The Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, sub-sections 34(1) and (2) made provisions for the establishment of at least one Registry of the Court in each State, in the Australian Capital Territory and in the Northern Territory. The Governor-General was to designate one of the Registries as the Principal Registry, and all other Registries are to be District Registries in respect of such District as the Governor-General specifies.

The first Registrar of the Federal Court, Leslie Bernard Foley, was appointed on 1 February 1977. The establishment of the Principal Registry at Sydney, and the New South Wales District Registry, was notified on 2 February 1977 (Australian Government Gazette No. S.12).

It was announced that the Court would assume, in two Divisions [Industrial and General], the jurisdiction previously exercised by the Australian Industrial Court and the Bankruptcy Court.
Historical agency address
Level 16, Law Courts Building, Queens Square, Sydney NSW
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Acts No. 156 of 1976, Federal Court of Australia Act 1976