm the evening before and again with the registry when you arrive.

Does the Swan Hill court sit every day?

No. As a circuit venue it is attended by a registrar and hears matters on scheduled sitting days only, rather than every business day. Between sittings, enquiries are directed to the Bendigo Law Courts registry.

What is the maximum civil claim the court can hear?

The civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria covers money and property disputes up to $100,000. Claims above that amount are generally commenced in the County Court of Victoria instead.

What happens if I do not attend my hearing?

Missing a criminal listing can lead to the matter proceeding without you or a warrant being issued, and missing a civil listing can result in a default judgment. If you cannot attend, contact the registry as early as possible to seek an adjournment or a remote appearance.