WA District Court – Kalgoorlie Courthouse List Today

The District Court of Western Australia sits on circuit in Kalgoorlie at 208 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie WA 6430, the same Goldfields court precinct that also houses the local Magistrates Court, Children's Court, Family Court and periodic Supreme Court sittings. As the intermediate court in the Western Australian hierarchy, the District Court sits between the Magistrates Court below it and the Supreme Court above it, and its judges travel from Perth to the Goldfields to hear the region's most serious criminal trials and its larger civil claims. If you are searching for the Kalgoorlie District Court list, this page explains how the circuit works, what the court hears, and how to read the daily cause list before you attend.

Kalgoorlie is one of only six regional centres where the District Court runs a full criminal circuit, alongside Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Esperance, Geraldton, Karratha, Kununurra and South Hedland. Because judges are based at the principal registry at 500 Hay Street, Perth, and travel roughly 595 kilometres east to reach Kalgoorlie, the court's Goldfields sittings are scheduled in blocks rather than run every day. Checking the published list is therefore the fastest way to confirm whether a matter is being heard on a given day, in which courtroom, and at what time.

About the District Court of Western Australia in Kalgoorlie

The District Court of Western Australia was established on 1 April 1970 under the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969, created to relieve pressure on the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court as the state's population grew. At its inception the court had just four judges. Today around 30 judges are based in Perth and travel on circuit to regional centres including Kalgoorlie, with some of their responsibilities delegated to five registrars appointed under the Act. The current Chief Judge is Julie Anne Wager, who has held the office since 2 May 2020.

Kalgoorlie itself, part of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, recorded a population of 29,072 at the 2021 Census and serves as the administrative and legal centre for the wider Goldfields-Esperance region. The Kalgoorlie court precinct handles matters not only from the townsite but from a vast surrounding catchment that includes remote communities such as Laverton, Leonora, Menzies and Eucla. This makes the District Court circuit an important part of access to justice across one of the largest geographic court districts in the country.

What the District Court hears in its criminal jurisdiction

In its criminal jurisdiction, the District Court deals with serious, indictable offences that are too grave for the Magistrates Court but do not carry the highest penalties reserved for the Supreme Court. These include serious assaults, sexual assaults, serious fraud and commercial theft, burglary and drug offences. The court hears indictable matters for which the maximum penalty can reach up to 25 years' imprisonment. A jury of 12 community members decides whether an accused person is guilty or not guilty, although an accused may elect to be tried by a judge sitting alone.

On circuit in Kalgoorlie, District Court Circuit Trial Listing Hearings are run by video link from the courthouse and generally commence at 9.15 am on set dates. Trials themselves are then listed for the sitting block when a judge travels to the Goldfields. Because the criminal circuit operates in scheduled periods rather than continuously, the daily list is the reliable source for confirming callover dates, trial dates and courtroom allocations.

What the District Court hears in its civil jurisdiction

In its civil jurisdiction, the District Court determines claims of up to $750,000 and has unlimited jurisdiction in claims for damages for personal injury. This makes it the primary venue for significant compensation matters, contractual disputes and commercial claims across the Goldfields that exceed the Magistrates Court's civil limit. The court also exercises appellate jurisdiction, hearing certain civil appeals from the Magistrates Court and appeals concerning awards made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Assessor.

For context, Western Australia's $750,000 civil ceiling sits below the District Court of South Australia's limit of $1,000,000, one of the highest intermediate-court thresholds in Australia. Claimants and practitioners weighing where a matter belongs in the hierarchy should always confirm the current monetary limits, as jurisdictional thresholds are periodically reviewed by parliament.

How to read the Kalgoorlie District Court list

A court list, also called a daily cause list, is the official schedule of matters set down to be heard on a particular day. Reading it correctly saves time and avoids missed appearances. Each entry on a District Court list typically identifies the party or accused name, the matter or file number, the type of hearing, the courtroom, the presiding judicial officer where published, and the scheduled time. Understanding these fields lets you locate your matter quickly once you arrive at 208 Hannan Street.

• Party or accused name: the person or organisation whose matter is listed, usually in the case title format.
• Hearing type: whether the listing is a trial, callover, listing hearing, sentencing, directions hearing or appeal.
• Courtroom: the room in which the matter will be heard, important where more than one court is sitting.
• Time: the scheduled start, noting that circuit listing hearings often begin at 9.15 am.
• Judicial officer: the judge or registrar allocated to the matter, where this detail is published.

Why listings change and how to stay current

Court lists are working documents and can change at short notice. Matters settle, plead, adjourn or get reallocated between courtrooms, and circuit schedules can be affected by the availability of the travelling judge. Western Australian courts have, at various times, issued public notices about the suspension or rescheduling of regional circuits, which is a reminder that the safest approach is to check the most recent version of the list on the day and to contact the registry if anything is unclear. The Kalgoorlie court registry generally operates Monday to Friday during standard business hours.

The Kalgoorlie court precinct and other jurisdictions

The courthouse at 208 Hannan Street is a shared precinct rather than a single-jurisdiction building. On any given sitting period it may host the Magistrates Court for summary criminal, civil and traffic matters, the Children's Court for accused persons under 18, and the District Court on circuit. Supreme Court matters, both civil and criminal, are also heard at the Kalgoorlie courts several times a year, and Family Court sittings occur on set dates. This concentration of jurisdictions in one Goldfields location means that confirming which court is sitting, and in which room, matters as much as confirming the date.

If your matter is a lower-level summary charge or a traffic offence, it will usually be handled by the local Magistrates Court rather than the District Court. You can review the daily schedule for that jurisdiction through the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court listings, which sits in the same building. For statewide superior-court matters that are escalated beyond the intermediate level, the Supreme Court WA listings provide the equivalent daily schedule.

Appeals and how matters move through the hierarchy

The District Court is both a trial court and an appellate court in defined circumstances. Decisions of the Magistrates Court and some tribunals can be appealed to the District Court, while decisions of the District Court itself may in turn be appealed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Understanding this pathway helps litigants anticipate where a matter may travel next. If you have received an unsatisfactory outcome in a lower court and are considering an appeal, confirming the correct court and the applicable time limits early is essential, as appeal periods are strict.

Getting to the Kalgoorlie courthouse

The courthouse is centrally located on Hannan Street, the main thoroughfare running through Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and is easily reached by car and local transport. Time-limited street parking is available on Hannan Street and on parts of nearby Brookman Street and Egan Street. ACROD-permit disabled parking is provided at the rear of the court. The precinct offers accessibility support including wheelchair access, and anyone who needs an interpreter or other assistance should contact the registry in advance rather than on the day.

• Address: 208 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie WA 6430.
• Distance from Perth: approximately 595 kilometres east via the Great Eastern Highway.
• Region: Goldfields-Esperance, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
• Registry hours: Monday to Friday, standard business hours; phones typically open slightly longer.

What to do before you attend

Preparation makes a court appearance far less stressful. Confirm your court date, time and courtroom on your notice, then cross-check them against the current daily list. Arrive early to allow time for security screening, bring identification and all required documents, and dress appropriately. Mobile phones must be switched off inside courtrooms, and food and drink are not permitted. Stand when the judge or magistrate enters or leaves, and ask court staff if you are unsure where to go. If you are legally represented, coordinate an arrival time with your lawyer.

Comparing Kalgoorlie with other WA circuit locations

Kalgoorlie is one node in a large regional network. The District Court also maintains registries and circuit sittings at centres such as Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Geraldton, Karratha, Kununurra and South Hedland, and sits at Meekatharra as required. Each location follows the same jurisdictional rules but runs on its own circuit calendar, so listing patterns differ from town to town. Litigants who have matters in more than one Goldfields or regional centre should check each location's list separately rather than assuming a common schedule.

Those tracking matters elsewhere in the state can move between locations easily. For the neighbouring coastal circuit, the Esperance District Court list covers the southern Goldfields, while the statewide overview of every Western Australian jurisdiction is available through the WA court listings hub, which links to each individual courthouse in the state.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Kalgoorlie District Court located?

The District Court sits on circuit at the Kalgoorlie courthouse at 208 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie WA 6430. This is a shared precinct that also hosts the Magistrates Court, Children's Court, Family Court and periodic Supreme Court sittings.

Does the District Court sit in Kalgoorlie every day?

No. District Court judges are based in Perth and travel to Kalgoorlie on circuit for scheduled sitting periods. Circuit Trial Listing Hearings are commonly run by video link and generally start at 9.15 am on set dates, so you should always check the current list to confirm whether a matter is being heard on a given day.

What types of cases does the District Court hear?

In criminal matters, the District Court hears serious indictable offences such as serious assaults, sexual assaults, serious fraud, burglary and drug offences, with maximum penalties reaching up to 25 years' imprisonment. In civil matters, it hears claims up to $750,000 and has unlimited jurisdiction for personal injury damages.

What is the difference between the District Court and the Magistrates Court in Kalgoorlie?

The Magistrates Court handles summary criminal, civil and traffic matters and smaller civil claims, while the District Court is the intermediate court that hears more serious indictable offences and larger civil claims. Certain Magistrates Court decisions can be appealed to the District Court.

How do I find out which courtroom my matter is in?

The daily cause list shows the party name, hearing type, courtroom, scheduled time and, where published, the judicial officer. Check the most recent version of the list on the day of your hearing, as courtroom allocations and times can change at short notice.

Can District Court decisions be appealed?

Yes. Decisions of the District Court of Western Australia can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Appeal periods are strict, so anyone considering an appeal should confirm the applicable time limits as early as possible.