🔍

Cowley Creek

QLD 4871 • Queensland

3
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
7.74 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralTropicalCoastalAgriculturalRainforest
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About Cowley Creek

Cowley Creek is a small rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region of Far North Queensland, situated approximately 113 km south of Cairns and 25 km south of Innisfail. The area covers around 7.7 km² of lush tropical lowlands near the coast, characterised by sugarcane farms and remnant rainforest typical of the wet tropics zone. The 2021 census recorded a negligible population, with the locality being predominantly agricultural land rather than a residential community. It lies close to the town of Cowley and the broader Innisfail agricultural district.

The Cowley Creek locality is set within the UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area, offering stunning natural surroundings and exceptional biodiversity. The nearby Cowley Beach and the Moresby Range National Park provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, and rainforest walks for those based in the area. Innisfail, the closest service centre, provides shopping, schools, healthcare, and transport connections along the Bruce Highway. Sugarcane farming has long dominated the regional economy, giving the landscape its patchwork of green fields framed by the rainforest-clad ranges.

Cowley Creek falls under postcode 4871 and is governed by the Cairns Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Leichhardt, while state elections fall under the Traeger electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4871
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Cairns
Federal Electorate
Leichhardt
State Electorate
Traeger
Type
Locality
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-16.93°, 145.99°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
7.74 km²
Population Density
0 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 4871

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 4871, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$38,070
Median 2023–24
$46,529
▲ 22.2% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$57,771

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 4871; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Innisfail Railway Station
26 km
N/A – drive only

Bus Services

  • Innisfail local services — Innisfail township ~30 min

Commute to Cairns CBD

Distance
113 km
By Train
~2 hr from Innisfail (Spirit of Queensland)
By Bus
~2 hr via Trans North bus from Innisfail
By Car (Peak)
~1 hr 15 min via Bruce Highway
By Car (Off-Peak)
~1 hr 10 min

🛣️ No public transport serving Cowley Creek directly; residents rely on private vehicles to reach Innisfail for services and onward connections to Cairns.

Walkability Car Dependent

Rural locality with no footpaths or urban services; car essential for all daily needs.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
3
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
2,489.3 / 100k
2yr Down 18.8% 10yr Up 19.6%
Motor vehicle theft
602.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 51.9%
Non-FV assault
2,214 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 207.8%
Robbery (unarmed)
53.6 / 100k
2yr Down 36.0% 10yr Up 49.4%
Steal from vehicle
529.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 39.5%
View all offence categories for Cairns →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cowley Creek known for? +

Cowley Creek is set within the UNESCO Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area, offering extraordinary biodiversity and rainforest surroundings. The nearby Cowley Beach and cane farming areas characterise the local rural character.

How far is Cowley Creek from Cairns? +

Cowley Creek is approximately 113 kilometres south of Cairns in the Cassowary Coast Region, about a 90-minute drive via the Bruce Highway.

Does Cowley Creek have public transport? +

There is no public transport serving Cowley Creek. Innisfail, about 25 kilometres to the north, is the nearest town for services and is accessible by private vehicle.

What is the population of Cowley Creek? +

The 2021 Census recorded just 3 residents in Cowley Creek, making it one of the smallest localities in Far North Queensland's Cassowary Coast Region.

Is Cowley Creek a good place to live? +

Cowley Creek is suited only to those engaged in agricultural or conservation work in this remote tropical setting. Its World Heritage rainforest surroundings are exceptional, but there are no local services or residential infrastructure.

What is the postcode for Cowley Creek? +

The postcode for Cowley Creek is 4871, covering the Cassowary Coast area south of Cairns in Far North Queensland.

Is Cowley Creek a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Cowley Creek is part of the Cairns 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.