WA Magistrates Court – Manjimup Courthouse List Today

The Manjimup Magistrates Court is the primary lower court serving the timber and truffle country of Western Australia's South West, sitting at Mount Street in the town centre on the corner of Rose and Mount Streets, directly beside the Manjimup Police Station. As the busiest court venue for the Warren-Blackwood district, it handles the daily criminal and civil matters generated across a shire that spans more than 7,027 square kilometres, making the Shire of Manjimup the largest local government area in the South West region. If you are trying to confirm whether a matter is being heard today, the fastest path is to check the published Manjimup court list rather than phoning the registry, because listings are updated each sitting day and confirm the courtroom, the presiding magistrate and the scheduled start time.

Manjimup sits roughly 293 kilometres south of Perth and around 131 kilometres south-east of Bunbury, which means most people appearing here travel a considerable distance to attend. That geography is exactly why an accurate, up to date listing matters so much in this catchment. A wasted trip to a regional courthouse can cost a full day of driving along the South Western and Vasse Highways, so checking the schedule before you leave home is not a convenience, it is a practical necessity for defendants, witnesses, family members and legal practitioners alike.

What the Manjimup Magistrates Court deals with

The Magistrates Court of Western Australia was created in May 2005, when the former Local Courts, Courts of Petty Sessions and Small Claims Courts were amalgamated into a single first-tier court. This was the most significant reform of the Western Australian lower court system in more than 100 years, following recommendations from the Law Reform Commission. The court now operates under the Magistrates Court Act 2004 (WA) and the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (WA), and the Manjimup registry is one of many managed directly by the Department of Justice.

At Manjimup, a magistrate hears both criminal and civil business. On the criminal side, the court manages summary offences, bail applications, the first appearances for more serious indictable matters, and the committal steps that decide whether a charge is referred up to the District Court or the Supreme Court of Western Australia. On the civil side, the court deals with monetary disputes, minor cases and applications under a range of statutes. The court also handles matters under the Restraining Orders Act 1997 (WA), including violence restraining orders and misconduct restraining orders, as well as applications under the dividing fences legislation and extraordinary driver's licence applications.

Criminal matters heard at Manjimup

• First appearances and mentions for people charged by WA Police in the Manjimup district
• Summary offences such as traffic charges, disorderly conduct, and low-level property and drug offences
• Bail applications and adjournment requests
• Sentencing for guilty pleas and matters proven after a hearing
• Committal mentions for indictable charges that will proceed to a higher court

Civil and restraining order matters

• Debt recovery and contractual disputes within the court's civil monetary jurisdiction
• Minor case claims, which offer a simplified, lower-cost process
• Violence restraining orders and misconduct restraining orders
• Dividing fences disputes between neighbouring landowners
• Extraordinary driver's licence applications for people whose licences have been disqualified

Manjimup Courthouse location, contact and opening hours

The courthouse is centrally located and easy to find, sharing its corner with the local police station. Standard registry hours across Western Australian courts are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and it is worth remembering that many regional registries close over the lunch period, so arriving mid-morning or early afternoon is the safest way to be seen. The details below are drawn from the Department of Justice court locations directory.

• Address: Mount Street, Manjimup WA 6258
• Telephone: (08) 9771 1316
• Facsimile: (08) 9777 1252
• Email: manjimupcourt@justice.wa.gov.au
• Registry hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday

Because Manjimup is a circuit-style regional venue rather than a daily-sitting metropolitan court, the court does not necessarily sit every single day. Some matters may be scheduled for particular sitting dates, and occasionally a case will be listed at a neighbouring venue instead. This is one more reason to confirm your listing in advance rather than assuming the court is open on any given weekday.

How to check the Manjimup court list today

Finding your matter on the daily list is straightforward once you know what to look for. Each published list groups matters by courtroom and shows the party name, the scheduled time and the type of appearance. When you open the Manjimup listing, search for the surname of the person whose matter you are following, then confirm the courtroom and the listed time. If your name does not appear, the matter may have been adjourned, transferred, or listed on a different sitting date, and the registry can confirm this by phone.

Reading a WA daily court list

• Party or defendant name: the person the matter concerns, usually listed by surname
• Time: the scheduled start, though regional lists often run on a block basis rather than exact appointments
• Courtroom: which room the matter is allocated to inside the courthouse
• Appearance type: mention, hearing, trial, sentence or bail application

Practitioners appearing from Bunbury, Busselton or Perth often check the list the evening before to plan their travel, and self-represented parties benefit from doing exactly the same. If you are unsure whether your matter is proceeding, calling the registry on (08) 9771 1316 during opening hours is the most reliable confirmation.

The Manjimup district the court serves

Understanding the community this court serves helps explain its workload and its regional importance. According to the 2021 Census, the town of Manjimup had a population of around 4,279, while the wider Shire of Manjimup recorded 9,093 residents. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up approximately 3.3 per cent of the shire's population, and the median age in the town is 42. The shire was gazetted in 1908 as the Warren Road District and became the Shire of Manjimup in 1961, while the town itself traces its European settlement to timber cutter Thomas Muir, who took up land near the present townsite in 1856.

The name Manjimup comes from the Noongar words "Manjin", a broad-leafed edible reed, and "up", meaning meeting place, and the district remains the traditional land of the Noongar people. Today the region is widely known as the timber capital of the South West and as a premium food-producing area famous for Pink Lady apples, black truffles, karri forest and cool-climate wineries. This blend of forestry, agriculture, tourism and a substantial dispersed rural population shapes the mix of matters that come before the local magistrate, from traffic and driving offences on long regional roads to civil disputes tied to farming and property.

Where Manjimup sits in the WA court hierarchy

The Magistrates Court is the entry point to the Western Australian court system, and it is an inferior court of record. Decisions and committals from Manjimup can move upward through the hierarchy: serious indictable matters are referred to the District Court of Western Australia, while the most serious offences and appeals are dealt with by the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The Magistrates Court statewide is led by the Chief Magistrate, with a Deputy Chief Magistrate supporting the leadership of the bench, and magistrates are appointed by the Governor with a mandatory retirement age of 70.

For people in the South West, the practical hierarchy also has a geographic dimension. District Court circuit sittings for the region are held at Bunbury and Busselton rather than at Manjimup, so a matter that starts with a first appearance at Manjimup may later require attendance at a larger regional centre. Knowing this in advance helps parties and their representatives plan for the possibility of travel to a higher court.

Nearby South West courthouses

Manjimup is part of a cluster of South West venues, and matters are sometimes heard at a neighbouring courthouse depending on scheduling and jurisdiction. The nearest major regional centre is Bunbury, and residents frequently cross-check the Bunbury court listings when a matter has been transferred or a District Court circuit sitting is involved. Smaller nearby venues include Collie and Margaret River, and it is worth reviewing the Collie court listings or the Margaret River courthouse list if you have been told your matter is being handled at one of those locations. For a complete overview of every venue across the state, the full directory of WA court listings lets you move between courthouses quickly.

Practical tips for attending Manjimup Magistrates Court

• Confirm the listing first. Because this is a regional venue that does not sit every day, always verify your matter is listed before travelling.
• Arrive early. Give yourself time to find parking, pass through the entrance and locate your courtroom, especially given registry lunch closures.
• Bring your documents. Carry any paperwork, bail notices, summons or correspondence relating to your matter.
• Dress respectfully. Neat, conservative clothing is expected in any Australian courtroom.
• Get advice if you can. Duty lawyer services and community legal centres in the South West can assist self-represented parties, particularly for criminal and restraining order matters.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Manjimup Magistrates Court located?

The court is at Mount Street, Manjimup WA 6258, on the corner of Rose and Mount Streets, next to the Manjimup Police Station. It is about a three-hour drive south of Perth via the South Western Highway.

What are the opening hours of the Manjimup court registry?

The registry follows the standard Western Australian court hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Be aware that many regional registries close over lunch, so plan your visit around the middle of the day.

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

Check the published Manjimup daily court list and search for the relevant surname, then confirm the courtroom and time. If your matter is not shown, phone the registry on (08) 9771 1316 to confirm whether it has been adjourned or transferred.

What types of cases does the Manjimup court hear?

The court hears summary criminal offences, first appearances and committals for indictable matters, bail applications, civil and minor case claims, restraining order applications, and extraordinary driver's licence applications.

Does the Manjimup court sit every weekday?

Not necessarily. As a regional venue, Manjimup sits on scheduled dates and some matters may be listed at nearby courthouses such as Bunbury. This is why confirming your listing in advance is strongly recommended.

What court do serious cases go to from Manjimup?

Serious indictable matters are referred to the District Court of Western Australia, with District Court circuit sittings for the region held at Bunbury and Busselton. The most serious offences and appeals are dealt with by the Supreme Court of Western Australia.