WA Magistrates Court – Fremantle Courthouse List Today

The Fremantle Courthouse at 8 Holdsworth Street sits at the heart of one of Perth's busiest coastal justice precincts, serving the port city of Fremantle and the wider southern metropolitan corridor. As a combined Magistrates Court and District Court registry, it handles the everyday legal matters that affect thousands of Western Australians each year, from summary criminal charges and traffic prosecutions to family violence restraining orders and civil debt claims. This page brings together the current daily law list, registry details, jurisdiction, and practical guidance for anyone with a matter listed at Fremantle, whether you are a defendant, a self-represented litigant, a legal practitioner, or a support worker attending on someone's behalf.

Fremantle Magistrates Court list today

The Fremantle Magistrates Court daily law list is published through the eCourts Portal of Western Australia and updated each business day, usually before proceedings commence in the morning. Listings are searchable by defendant or party name, matter number, and court date, so you can confirm your courtroom allocation and hearing time before you travel. Because schedules can change at short notice, particularly when matters are adjourned, consolidated, or moved between courtrooms, it is always sensible to verify your listing on the day and to arrive early enough to locate the correct courtroom.

Fremantle is one of the metropolitan registries that carries a significant share of Western Australia's lower court workload. Statewide, criminal case lodgements in the Magistrates Court of Western Australia reached 104,002 in 2024-25, up from 93,180 the previous year, an increase of close to 12 per cent. That growth in filings feeds directly into daily list volumes at busy coastal courts like Fremantle, which is precisely why a clean, searchable list that requires no login and no fee is so useful for the people who rely on it.

What matters are heard at Fremantle Courthouse

The Fremantle daily list spans the full breadth of the Magistrates Court's summary jurisdiction. In practice, that covers a wide mix of criminal, traffic, civil, and protective order matters heard in the same building.

• Summary criminal offences: assaults, stealing, disorderly conduct, drug possession, and breaches of court orders dealt with by a magistrate rather than a jury.
• Traffic and driving matters: drink and drug driving, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, and applications for extraordinary drivers licences.
• Restraining orders: family violence restraining orders (FVROs) and violence restraining orders (VROs) made under the Restraining Orders Act 1997 (WA).
• Bail applications: including matters heard on weekends and public holidays through custody arrangements.
• Civil claims: debt and damages disputes up to $75,000, along with minor case claims, dividing fences disputes, and disposal of uncollected goods.
• Committal hearings: preliminary steps for serious indictable offences that will ultimately proceed to a higher court for trial or sentence.

Because the Holdsworth Street courthouse also operates as a District Court registry, more serious indictable charges that begin in the Magistrates Court can be committed upward for trial or sentencing. The pathway from a summary appearance in Fremantle to the intermediate court is a common one, and you can follow those matters through the Fremantle District Court list once a case is committed.

Where Fremantle sits in the WA court hierarchy

Western Australia operates a three-tier court structure, and understanding where the Magistrates Court fits helps you know what to expect from your matter. The Magistrates Court is the first-tier court and finalises the overwhelming majority of criminal and civil cases in the state. It was created in May 2005 through the amalgamation of the former Court of Petty Sessions, the Small Claims Tribunal, and the Local Court of Western Australia, following recommendations from the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia.

Above it, the District Court of Western Australia, established in 1970, is the principal trial court for serious indictable offences carrying maximum penalties up to 25 years imprisonment, and for civil claims generally between $75,001 and $750,000, with unlimited jurisdiction in personal injury cases. At the top of the state hierarchy, the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which traces its origins to 1861, deals with the most serious crimes such as murder and with civil disputes exceeding $750,000. Appeals from the Magistrates Court flow up to these higher courts.

Nationally, magistrates' courts carry the bulk of the load. Across all Australian courts there were 725,538 criminal finalisations and 399,280 civil finalisations in 2024-25, and most of those matters were lodged in the magistrates' tier. Western Australia also runs the most geographically dispersed court system in the country, reaching from metropolitan courts like Fremantle to remote circuit sittings in the Kimberley, the Pilbara, the Goldfields, and even Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Fremantle Courthouse contact and registry details

The courthouse is centrally located in Fremantle's heritage town centre, within walking distance of the E Shed and B Shed markets and the Fremantle Arts Centre precinct. It is easily reached on the Fremantle train line and by local bus routes, and public parking is available nearby.

• Address: 8 Holdsworth Street, Fremantle WA 6160
• Phone: (08) 9431 0300
• Registry hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm
• Jurisdiction served: Fremantle, Cockburn, Melville, Kwinana, and the southern coastal metropolitan corridor
• Accessibility: wheelchair access is available; contact the registry in advance if you need assistance or an interpreter

If your matter relates to a neighbouring catchment, you may find the relevant schedule at the nearby Rockingham Magistrates Court list, which serves the southern coastal communities further down the corridor. For central Perth matters, the Perth Magistrates Court listings at the Central Law Courts cover the metropolitan CBD.

Preparing for your appearance at Fremantle

A little preparation makes a court day far less stressful. Confirm the date, time, and courtroom on your notice against the published list, and give yourself time to pass through the building and find the right room.

1. Check your listing on the eCourts Portal or through this page on the morning of your hearing.
2. Arrive early, dress neatly, and bring any paperwork, evidence, or correspondence relating to your matter.
3. Stand when the magistrate enters or leaves the courtroom, and address the magistrate respectfully.
4. Bring a support person if you wish; support persons are permitted in the courtroom.
5. Arrange an interpreter in advance through the registry if you need one, rather than on the day.
6. Note that food and drinks are not permitted in courtrooms and that waiting times can be lengthy.

If you are unsure whether your matter is at Fremantle or another registry, or you want to scan across the state, the Western Australia court lists hub lets you move between metropolitan and regional courts in one place.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my Fremantle Magistrates Court list today?

Search this page or the eCourts Portal by your name or matter number to confirm your courtroom and hearing time. Listings are updated each business day, and it is best to check on the morning of your appearance in case a matter has moved.

What is the maximum civil claim the Fremantle Magistrates Court can hear?

The Magistrates Court hears civil claims for debt and damages up to $75,000. Claims between $75,001 and $750,000 fall within the District Court's jurisdiction, and larger disputes are dealt with in the Supreme Court.

Does Fremantle Courthouse handle restraining orders?

Yes. Family violence restraining orders and violence restraining orders made under the Restraining Orders Act 1997 (WA) are heard at Fremantle, alongside criminal, traffic, and civil matters.

Is Fremantle Courthouse both a Magistrates and District Court registry?

Yes. The Holdsworth Street courthouse operates as a combined registry, so committal matters and District Court proceedings for the southern metropolitan region can also be dealt with there.

Can I bring a support person or an interpreter?

Support persons are welcome in the courtroom. Interpreters are available but should be arranged with the registry before your court date rather than requested on the day.