🔍

Charters Towers City

QLD 4820 • Rest of QLD

2,219
Population (2021)
$56,056
Median Household Income
2.88 km²
Area
$220/wk
Median Rent
HistoricRuralRetireesAffordable

About Charters Towers City

Charters Towers City is the urban centre of Charters Towers, a historic gold-rush town in North Queensland located 136 kilometres southwest of Townsville on the Flinders Highway. The suburb had a population of 2,219 at the 2021 Census and sits at an elevation of 316 metres, giving it a slightly cooler climate than the coastal tropics. The town boomed in the late 19th century as one of Queensland's richest goldfields, and its remarkably intact Victorian-era streetscapes have earned it heritage protection. Architecturally significant buildings like the Stock Exchange Arcade make Charters Towers a popular destination for history enthusiasts.

Today Charters Towers offers a blend of heritage charm and rural Queensland lifestyle, with a range of schools (including boarding facilities), medical services, and community organisations serving the wider Charters Towers Region. The town is home to several respected boarding schools that attract students from across North Queensland and beyond. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life typical of regional Queensland, with access to the Burdekin River, national parks, and vast outback landscapes. The local economy is driven by cattle grazing, mining, tourism, and education.

Charters Towers City falls under postcode 4820 and is governed by Charters Towers Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Traeger electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4820
Urban Area
Charters Towers
LGA / Council
Charters Towers
Federal Electorate
Kennedy
State Electorate
Traeger
Type
Urban
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-20.08°, 146.26°
Statistical Area
Rest of QLD
Area
2.88 km²
Elevation
316m

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$220
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,009
Avg Household Size
2.1 people
Median Age
41 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
5.6%

32 state housing + 16 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Greyhound coach — Townsville 2 hrs

Commute to Townsville CBD

Distance
136 km
By Train
Inlander train service to Townsville (approx. 2.5 hrs)
By Car (Peak)
90-100 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
90 min

🛣️ Flinders Highway connects to Townsville; Charters Towers Airport has limited regional services

Walkability Bikeable

Flat town centre is walkable/bikeable; major services concentrated in CBD area

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Charters Towers Local Government Area, which contains Charters Towers City. Rates are per 100,000 residents for calendar year 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
712.6 / 100k
2yr Down 38.9% 10yr Down 37.6%
Motor vehicle theft
265.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 14.5%
Non-FV assault
2,112.8 / 100k
2yr Down 13.4% 10yr Up 180.6%
Robbery (unarmed)
33.1 / 100k
2yr Up 298.1% 10yr Up 300.6%
Steal from vehicle
314.9 / 100k
2yr Up 22.0% 10yr Stable
View all offence categories for Charters Towers →

Source: Queensland Police Service via data.qld.gov.au

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,134
Census 2021
2,219
▲ 4.0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$24,960
Personal Income 2021
$31,252
▲ 25.2% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$31,252 / yr
$601/wk
Household
$56,056 / yr
$1078/wk
Family
$78,364 / yr
$1507/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,737
Born Overseas 172

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. New Zealand 33
  • 2. England 27
  • 3. Philippines 22
  • 4. India 12
  • 5. Vietnam 11
  • 6. United States 10
  • 7. South Africa 9
  • 8. Papua New Guinea 8
  • 9. Canada 6
  • 10. Sri Lanka 6

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 913
English 757
Irish 258
Australian Aboriginal 230
Scottish 214
German 91
Chinese 40
Italian 39
Filipino 23
Indian 22

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,525
Both parents born in Australia
205
Both parents born overseas
169
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
44.9%
No Religion
36.5%
Buddhism
1.0%
Hinduism
0.9%
Islam
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
93 (4.2%)
5-14 years
331 (14.9%)
15-19 years
166 (7.5%)
20-24 years
126 (5.7%)
25-34 years
225 (10.1%)
35-44 years
248 (11.2%)
45-54 years
273 (12.3%)
55-64 years
291 (13.1%)
65-74 years
248 (11.2%)
75-84 years
160 (7.2%)
85+ years
58 (2.6%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Charters Towers known for? +

Charters Towers is renowned for its remarkably preserved Victorian-era gold rush heritage, including the Stock Exchange Arcade. It boomed in the 1880s as one of Queensland's richest goldfields and is now heritage-listed.

How far is Charters Towers from Townsville? +

Charters Towers is approximately 136 kilometres southwest of Townsville, about a 90-minute drive along the Flinders Highway.

Are there boarding schools in Charters Towers? +

Yes, Charters Towers is well known for its boarding schools, including All Souls St Gabriels School and Blackheath and Thornburgh College, which attract students from across North Queensland and remote areas.

Is there a train service to Charters Towers? +

Yes, Queensland Rail's Inlander service connects Charters Towers with Townsville and Mount Isa, though services run only a few times per week.

What is the average income in Charters Towers City? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Charters Towers City is about $601 per week (around $31,300 per year). The median household income is $1,078 per week and the median family income is $1,507 per week.

What is the age profile of Charters Towers City? +

The median age in Charters Towers City is 41. The largest age group is 5–14 (331 residents, around 15%). Around 27% of residents are under 20 and about 21% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Charters Towers City a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Charters Towers City is part of the Charters Towers LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

What is the population of Charters Towers City? +

Charters Towers City had a population of 2,219 at the 2021 Census, up 4.0% from 2,134 in 2016.

How much is rent in Charters Towers City? +

In Charters Towers City, the median weekly rent is $220, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,009 (2021 Census).