Former Catholic brother refused bail

A former Catholic brother extradited from New Zealand to Australia to face hundreds of child sexual abuse charges has been refused bail in a Sydney court.

Bernard McGrath, 66, is in Australia after a legal bid to block his extradition failed in New Zealand's highest court earlier this month.

On Wednesday, his matter was mentioned at Parramatta Local Court.

McGrath, who is a New Zealand citizen, didn't apply for bail which was formally refused, the NSW Department of Justice confirmed.

He is facing a total 252 charges, including 102 counts of indecent assaults on males.

The allegations date back to the 1970s and 1980s.

Detectives started extradition proceedings in November 2011.

The matter will return to Parramatta Local Court on December 29.