🔍

Palm Island

QLD 4816 • Rest of QLD

2,138
Population (2021)
$50,596
Median Household Income
88.85 km²
Area
$125/wk
Median Rent
Indigenous CommunityRemote IslandCultural HeritageReef AccessTropical

About Palm Island

Palm Island (Bwgcolman) is a remote Indigenous community in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, located 65 kilometres northwest of Townsville. Home to around 2,100 residents, approximately 90% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The community represents descendants of over 40 different clan groups who were forcibly relocated to the island from across Queensland from 1918 onwards.

The island offers a unique and culturally rich lifestyle, with stunning beaches, swimming holes like Palm Valley, and views across to surrounding islands in the Palm Island group. The community has schools, a hospital, sports facilities including a proud football club, and churches. Access is exclusively by SeaLink ferry from Townsville (1 hour 45 minutes) or small aircraft. The Indigenous Knowledge Centre preserves and celebrates the community's diverse cultural heritage.

Palm Island falls under postcode 4816 and is governed by Hinchinbrook Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Townsville electorate.

📰 Featured In

📰 Queensland Suburbs with the Most Housing Commission

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4816
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Hinchinbrook
Federal Electorate
Herbert
State Electorate
Townsville
Type
Rural
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-18.69°, 146.59°
Statistical Area
Rest of QLD
Area
88.85 km²
Elevation
213m

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$125
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,167
Avg Household Size
3.7 people
Median Age
27 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
87.7%

420 state housing + 13 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Commute to Townsville

Distance
65 km

🛣️ Island community accessible only by SeaLink ferry (1hr 45min, 6 days/week except Tuesday) or small aircraft from Townsville.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Small island community where most daily amenities are within walking distance. Roads limited to western side of island.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
553.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 29.5%
Motor vehicle theft
267.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 46.8%
Non-FV assault
2,052.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 378.9%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr Down 100.0%
Steal from vehicle
214.1 / 100k
2yr Up 25.3% 10yr Down 38.2%
View all offence categories for Hinchinbrook →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,455
Census 2021
2,138
▼ 12.9% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$15,912
Personal Income 2021
$19,968
▲ 25.5% 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
$19,968 / yr
$384/wk
Household
$50,596 / yr
$973/wk
Family
$46,696 / yr
$898/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,978
Born Overseas 44

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 8
  • 2. New Zealand 6
  • 3. United States 5
  • 4. Philippines 4
  • 5. Fiji 3

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian Aboriginal 1,877
Australian 120
English 95
Irish 15
Chinese 11
Italian 8
Scottish 8
German 6
Maori 5
Filipino 4

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,939
Both parents born in Australia
45
Both parents born overseas
26
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
75.1%
No Religion
16.8%
Islam
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
212 (9.9%)
5-14 years
444 (20.8%)
15-19 years
158 (7.4%)
20-24 years
185 (8.7%)
25-34 years
329 (15.4%)
35-44 years
237 (11.1%)
45-54 years
247 (11.6%)
55-64 years
203 (9.5%)
65-74 years
96 (4.5%)
75-84 years
20 (0.9%)
85+ years
0 (0.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Palm Island known for? +

Palm Island, known by its Indigenous name Bwgcolman, is known as a significant Aboriginal community with a complex history as a former forced settlement. Today it is home to a vibrant community of Indigenous Australians maintaining cultural connections, with the island featuring beautiful tropical scenery within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

How far is Palm Island from Townsville? +

Palm Island is approximately 65 kilometres north of Townsville, accessible by SeaLink ferry (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, operating 6 days per week except Tuesday) or small aircraft from Townsville.

Does Palm Island have public transport? +

Palm Island is accessible only by ferry from Townsville (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes) or charter/light aircraft. There is no road connection to the mainland, and internal island transport is limited to cars and walking.

What is the population of Palm Island? +

According to the 2021 Census, Palm Island has a population of approximately 2,138 residents, predominantly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Is Palm Island a good place to live? +

Palm Island offers a culturally rich community lifestyle in a beautiful tropical island setting, but faces significant challenges with limited services, health and economic disadvantage, and geographic isolation. It is home primarily to those with cultural and family connections to the Bwgcolman community.

What is the postcode for Palm Island? +

The postcode for Palm Island, QLD is 4816.

What is the average income in Palm Island? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Palm Island is about $384 per week (around $20,000 per year). The median household income is $973 per week and the median family income is $898 per week.

What is the age profile of Palm Island? +

The median age in Palm Island is 27. The largest age group is 5–14 (444 residents, around 21%). Around 38% of residents are under 20 and about 5% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Palm Island a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Palm Island is part of the Hinchinbrook 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 Palm Island? +

In Palm Island, the median weekly rent is $125, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,167 (2021 Census).