WA Magistrates Court – Rockingham Courthouse List Today

The Rockingham Courthouse is one of the busiest regional registries in the Perth metropolitan south, serving a coastal community that has grown into one of Western Australia's largest local government areas. If you are searching for the Rockingham court list today, checking a hearing date, or trying to confirm which courtroom a matter has been allocated to, this page brings the daily listing together in one place so you do not have to move between multiple government portals. The court sits on Whitfield Street in central Rockingham and forms part of the wider Magistrates Court of Western Australia network, the tier of the state court system where the overwhelming majority of legal proceedings begin.

Rockingham is not a small catchment. The City of Rockingham recorded a usual resident population of 135,678 at the 2021 Census, spread across 54,905 dwellings with an average household size of 2.56. The local government area covers roughly 257 square kilometres of coastline and suburb, and independent forecasting prepared for the council projects continued growth through to 2046. A population of that size, expanding year on year, generates a steady flow of criminal, traffic, civil and restraining order matters, which is exactly why a dedicated courthouse operates locally rather than funnelling every case into central Perth.

What the Rockingham Magistrates Court Handles

The Magistrates Court of Western Australia is the entry point for almost every legal matter in the state and is the busiest court in WA by volume. All criminal proceedings against adults aged 18 and over begin at this level, and magistrates deal with the majority of criminal charges summarily, meaning minor offences are heard and determined without a jury. For serious indictable offences, the Rockingham court conducts the early committal stages before a matter is sent up to the District Court or Supreme Court in Perth.

The court operates across three broad streams. Understanding which stream your matter falls into helps you read the daily list correctly and arrive at the right courtroom.

Criminal and Traffic Matters

This is the largest category by a wide margin. It covers summary offences such as disorderly conduct, common assault, stealing, drug possession and driving offences, alongside the committal hearings for more serious charges. Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences are consistently the single most common principal offence type across the Western Australian court system, historically accounting for close to 39 per cent of all finalised defendants statewide. Illicit drug offences typically form the next largest band. Rockingham's list on any given sitting day reflects that same pattern, with a heavy weighting toward driving, licensing and minor criminal matters.

Civil Disputes

In its civil jurisdiction the Magistrates Court hears claims for debt and damages up to $75,000. A less formal Minor Cases Procedure handles disputes valued at $10,000 or below, which is designed so that self-represented parties can resolve smaller claims without the cost and complexity of full civil litigation. Western Australia's civil limit is deliberately lower than several other states, reflecting a policy of directing higher-value claims to the District Court.

Restraining Orders and Protective Matters

The Rockingham registry also deals with applications for family violence restraining orders, violence restraining orders and misconduct restraining orders. These protective matters are often listed separately within the daily list, and applicants and respondents should check carefully which courtroom and time their matter has been allocated.

Rockingham Court Listings Today

The daily court list published on this page shows the matters scheduled to be heard at the Rockingham Courthouse, organised by courtroom and by the party's name, which is partially masked to protect privacy in line with standard practice for published listings. Reviewing the list before you attend saves time, confirms whether your matter is proceeding, and tells you where in the building to go. Court lists are generated from official sources and updated regularly, though allocations can change at short notice. If anything is unclear, the registry remains the definitive point of confirmation.

To make sense of a daily list, keep a few practical points in mind:

• Find your name or matter number first. Listings are usually grouped by courtroom, then ordered within each court, so scan for your name rather than reading top to bottom.
• Note the listed time as a guide, not a guarantee. Matters frequently run earlier or later than scheduled depending on how the day unfolds.
• Check the matter type. A mention, a hearing, a trial and a sentencing all appear on the same list but involve very different levels of preparation.
• Arrive early. Allow time for security screening and for finding the correct courtroom before your matter is called.

For anyone who regularly follows hearings across the state, our consolidated WA court lists bring together every Magistrates, District and Supreme Court sitting in one searchable place, which is useful when a matter moves between Rockingham and a Perth registry.

Court Location, Contact and Registry Hours

The Rockingham Courthouse is located on Whitfield Street, Rockingham WA 6168, in the central part of the suburb close to local government offices and the commercial centre. The registry can be contacted by telephone on (08) 9599 5100. Standard registry counter hours across Western Australian Magistrates Court locations run 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and the Rockingham registry follows the same weekday schedule. The court is closed on weekends and public holidays.

The courthouse is accessible by car with public parking available nearby, and it is reachable by public transport through Rockingham's train and bus connections. Wheelchair access and accessibility support are provided; anyone who needs additional assistance to attend a hearing should contact the registry in advance so arrangements can be made.

Getting to the Courthouse

Rockingham sits about 47 kilometres south of the Perth central business district. The Mandurah rail line connects the area to the wider metropolitan network, and local bus routes service the town centre where the courthouse is located. If you are driving from a neighbouring suburb such as Baldivis, Waikiki, Safety Bay or Warnbro, allow extra time during morning peak periods, as court matters are typically listed to begin from 9:00 am or 10:00 am and latecomers risk having their matter dealt with in their absence.

Where Rockingham Sits in the WA Court System

Western Australia operates the most geographically dispersed court system in the country, covering roughly 2.5 million square kilometres, from the metropolitan courts of Perth to remote circuit courts in the Kimberley, the Pilbara and the Goldfields. Within that structure, the Magistrates Court is the foundation. Case volumes have been climbing sharply: criminal case lodgements in the Magistrates Court of Western Australia reached 104,002 in 2024 to 2025, up from 93,180 the year before, an increase of close to 12 per cent in a single year.

Historically, the Magistrates Courts finalise around 92 per cent of all criminal defendants in the state, with the Children's Court and the higher courts handling the remainder. That concentration explains why local registries like Rockingham carry such a heavy caseload and why timely, accurate listings matter so much to the people who rely on them. When a matter is too serious to be finalised summarily, it is committed upward; you can follow those more serious proceedings through our WA District Court listings, which cover indictable trials and appeals from the Magistrates Court.

Rockingham is one of a cluster of southern and coastal metropolitan registries. Nearby courthouses handle overlapping catchments, and matters are sometimes transferred between them depending on where a charge originates or where parties reside. If your matter is connected to a neighbouring registry, our Mandurah Magistrates Court and Fremantle Magistrates Court listings cover the two closest alternative locations along the same coastal corridor.

Preparing to Attend the Rockingham Courthouse

Whether you are a defendant, a witness, a support person or a member of the public, a little preparation makes the day run more smoothly. Courtrooms operate under formal rules of conduct that apply to everyone present.

• Stand when the magistrate enters or leaves the courtroom, and remain quiet while proceedings are underway.
• Food and drink are not permitted inside courtrooms, and mobile phones should be switched off or silenced.
• Bring any documents, notices or correspondence relating to your matter, along with photo identification.
• You are entitled to bring a support person, and if you are unsure where to go, registry and court staff can direct you.
• If you cannot attend on your listed date, contact the registry as early as possible rather than simply not appearing, because failing to appear can have serious consequences including a warrant being issued.

Anyone who is unsure of their rights or the likely outcome of a matter should consider obtaining legal advice before the hearing date. Duty lawyers are sometimes available at the courthouse for people who qualify, and community legal services and Legal Aid WA can provide guidance for those who are eligible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Rockingham Magistrates Court located?

The Rockingham Courthouse is on Whitfield Street, Rockingham WA 6168, in the central part of the suburb near the local government and commercial precinct. It is accessible by car with nearby public parking, and by public transport via Rockingham's train and bus services.

What are the registry hours?

The registry counter is generally open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, in line with standard Magistrates Court of Western Australia hours. The court is closed on weekends and public holidays. Contact the registry on (08) 9599 5100 for matter-specific queries.

What kinds of cases are heard at Rockingham?

The court hears criminal and traffic matters, civil disputes up to $75,000, minor civil claims up to $10,000, and protective matters such as restraining orders. Serious indictable charges begin here through committal proceedings before being sent to the District or Supreme Court.

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

Check the daily court list on this page, which shows scheduled matters by courtroom with names partially masked for privacy. Because allocations can change, confirm anything unclear directly with the registry before you attend.

What should I do if I cannot attend on my court date?

Contact the Rockingham registry as soon as possible. Failing to appear without notice can lead to your matter being dealt with in your absence or a warrant being issued, so early communication is always the safer option.

Does the Rockingham Courthouse hear serious criminal trials?

Most serious indictable matters are only started at Rockingham and then committed to the District Court or Supreme Court in Perth for trial. The Magistrates Court finalises summary offences and the early stages of more serious charges.