What is the District Court of New South Wales?

There is a very long history of the continuous operation of the district court. The gold rush in the 1850s in New South Wales lead to rapid growth in the Colony and population growth lead to ever increasing volumes of litigation and criminal work for courts to deal with. The supreme court did not have the resources to deal with the overflow of cases and it was decided that it was necessary to create a District Court to cope with increasing demand for dispute resolution services. This led to the District Court Act 1858 (22 Vic No 18) was assented to 12 November 1858.

The District Court of New South Wales is the court which sits in the middle of the system of court jurisdiction in the state of New South Wales. There are District Courts posted all around the state but the main one is found in Sydney on Goulburn Street Sydney in the same building as the dust diseases tribunal and the Federal Magistrates Court. The District Court of New South Wales has jurisdiction to hear most indictable offences (except murder and treason). It also hears appeals from the Local Court (in criminal matters) and civil claims up to AUD$750 000.

Although in some cases, the jurisdictional limit can be higher with the consent of the parties. This can sometimes be done in the in interests of saving costs. Some matters come before the court regardless of the amount of money which is at stake in the matter. These types of matters may be probate matters or unfair dismissals. The District Court also presides over a range of tribunals, including the Medical Tribunal. It is an intermediate trial court in the Australian court hierarchy but also hears appeals, in particular, criminal appeals from the magistracy.

Where can I get help with a District Court matter?

If you are currently involved in District Court litigation it will always be an assistance to your interests to obtain legal representation so that you can have a professional assisting you with the conduct of your claim. If you would like assistance with your District Court Matter, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact form to the right or you can find our contact page.