🔍

Cloncurry

QLD 4824 • Rest of QLD

3,167
Population (2021)
$101,556
Median Household Income
8108.94 km²
Area
$240/wk
Median Rent
Outback TownMining HeritageRemote CommunityCountry Living

About Cloncurry

Cloncurry is a historic outback town in far northwest Queensland, known locally as "The Curry" and celebrated as the Friendly Heart of the Great North West. With a population of around 3,200, this remote community sits 770 kilometres west of Townsville at the junction of major highways serving the region. Founded during the 1867 copper rush, Cloncurry has strong mining heritage and serves as the birthplace town of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Life in Cloncurry revolves around mining, cattle grazing, and tight-knit community bonds. The town punches above its weight in services, with good schools, healthcare facilities, and recreational amenities including the Chinaman Creek Dam. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, but residents embrace the outback lifestyle and genuine country hospitality. Cloncurry attracts mining workers, pastoral families, and those seeking authentic Australian outback living with surprising community facilities.

Cloncurry falls under postcode 4824 and is governed by Cloncurry Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Traeger electorate.

📰 Featured In

📰 Queensland Suburbs with the Most Housing Commission

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4824
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Cloncurry
Federal Electorate
Kennedy
State Electorate
Traeger
Type
Rural
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-20.51°, 140.40°
Statistical Area
Rest of QLD
Area
8108.94 km²
Elevation
177m

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$240
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,200
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
34 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
10.7%

72 state housing + 29 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Greyhound Australia — Mount Isa, Townsville, Brisbane 2h to Mount Isa, 10h to Townsville

Commute to Mount Isa (nearest regional centre)

Distance
121 km
By Train
No passenger rail service
By Bus
2h by coach
By Car (Peak)
1h 20min
By Car (Off-Peak)
1h 20min

🛣️ Most residents work locally or fly-in-fly-out to mine sites. Cloncurry Airport has regular flights.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Small town centre walkable but car essential for daily life

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Woolworths
    34 Scarr Street Cloncurry 4824 QLD

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
613.1 / 100k
2yr Down 21.3% 10yr Down 43.6%
Motor vehicle theft
511 / 100k
2yr Up 227.9% 10yr Up 432.2%
Non-FV assault
3,755.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 172.9%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr Down 100.0% 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
383.2 / 100k
2yr Up 22.9% 10yr Down 14.5%
View all offence categories for Cloncurry →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,719
Census 2021
3,167
▲ 16.5% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$54,288
Personal Income 2021
$64,792
▲ 19.3% 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
$64,792 / yr
$1246/wk
Household
$101,556 / yr
$1953/wk
Family
$123,760 / yr
$2380/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,381
Born Overseas 281

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. New Zealand 66
  • 2. England 40
  • 3. Philippines 27
  • 4. India 18
  • 5. China 15
  • 6. Sri Lanka 12
  • 7. Ireland 11
  • 8. South Africa 11
  • 9. Papua New Guinea 10
  • 10. Scotland 8

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 1,108
English 976
Australian Aboriginal 701
Irish 318
Scottish 236
German 120
Chinese 67
Italian 53
Maori 33
Filipino 32

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,122
Both parents born in Australia
337
Both parents born overseas
215
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
46.4%
No Religion
35.1%
Buddhism
0.7%
Hinduism
0.5%
Sikhism
0.2%
Islam
0.1%
Judaism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
247 (7.8%)
5-14 years
383 (12.1%)
15-19 years
154 (4.9%)
20-24 years
238 (7.5%)
25-34 years
569 (18.0%)
35-44 years
489 (15.4%)
45-54 years
374 (11.8%)
55-64 years
394 (12.4%)
65-74 years
219 (6.9%)
75-84 years
83 (2.6%)
85+ years
19 (0.6%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cloncurry known for? +

Cloncurry is known as the birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, with the first RFDS flight departing from here in 1928. The town has a rich copper and gold mining heritage and is one of Queensland's hottest outback towns on record.

How far is Cloncurry from Mount Isa? +

Cloncurry is approximately 120 kilometres east of Mount Isa via the Flinders Highway, a drive of about an hour.

Does Cloncurry have public transport? +

Cloncurry is served by Greyhound coach services between Mount Isa and Townsville, and the Inlander train service links to Townsville. Day-to-day local travel requires a private vehicle.

What is the population of Cloncurry? +

The 2021 Census recorded approximately 3,167 residents in Cloncurry, making it a significant outback service centre in the Cloncurry Shire of far north-west Queensland.

Is Cloncurry a good place to live? +

Cloncurry suits those working in mining, cattle grazing, or the resource sector who embrace outback community life. The town has good schools, healthcare, and recreational facilities, plus a strong community character that belies its remote location.

What is the postcode for Cloncurry? +

The postcode for Cloncurry is 4824, covering the Cloncurry Shire area of far north-west Queensland.

What is the average income in Cloncurry? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Cloncurry is about $1,246 per week (around $64,800 per year). The median household income is $1,953 per week and the median family income is $2,380 per week.

What is the age profile of Cloncurry? +

The median age in Cloncurry is 34. The largest age group is 25–34 (569 residents, around 18%). Around 25% of residents are under 20 and about 10% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Cloncurry a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Cloncurry is part of the Cloncurry 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.

How much is rent in Cloncurry? +

In Cloncurry, the median weekly rent is $240, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,200 (2021 Census).