🔍

Merlwood

QLD 4605 • Rest of Queensland

104
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
23.20 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralAgriculturalPeacefulAffordable
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About Merlwood

Merlwood is a small rural locality in the South Burnett Region of Queensland, approximately 186 kilometres north-west of Brisbane. With a population of 104 at the 2021 Census across 23.2 square kilometres, it is a quiet farming community within the South Burnett Regional Council area. The postcode area has a median taxable income of $44,404 reflective of the region's agricultural economy based on cattle, peanuts, and grain crops.

The locality sits between the service towns of Murgon, approximately 15 kilometres to the north, and Wondai, around 14 kilometres to the south-east, both of which provide essential shopping, healthcare, and community facilities. Merlwood has a history of small-scale farming and once supported its own state school, which operated from 1910 to 1967. The surrounding South Burnett region is known for its peanut and navy bean farming, cattle grazing, and the growing wine and olive industries, with the larger centre of Kingaroy about 48 kilometres to the south-east.

Merlwood falls under postcode 4605 and is governed by the South Burnett Regional Council Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Flynn, while state elections fall under the Nanango electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4605
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
South Burnett Regional Council
Federal Electorate
Flynn
State Electorate
Nanango
Type
Locality
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-26.11°, 151.87°
Statistical Area
Rest of Queensland
Area
23.20 km²
Population Density
4 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 4605

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 4605, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$36,441
Median 2023–24
$44,404
▲ 21.9% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$49,298

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 4605; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Pursers Coaches / Graham House community transport — Murgon, Kingaroy 15-20 min to Murgon

Commute to Brisbane CBD

Distance
186 km
By Train
No direct train service; nearest rail connections via the South Burnett region are limited
By Car (Peak)
2.5-3 hours
By Car (Off-Peak)
2-2.5 hours

🛣️ Murgon (15 km north) and Wondai (14 km south-east) are the nearest service towns; Kingaroy (~48 km) is the largest centre in the South Burnett

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

No shops or services within the locality; a car is essential for all daily errands

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
104
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
1,039.6 / 100k
2yr Down 10.4% 10yr Up 78.5%
Motor vehicle theft
477.2 / 100k
2yr Up 12.8% 10yr Up 320.8%
Non-FV assault
985.6 / 100k
2yr Down 13.8% 10yr Up 133.0%
Robbery (unarmed)
17 / 100k
2yr Down 46.9% 10yr Up 456.0%
Steal from vehicle
383.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 86.7%
View all offence categories for South Burnett Regional Council →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Merlwood known for? +

Merlwood is a quiet farming locality in the South Burnett known for its pastoral character and open farmland. The area has a long agricultural history, with the former Merlwood State School operating from 1910 to 1967 reflecting its once-larger farming community.

How far is Merlwood from Brisbane? +

Merlwood is approximately 186 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, about a 2 to 2.5 hour drive. The nearest service towns are Murgon (15 km) and Wondai (14 km).

Does Merlwood have public transport? +

Merlwood has very limited public transport. Pursers Coaches and Graham House community transport provide some services to Murgon and Kingaroy, but there is no passenger rail in the South Burnett region — the former rail line is now the South Burnett Rail Trail.

What is the population of Merlwood? +

According to the 2021 Census, Merlwood has a population of 104 residents across 23.2 square kilometres, reflecting its character as a small, close-knit rural community.

Is Merlwood a good place to live? +

Merlwood offers an affordable, peaceful rural lifestyle suited to those who enjoy farming, open space, and a strong sense of community. Essential services are available in nearby Murgon and Wondai, with Kingaroy providing larger shopping and healthcare facilities.

What is the postcode for Merlwood? +

The postcode for Merlwood is 4605, which it shares with other localities in the Murgon district of the South Burnett Region in Queensland.

Is Merlwood a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Merlwood is part of the South Burnett Regional Council 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.