🔍

Pentland

QLD 4816 • Queensland

248
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
15093.50 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralOutbackRemoteAgriculturalHistoric
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About Pentland

Pentland is a small outback locality in the Charters Towers Region of Queensland, situated on the Flinders Highway (Overlanders Way) approximately 107 kilometres west of Charters Towers and 140 kilometres east of Hughenden. With a population of 248, it serves as a modest service point for the surrounding pastoral district and through-travellers making their way across inland Queensland. The Charters Towers Regional Council administers the area, and the locality spans an enormous 15,093 square kilometres of typical north Queensland cattle and grazing country.

Pentland has a history stretching back to the mid-1850s, when it grew as a rail and communication junction during the gold rush era, later sustained by timber, cattle, sawmill, and meatworks industries. Today it retains a quiet, self-sufficient outback character with basic amenities serving the local farming community. The nearby Campaspe River adds a small riparian feature to the otherwise open, arid landscape, and the town is a useful rest stop for travellers exploring the outback highway between Townsville and Mount Isa.

Pentland falls under postcode 4816 and is governed by the Charters Towers Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Kennedy, while state elections fall under the Traeger electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4816
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Charters Towers
Federal Electorate
Kennedy
State Electorate
Traeger
Type
Locality
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-19.79°, 146.79°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
15093.50 km²
Population Density
0 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 4816

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 4816, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$46,949
Median 2023–24
$58,280
▲ 24.1% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$68,992

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 4816; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Greyhound intercity coaches — Townsville / Mount Isa (Flinders Highway) Townsville approx 2.5 hr, Mount Isa approx 5 hr

Commute to Townsville CBD

Distance
280 km
By Train
No direct train service
By Car (Peak)
2.5–3 hr
By Car (Off-Peak)
2.5 hr

🛣️ On the Flinders Highway; car is essential in this remote outback locality

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Pentland is a remote outback town with very limited local services; a car is essential for virtually all daily needs

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
248
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Charters Towers Local Government Area, which contains Pentland. 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

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Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pentland known for? +

Pentland is known for its outback heritage as a historic rail and communication junction during Queensland's gold rush era, and today as a service point for the surrounding cattle and grazing country along the Overlanders Way.

How far is Pentland from Townsville? +

Pentland is approximately 280 kilometres west of Townsville, making it roughly a 2.5 to 3 hour drive along the Flinders Highway.

Does Pentland have public transport? +

There is no rail service to Pentland. Intercity Greyhound coaches travelling the Flinders Highway between Townsville and Mount Isa pass through the town, but a car is the most practical way to get around this remote locality.

What is the population of Pentland? +

According to the 2021 Census, Pentland has a population of 248 residents, reflecting its character as a small, dispersed outback locality in far north Queensland.

Is Pentland a good place to live? +

Pentland suits those who value wide open spaces, a tight-knit outback community, and a self-reliant lifestyle. It is very remote, with limited amenities, and best suited to those connected to the pastoral industry or seeking a quiet rural existence well away from city life.

What is the postcode for Pentland? +

The postcode for Pentland, Queensland is 4816.

Is Pentland a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Pentland 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.