Matters are heard before a single magistrate sitting without a jury, addressed as "Your Honour" or "Sir" (but no longer "Your worship").

[4] In 1788, following the landing of the First Fleet and establishment of the Colony of New South Wales, the power and authority of the first criminal and civil courts in the Colony of New South Wales were vested by the Charter of Justice.

[5][6] The first Court of Petty Session's courthouse was constructed in 1821 at Windsor, 56 kilometres (35 mi) northwest of Sydney.

The local court can deal with applications such as property settlements and residence orders.

The Coroner's Court is another division within the Local Court that investigates violent or unnatural deaths, suspicious fires and/or explosions, but it cannot make orders to punish offenders.