| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| DINGO, S** C** A** | Court Room 2 | 9:30am |
Last updated: 09 Sep 2026, 10:18 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Magistrates Court of Western Australia sitting at the Carnarvon Courthouse is the primary criminal and civil court serving the town of Carnarvon and the wider Gascoyne region. Located on the corner of Babbage Island Road and Robinson Street, this registry hears the day-to-day legal matters of a community of roughly 4,879 residents (2021 census), while also acting as a service point for one of the most sparsely populated regions in the state. The Gascoyne covers about 135,074 square kilometres yet is home to only around 9,277 people, which makes a single regional courthouse like Carnarvon disproportionately important to local access to justice.
Carnarvon sits approximately 906 kilometres north-west of Perth and around 477 kilometres north of Geraldton, so for many residents attending court in person means significant travel. That distance is exactly why an accurate, up-to-date daily court list matters. Knowing your hearing time, courtroom and matter type before you set off can save hours of driving and unnecessary waiting, and it lets legal practitioners plan circuit appearances across the region far more efficiently.
What the Carnarvon Courthouse court list covers
The daily list published for the Carnarvon Courthouse sets out every matter scheduled to be heard at the registry on a given sitting day. As a first-tier court, the Magistrates Court here deals with the bulk of general legal work in the district, including summary criminal offences, traffic and road-safety matters, bail applications, minor civil claims, family violence restraining orders and violence restraining orders, and committal proceedings for more serious charges that are later sent to a higher court.
Because the Magistrates Court is a summary jurisdiction, the majority of matters listed are resolved at this level rather than being escalated. Across Western Australia, the Magistrates Court handles the largest share of the state's court workload, with roughly 43,000 civil cases filed each year in addition to a far greater volume of criminal and traffic matters. On a typical sitting day, the Carnarvon Courthouse can carry dozens of matters on its list, and it is common for the combined criminal and civil listing to run into the tens of individual cases when the court is in session.
Criminal and traffic matters
Criminal listings at Carnarvon include first appearances, adjournments, sentencing, pleas and mentions. Traffic matters, such as driving while suspended, drink and drug driving, and applications for extraordinary licences, are a consistent feature of regional lists. Where a defendant faces an indictable charge that cannot be finalised in the Magistrates Court, the matter proceeds through committal and may be transferred to the District Court for trial or sentence.
Civil claims and restraining orders
On the civil side, the court hears claims for debt and damages, minor case claims, and non-offence based applications. Restraining order applications, including family violence restraining orders, are among the most frequently listed civil matters in regional Western Australian courts and are often heard on dedicated list days. Applicants and respondents should confirm their listing carefully, as these matters can be sensitive and time-critical.
How to read the daily Carnarvon court list
Each entry on the list generally shows the party or case name, the scheduled hearing time, the courtroom or location, and the type of appearance. Reading these details correctly helps you arrive at the right place at the right time. If you are representing yourself, note that mentions and directions hearings are often listed in blocks, so your matter may not be called at the exact minute shown. Being present and checked in with registry staff by the listed time is the safest approach.
- Case or party name: Identifies the matter. On many public listing services, individual names are partially masked to balance open justice with personal privacy.
- Time: The scheduled start, though multiple matters may share a session block.
- Location or courtroom: Confirms where within the complex the matter will be heard.
- Appearance type: Indicates whether the matter is a mention, plea, sentence, trial, directions hearing or application.
Listings can change at short notice due to adjournments, settlements or magistrate availability, so treat any published list as a guide and confirm details with the registry before travelling long distances. This is particularly relevant in the Gascoyne, where a wasted trip can mean hundreds of kilometres on the road.
The Carnarvon Courthouse in the Western Australian court system
The Magistrates Court of Western Australia was established in its current form in 2005 under the Magistrates Court Act 2004 (WA) and normally sits with a single magistrate. Appeals and more serious matters move upward through the hierarchy to the District Court and, ultimately, the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The District Court, established on 1 April 1970, operates 12 country registries across the state, and Carnarvon is one of them, which means the same complex can host both magistrates and district-level proceedings depending on the sitting calendar.
This layered structure is worth understanding if you are following a matter over time. A charge that starts as a mention in the Magistrates Court may, if it is indictable, be committed and later appear on a higher court list. If your matter has been elevated, you may need to check the District Court Carnarvon Courthouse listings rather than the magistrates list, as the two operate on separate schedules within the same building.
Regional coverage and circuit reach
The Carnarvon registry effectively anchors justice services for the Shire of Carnarvon, which spans an enormous 46,664 square kilometres, along with surrounding communities such as Gascoyne Junction and remote pastoral areas inland. For residents in smaller centres to the north and south, Carnarvon is frequently the closest staffed courthouse. Those in nearby coastal and inland communities may also have matters heard at other regional venues, and it is worth checking the Exmouth Magistrates Court listings if a matter has been relocated further up the coast.
Planning your visit to the Carnarvon Courthouse
The courthouse is centrally located in Carnarvon, within easy reach of local services, and street parking is generally available nearby. Visitors requiring wheelchair access or other assistance are encouraged to contact the registry in advance so arrangements can be made. If you need an interpreter or intend to bring a support person, notify the court ahead of your hearing date wherever possible.
Standard courtroom conduct applies. You should follow the directions of court staff at all times, stand when the magistrate enters or leaves the courtroom, switch mobile phones to silent, and avoid bringing food or drink into the courtroom. Arriving early allows time to clear security and locate your courtroom, which reduces the risk of missing a called matter.
Contact and registry details
The Carnarvon Courthouse can be contacted through the Magistrates Court of Western Australia registry, and general court schedule information for the state is published through the official eCourts portal. Because published details may change after lists are posted, phoning the registry to confirm remains the most reliable way to verify a hearing before you attend.
Why an accurate daily court list is essential in regional WA
In a region as vast and thinly populated as the Gascoyne, timely court information is not a convenience but a practical necessity. A resident travelling from an outlying station or from a neighbouring town may face a full day of travel simply to attend a five-minute mention. Reliable, searchable listings reduce failed appearances, help self-represented parties prepare, and allow solicitors and barristers who service the region on circuit to coordinate multiple matters across several courthouses in a single trip.
For practitioners moving between registries, comparing lists across nearby courts is a routine part of planning. Many who follow the Carnarvon list also monitor the busier Geraldton Magistrates Court listings to the south, since Geraldton serves a much larger population of around 38,595 and often carries a heavier daily caseload. Cross-checking these schedules helps legal teams allocate resources sensibly across the Mid West and Gascoyne.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Carnarvon Courthouse located?
The courthouse is on the corner of Babbage Island Road and Robinson Street, Carnarvon WA 6701, in the central part of town. It is accessible by private vehicle and local transport, with street parking available nearby.
What types of cases are heard at the Carnarvon Magistrates Court?
The court hears summary criminal offences, traffic matters, bail applications, minor civil claims, restraining order applications and committal proceedings. More serious indictable matters are committed to the District Court after their initial stages.
How often is the court list updated?
Daily court schedules are drawn from official Western Australian court records and can change without notice due to adjournments or magistrate availability. Always confirm your hearing time and courtroom with the registry before travelling, especially from outside Carnarvon.
Can I attend a hearing as a member of the public?
Most court hearings are open to the public, reflecting the principle of open justice. Some matters are restricted by law, and certain tribunal conferences and mediations are closed. If you are unsure whether a specific matter is open, contact the registry.
Is the Carnarvon Courthouse the same as the District Court in Carnarvon?
The same complex hosts both Magistrates Court and District Court proceedings, but they run on separate lists and sitting schedules. Check the correct list for the court level that applies to your matter.
Where can I find listings for other Western Australian courts?
Listings for courthouses across the state, including metropolitan and regional registries, are collected on the Western Australia court lists page, which lets you move quickly between individual court schedules.
