WA District Court – Armadale Courthouse List Today

The Armadale Courthouse sits at 10 Third Road, Armadale WA 6112, serving one of the fastest-growing corridors in the Perth metropolitan region. Located roughly 28 kilometres south-east of the Perth CBD within the City of Armadale, this courthouse is a central access point to justice for a catchment that recorded a suburb population of 13,415 at the 2021 Census and continues to expand across Kelmscott, Seville Grove, Camillo, Champion Lakes and the surrounding growth suburbs. Understanding how the District Court operates at this location, what matters are heard, and how the daily court list works can help defendants, witnesses, families and legal practitioners prepare with confidence.

While Armadale is best known locally as a Magistrates Court venue, the District Court of Western Australia connects to communities like Armadale through the state's tiered court structure. The District Court is the intermediate trial court, sitting between the Magistrates Court and the Supreme Court. Matters that begin in the Armadale Magistrates Court and are too serious to be finalised summarily are committed upward to the District Court, where they proceed before a judge and, in most contested criminal trials, a jury. This pathway is a routine part of the Western Australian court system, and Armadale is one of many south-eastern metropolitan entry points that feed into it.

Where the District Court Sits in the WA Court Hierarchy

The District Court of Western Australia was established on 1 April 1970, created to relieve pressure on the Magistrates Court and the Supreme Court as the state's population grew rapidly through the late 1960s. At its inception the court had just four judges. Today there are around 30 judges based in Perth who travel on circuit to regional registries across the state, supported by five registrars appointed under the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969. The court's headquarters are in Perth, with 12 country registries located in Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Derby, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra and South Hedland.

The Chief Judge of the District Court is Julie Anne Wager, who has held the office since 2 May 2020. Appeals from the District Court are heard by the Supreme Court of Western Australia, while the District Court itself hears certain appeals from the Magistrates Court. This upward and downward flow of matters is what links a suburban venue such as Armadale to the broader machinery of the state's justice system.

Criminal Jurisdiction of the District Court

In its criminal jurisdiction, the District Court deals with serious indictable offences for which the maximum penalty is up to 25 years imprisonment. These include serious assaults, sexual assaults, armed robbery, criminal damage, serious fraud and commercial theft, burglary and a wide range of drug offences. The court conducts trials before a judge and jury, or before a judge sitting alone where that is appropriate. The only offences of this seriousness the District Court does not handle are the most grave matters such as murder, manslaughter, attempted unlawful killing and assisted suicide, which are reserved for the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

For people whose matters start in Armadale, the practical significance is straightforward. All criminal proceedings against adults begin in the Magistrates Court. Where a charge is a serious indictable offence, the Magistrates Court conducts committal proceedings and, if the matter is committed, the accused is dealt with in the District Court. Knowing this sequence helps defendants and their families anticipate where a case will be heard and how long the process may take.

Civil Jurisdiction and Monetary Limits

In its civil jurisdiction, the District Court determines claims of up to $750,000 and holds unlimited jurisdiction in claims for damages for personal injury. This makes it the principal venue for many motor vehicle injury claims, workplace injury disputes, commercial matters and debt recovery actions that exceed the lower court threshold. By comparison, the Magistrates Court of Western Australia hears civil disputes up to $75,000, with a simplified Minor Cases Procedure for claims up to $10,000. Western Australia's civil threshold at the Magistrates level is deliberately lower than in several other states, a policy that channels higher-value matters up to the District Court.

These monetary boundaries matter when a resident of Armadale or a nearby suburb is deciding where a claim should be filed. A personal injury matter of significant value, for instance, will almost always sit within District Court jurisdiction, whereas a modest consumer dispute will remain in the Magistrates Court. If you are unsure which court applies to your situation, reviewing the broader WA court list hub can help you identify the correct venue and the daily sitting arrangements across the state.

Location, Access and Contact Details for Armadale Courthouse

The Armadale Courthouse is located at 10 Third Road, Armadale WA 6112, and can be reached by telephone on (08) 9399 0700. The registry generally operates on business days, with public counter hours from 9:00am, and courtrooms sit from the morning through the standard court day. The venue is well connected by public transport, sitting close to the Armadale railway line and local bus routes, and public parking is available nearby. The courthouse falls within the state electorate of Armadale and the federal division of Burt.

Accessibility support, including wheelchair access, is available at the courthouse. Visitors who require additional assistance are encouraged to contact the registry ahead of their listed date so that arrangements can be made in advance. Because Armadale serves a large and growing catchment on the south-eastern edge of Perth, arriving early is sensible, particularly on busy list days when multiple matters are scheduled in the same courtroom.

Confirming Your Court Date and Courtroom

Always confirm the date, time and courtroom shown on your official notice or summons before attending. Court lists can change at short notice as matters are adjourned, added or reallocated between courtrooms, so checking a current daily list is the most reliable way to know where and when your matter will be heard. If your matter has been committed to the District Court, your listing may be at a Perth sitting rather than at Armadale itself, which is another reason to verify the venue carefully.

How Court Lists Work in Western Australia

A court list, sometimes called a court listing or cause list, is the published schedule of matters set down to be heard on a given day at a particular court. Each entry typically identifies the matter, the courtroom and the sitting time. Daily lists are the primary way that defendants, witnesses, victims, legal representatives and members of the public find out where a case will be heard. For a busy metropolitan venue like Armadale, the daily list is updated frequently, and matters can move between rooms as the day progresses.

Search demand for these schedules is significant. Across Western Australia and nationally, thousands of people look up terms such as court listings, court listing today and magistrates court list today every month, reflecting how central the daily list is to navigating the system. Being able to read a list quickly, identify your matter and confirm the correct courtroom saves time and reduces the stress of attending court. If you need to check schedules for other Western Australian venues, the Armadale Magistrates Court listing is a useful companion resource, since most matters at this location begin in the Magistrates jurisdiction before any escalation to the District Court.

Circuit Sittings and Regional Access

The District Court sits primarily in Perth but conducts circuit sittings so that serious matters can be heard closer to the communities they arise in. Judges travel on circuit to regional registries on a regular basis, which is how a court headquartered in the city maintains genuine statewide reach. For metropolitan growth areas on the fringe of Perth, such as Armadale, the combination of a local Magistrates venue and the District Court's committal pathway means residents rarely have to travel far to have a matter commenced, even when the eventual trial takes place in central Perth.

Types of Matters Connected to Armadale

• Criminal matters: Summary offences such as traffic matters, minor assaults, theft and drug possession are heard in the Magistrates Court, while serious indictable offences committed from Armadale are finalised in the District Court.
• Traffic offences: Drink-driving, driving while disqualified and related charges are commonly listed at the local Magistrates level.
• Civil disputes: Claims up to $75,000 sit in the Magistrates Court; higher-value claims up to $750,000, and unlimited personal injury damages claims, sit in the District Court.
• Restraining orders: Applications for protective orders are dealt with at the Magistrates level for the Armadale community.
• Committal proceedings: Serious charges are tested at committal before being sent up to the District or Supreme Court.

Because the great majority of matters affecting Armadale residents begin at the Magistrates level, many people searching for the District Court listing are actually looking for a matter that has been, or will be, committed upward. Checking both the local Magistrates list and the relevant District Court sitting ensures nothing is missed. For those following matters in the eastern states as well, the broader Sydney District Court list offers a comparable interstate reference point for how District Court schedules are published.

Preparing for a Court Appearance

Arriving prepared makes a meaningful difference. Bring your notice or summons, any documents relevant to your matter, and identification. Allow extra time for parking and security screening, dress neatly, and switch off mobile phones before entering a courtroom. If you are represented, arrange to meet your lawyer before your listed time. If you are self-represented, arrive early enough to check the list, locate the correct courtroom and speak to court staff if you are unsure where to go.

Witnesses should confirm whether they are required to attend in person or give evidence remotely, and victims of crime can ask about support services available at the courthouse. For anyone unfamiliar with the process, the calm approach is to treat the daily list as your map: it tells you the room, the time and the order in which matters are expected to be called.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Armadale a District Court or a Magistrates Court?

Armadale operates primarily as a Magistrates Court venue at 10 Third Road, Armadale WA 6112. Serious indictable matters that begin there are committed to the District Court of Western Australia, which is the intermediate trial court sitting above the Magistrates Court and below the Supreme Court.

What is the phone number for Armadale Courthouse?

The Armadale Courthouse can be contacted on (08) 9399 0700. Registry staff can help with general enquiries about listings, counter hours and accessibility, although they cannot provide legal advice.

What matters does the District Court of WA hear?

The District Court hears serious indictable criminal offences with maximum penalties up to 25 years imprisonment, including serious assaults, sexual assaults, armed robbery, burglary, serious fraud and drug offences. In civil matters it determines claims up to $750,000 and has unlimited jurisdiction for personal injury damages.

How do I find the daily court list for my matter?

Check a current daily court list and match your name or matter to the courtroom and sitting time shown. Always cross-check against the date and courtroom printed on your official notice, as listings can change during the day.

Where do appeals from the District Court go?

Appeals from the District Court of Western Australia are heard by the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The District Court also hears certain appeals from decisions of the Magistrates Court.

Who is the Chief Judge of the District Court?

The Chief Judge of the District Court of Western Australia is Julie Anne Wager, who has held the position since 2 May 2020. The court has around 30 judges based in Perth who travel on circuit across the state.

Armadale's role in the Western Australian justice system reflects a wider pattern across Perth's growth corridors: a busy local courthouse handling the everyday volume of criminal, traffic and civil work, with a clear pathway that carries the most serious matters up to the District Court. Whether you are checking a listing, supporting a family member, appearing as a witness or preparing your own case, understanding this structure and reading the daily list carefully are the two most useful steps you can take before your day in court.