🔍

Proserpine

QLD 4800 • Rest of QLD

3,614
Population (2021)
$61,100
Median Household Income
23.38 km²
Area
$260/wk
Median Rent
RuralTropicalGateway TownAgriculturalTourism Hub

About Proserpine

Proserpine is a town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, located approximately 1,071 km northwest of Brisbane. With a population of around 3,614 (2021 Census), it serves as the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. The town sits in the fertile Proserpine River valley surrounded by sugarcane fields, with a tropical climate averaging 28.9°C maximum temperatures and 1,468mm annual rainfall.

The town functions as a major service centre for the surrounding Whitsunday area, with shops, schools, and medical facilities along its main street. Proserpine is home to the Whitsunday Coast Airport and is a stop on the North Coast railway line. The annual Harvest Festival celebrates the region's sugar heritage, and the town offers an affordable base for those working in tourism and agriculture across the Whitsundays.

Proserpine falls under postcode 4800 and is governed by Whitsunday Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Whitsunday electorate.

📰 Featured In

📰 Queensland Suburbs with the Most Housing Commission

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4800
Urban Area
Proserpine - Whitsunday
LGA / Council
Whitsunday
Federal Electorate
Dawson
State Electorate
Whitsunday
Type
Urban
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-20.41°, 148.57°
Statistical Area
Rest of QLD
Area
23.38 km²
Elevation
9m

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$260
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,300
Avg Household Size
2.4 people
Median Age
42 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
9.1%

73 state housing + 52 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Proserpine
0.5 km
6 min

Bus Services

  • Whitsunday Transit — Airlie Beach / Cannonvale 30-40 min

Commute to Airlie Beach

Distance
25 km
By Bus
30-40 min
By Car (Peak)
25 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
20 min

🛣️ Regional town; Airlie Beach is the nearest major centre. Mackay is 126 km south.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Core town centre is walkable but most residents rely on cars for daily errands and commuting.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
564.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 14.5%
Motor vehicle theft
263.1 / 100k
2yr Up 17.4% 10yr Up 85.5%
Non-FV assault
1,583.7 / 100k
2yr Up 27.6% 10yr Up 218.0%
Robbery (unarmed)
23.9 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 65.2%
Steal from vehicle
287.1 / 100k
2yr Down 10.9% 10yr Down 33.5%
View all offence categories for Whitsunday →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
3,562
Census 2021
3,614
▲ 1.5% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$30,680
Personal Income 2021
$34,736
▲ 13.2% 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
$34,736 / yr
$668/wk
Household
$61,100 / yr
$1175/wk
Family
$83,824 / yr
$1612/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 3,018
Born Overseas 377

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. New Zealand 87
  • 2. England 86
  • 3. Philippines 31
  • 4. Netherlands 16
  • 5. Papua New Guinea 13
  • 6. South Africa 13
  • 7. Germany 12
  • 8. India 12
  • 9. Italy 12
  • 10. Thailand 11

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,625
Australian 1,463
Irish 402
Scottish 383
Australian Aboriginal 219
German 209
Italian 167
Dutch 52
New Zealander 50
Filipino 46

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,531
Both parents born in Australia
479
Both parents born overseas
375
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
52.6%
No Religion
39.3%
Buddhism
0.6%
Hinduism
0.2%
Islam
0.1%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
211 (5.8%)
5-14 years
494 (13.7%)
15-19 years
232 (6.4%)
20-24 years
176 (4.9%)
25-34 years
372 (10.3%)
35-44 years
401 (11.1%)
45-54 years
460 (12.7%)
55-64 years
444 (12.3%)
65-74 years
393 (10.9%)
75-84 years
298 (8.2%)
85+ years
128 (3.5%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Proserpine known for? +

Proserpine is a town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, located approximately 1,071 km northwest of Brisbane. With a population of around 3,614 (2021 Census), it serves as the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

How far is Proserpine from Brisbane CBD? +

Proserpine is approximately 25 km from Airlie Beach. By car, the journey takes around 20 min off-peak and 25 min during peak hours.

Does Proserpine have public transport? +

Proserpine is served by Proserpine (0.5 km away) on the North Coast line (Spirit of Queensland). Bus services also connect to Airlie Beach / Cannonvale. The commute to Brisbane CBD takes approximately 20 min by car.

What is the population of Proserpine? +

According to the 2021 Census, Proserpine has a population of approximately 3,614 residents. It is a mid-sized suburb within the Whitsunday (Regional Council).

Is Proserpine a good place to live? +

Proserpine suits those who value a quiet rural lifestyle with open spaces and natural surroundings. It is ideal for people seeking acreage, farming, or a secluded country retreat, with urban amenities accessible from nearby towns.

What is the postcode for Proserpine? +

The postcode for Proserpine, QLD is 4800.

What is the average income in Proserpine? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Proserpine is about $668 per week (around $34,700 per year). The median household income is $1,175 per week and the median family income is $1,612 per week.

What is the age profile of Proserpine? +

The median age in Proserpine is 42. The largest age group is 5–14 (494 residents, around 14%). Around 26% of residents are under 20 and about 23% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Proserpine a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Proserpine is part of the Whitsunday 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 Proserpine? +

In Proserpine, the median weekly rent is $260, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,300 (2021 Census).