WA Supreme Court – David Malcolm Justice Centre List Today

The David Malcolm Justice Centre is the primary civil sitting venue for the Supreme Court of Western Australia, and the daily court list published on this page reflects every General Division civil matter scheduled at 28 Barrack Street, Perth. If you are trying to confirm a hearing time, a courtroom number, the presiding judicial officer, or whether a matter has been adjourned, the list is updated to mirror the official cause list so you can plan your day around accurate information. Civil trials, chamber applications, directions hearings, judge's case management conferences, and mediations all appear here, which makes the schedule an essential first stop for practitioners, litigants, witnesses, and members of the public attending in person.

What the David Malcolm Justice Centre Handles

The David Malcolm Justice Centre became the operational home of the Supreme Court's General Division in July 2016, when the Court relocated its civil work from two separate CBD buildings into a single purpose-fitted tower. The move consolidated civil hearings, the Central Office, the Probate Office, and mediation facilities under one roof, and it remains the venue for civil matters, single judge appeals, and document lodgement across both civil and criminal proceedings.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in Western Australia and carries unlimited civil jurisdiction across the state. In practice, the General Division hears civil claims that are complex in nature or that exceed the monetary threshold associated with the higher courts, along with commercial disputes, equity matters, probate and deceased estate applications, and appeals from bodies such as the State Administrative Tribunal. Criminal trials for the most serious offences are generally listed in the neighbouring District Court Building on Hay Street rather than at Barrack Street, so checking the venue on the list before you travel is always worthwhile.

Divisions of the Supreme Court

The Court is structured into two divisions, and understanding the split helps you read the daily list correctly:

• General Division: Deals with serious criminal matters, high-value and complex civil disputes, probate, and applications. Civil sittings for this division take place at the David Malcolm Justice Centre.
• Court of Appeal: Hears civil and criminal appeals from the General Division, the District Court, and the State Administrative Tribunal. The Court of Appeal sits at the original heritage Supreme Court Building at Stirling Gardens rather than in the Barrack Street tower.

Key Facts and Verified Statistics

The David Malcolm Justice Centre is one of the most significant pieces of public infrastructure in the Perth legal precinct, and the numbers behind it tell a striking story:

• The tower stands 149 metres tall across 33 storeys, making it one of the taller commercial buildings in the Perth CBD.
• Construction was completed in August 2015, with the fit-out following in two stages before the Court took occupancy.
• The building carries a construction value of approximately $280 million, and the associated government fit-out programme was described at the time as the largest ever undertaken by the state.
• The tower delivers around 37,500 square metres of floor space, with roughly 31,000 square metres of net lettable area.
• Five floors are dedicated to civil courtrooms, with the Supreme Courts (Civil) fit-out spanning Levels 2 to 16.
• The building achieved a 5 Star Green Star design rating and a 5 Star NABERS Energy rating, and it incorporated Perth's first tri-generation system alongside a grey water treatment plant.
• It was designed by Kerry Hill Architects together with Hassell and constructed by Mirvac.

The centre was officially named in March 2016 in honour of the late David Malcolm AC QC, who served as Chief Justice of Western Australia for 18 years and was one of the state's most respected legal figures. The judicial opening was marked by a ceremonial court sitting on 27 July 2016. Naming the building after Malcolm was intended to acknowledge both his contribution to the administration of justice and his broader community work.

Where the Supreme Court Sits

The Supreme Court of Western Australia operates across three linked locations, and the daily list will always specify which one applies to your matter:

• David Malcolm Justice Centre, 28 Barrack Street, Perth: Civil matters, mediations, the Central Office, and the Probate Office.
• Stirling Gardens (corner of Barrack Street and St Georges Terrace): The Court of Appeal and the Industrial Appeal Court.
• District Court Building, 500 Hay Street, Perth: Certain criminal trials.

Because civil and criminal work is spread across these sites, always confirm the venue and courtroom on the list rather than assuming a hearing is at Barrack Street. Circuit sittings for the Supreme Court also run in regional centres including Broome, South Hedland, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, and Albany, so a matter with a regional connection may be listed away from Perth entirely.

How to Read the Daily Court List

Each entry on the David Malcolm Justice Centre list is designed to give you everything you need to attend the right hearing at the right time. A typical listing sets out the case name and reference number, the matter type, the scheduled start time, the presiding judge or registrar, and the courtroom or hearing room. Reading these fields carefully saves wasted trips and helps you arrive prepared.

• Case title and number: Civil matters carry a CIV reference. Confirm the number matches your paperwork, as similarly named parties can appear on the same day.
• Matter type: Common descriptions include civil trial, civil application, directions, and judge's case management conference. Each signals a different kind of hearing and a different level of preparation.
• Time and location: Note both the start time and the room. Some matters are heard in open court while others are dealt with in chambers or in a dedicated hearing room.
• Presiding officer: The list identifies whether your matter is before a judge or a registrar, which affects the nature of the hearing.

Practical Information for Attending

The Supreme Court General Division Registry operates from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, and the Court's switchboard on (08) 9421 5333 is staffed from 8:00am to 5:00pm on business days. The Central Office and Probate Office are located within the tower and handle lodgement, deceased estate applications, and record keeping for the General Division. For urgent applications outside ordinary hours, parties can call the main number and ask to be connected to the on-call duty judge.

The David Malcolm Justice Centre sits in the heart of the Perth CBD, within walking distance of Elizabeth Quay Train Station and the Perth Busport, which makes public transport the most practical way to attend. Parking is not available at the Court itself, though several City of Perth parking stations operate nearby off Terrace Road and behind Council House. If you are attending a criminal matter, remember it may be listed at the District Court venue or the Hay Street building instead, so always verify before you leave home.

Why Court Lists Change Through the Day

Court lists are living documents. Matters settle, adjourn, run short, or run long, and the order in which cases are called can shift as the day progresses. A directions hearing scheduled for the morning may be stood down, and a trial may finish earlier or later than expected. For this reason, it is sensible to check the list on the day of your hearing and again shortly before you travel, particularly for shorter applications where timing can move. If your matter does not appear where you expect, contact the Central Office to confirm its status rather than assuming it has been removed.

Western Australian courts also operate under national timeliness benchmarks. Across the country's supreme courts, the target is that no more than 10 per cent of pending lodgements should be older than 12 months and none should exceed 24 months. These standards shape how civil matters are case managed, which is part of why directions hearings and case management conferences feature so heavily on the Barrack Street list. Efficient listing keeps matters moving toward resolution and helps the Court meet those benchmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the David Malcolm Justice Centre the same as the Supreme Court?

It is one of the Supreme Court's venues. The centre houses the General Division for civil matters, while the Court of Appeal sits at the original Supreme Court Building at Stirling Gardens and some criminal trials are heard at the District Court Building on Hay Street.

What kinds of matters are listed here?

The David Malcolm Justice Centre list covers civil trials, civil applications, directions hearings, case management conferences, and mediations across commercial, equity, property, and probate matters. Criminal trials are generally listed at other venues.

How often is the court list updated?

Listings reflect the official daily cause list and can change through the day as matters are adjourned, settled, or reordered. Check the list on the morning of your hearing and again before you travel.

Where do I lodge documents?

The Central Office is located within the David Malcolm Justice Centre and handles lodgement for civil, criminal, and single judge appeal matters, along with the Probate Office for deceased estate applications. The registry is open from 9:00am to 4:00pm on business days.

Can I attend a hearing as a member of the public?

Most civil hearings are open to the public. Some matters are heard in chambers or are subject to suppression, so check the list description and arrive early to confirm access with court staff.

Whether you are a legal practitioner managing a busy diary, a self-represented litigant preparing for a directions hearing, or a member of the public following a case, keeping the daily schedule close at hand is the simplest way to stay organised. For matters in other jurisdictions around the state, you can also browse the full range of Western Australia court lists to track hearings at venues from the Central Law Courts in Perth through to regional circuit sittings across the state.