Downing Centre on track to reopen late 2025

Publication date: 7 October 2025

Following flood damage in June, remediation works at the Downing Centre are progressing as planned.

To ensure work is completed as soon as possible, construction on the site is now active up to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

While the building is closed to the public, additional upgrades are also underway to modernise internal public areas in the building. These upgrades will improve amenities for court users and environmental efficiencies when the building reopens.

As an iconic Sydney heritage building, the Downing Centre has served as a courthouse since 1985. This legacy will continue with the planned reopening of the Downing Centre in late 2025.

Responsive case management and jury arrangements

To facilitate timely access to justice for court users, matters previously listed at Downing Centre continue to be heard at alternative locations.

To provide certainty to people summoned for jury service, the jury assembly area has been relocated to Level 23, 175 Liverpool Street, Sydney for the duration of the closure.

Why is Downing Centre closed?

Downing Centre was closed on 17 June 2025 following flooding caused by a burst Sydney Water main under Castlereagh Street.

The flooding caused damage to the Downing Centre and an Ausgrid substation that powers it. With two critical pieces of electrical and mechanical infrastructure – an electrical transformer and switchboard – impacted by water during the incident.

The building will remain closed while these critical systems are replaced to ensure the building is safe and fully functional for reopening in late 2025.

Local Court

For upcoming matters listed at the Downing Centre, interim arrangements are in place for first return date matters and courtrooms have been sourced for hearings at other courthouses within the metropolitan area.

Arrangements for Downing Centre First Appearance Matters

For Legal Practitioner-specific information please see Local Court website

The Bail Division of the Local Court commenced operations on 7 July 2025 as planned and there should be no change to the anticipated operation of audio visual bail matters listed before that court.

For enquiries relating to criminal matters listed at Downing Centre, please email the Downing Centre Local Court (dclc@justice.nsw.gov.au). If further information is required in civil matters, please contact the Civil Registry at John Maddison Tower (sydneycivilregistry@justice.nsw.gov.au) for advice on the location or new date allocated for your matter.

District Court

People with matters scheduled in the Sydney District Court are advised to check the Online Court at https://onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au.

Criminal Trials

Please note that the closure of the Downing Centre does not affect jury service. If you have received a summons to attend jury duty, you are still required to attend. Please log on to the juror portal for further updates (https://www.juror.nsw.gov.au/home) and to check the address which you are required to attend.

Criminal list matters

District Court list matters that would have otherwise been listed in court room 3.1 of the Downing Centre will generally be heard at John Maddison Tower (JMT), 86-90 Goulburn St, Sydney in Court 21A. Other matters listed in the District Court will also be held in John Maddison Tower and other locations. Please check the online court or noticeboards on Level 1, JMT for further information. If you have any enquiries, please contact (ag-sdc-crime@dcj.nsw.gov.au) or check the Online Court website (https://onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au).

Civil matters

If further information is required in District Court civil matters email the Civil Registry (sydneycivilregistry@justice.nsw.gov.au) for information on the location, or new date allocated, for your matter.

Hearings and other listings in the Civil Jurisdiction will continue to be listed in John Maddison Tower unless the parties are notified of an alternative location.

Drug Court

People with matters scheduled in the Drug Court are advised to contact the registry by email at DrugCourtSydney@justice.nsw.gov.au or by phone on + 61 (02) 8688 4525 or contact your Community Corrections Officer.

Referrals to the Drug Court remain open with matters now being scheduled at Parramatta.

For all jurisdictions and court locations you may wish to contact the Court Service Centre on 1300 679 272 for information or advice (8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday).

Further updates will be provided as they become available.