🔍

Ranken

NT 4825 • Northern Territory

51
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
19843.46 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RemoteOutbackAgricultural

About Ranken

Ranken is a remote outback locality in the Northern Territory, situated in the Barkly Tablelands region approximately 250 kilometres north-west of Mount Isa (Queensland) and within the Barkly Regional Council. Covering an extraordinary 19,843 square kilometres of flat, semi-arid grassland and mulga country, it had a 2021 Census population of approximately 51 residents. The locality encompasses vast cattle station properties on the Barkly Tablelands, one of Australia's most important cattle-producing regions.

Tennant Creek is the nearest significant service town to the north, and Mount Isa (across the Queensland border) to the south-east, both providing the essential services that station workers and pastoralists rely on across the remote Barkly. The Barkly Highway passes through the region, connecting the Northern Territory to Queensland across some of Australia's most remote and iconic outback landscape. Ranken embodies the remote cattle station lifestyle of the NT's Barkly Tablelands, where vast distances and the rhythms of the pastoral calendar define daily life.

Ranken falls under postcode 4825 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Barkly electorate.

📍 Location

State
Northern Territory
Postcode
4825
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
N/A
Federal Electorate
Kennedy
State Electorate
Barkly
Type
Locality
Timezone
Darwin (UTC+9:30)
Coordinates
-20.01°, 137.39°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
19843.46 km²
Elevation
0m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • No regular bus service — Private vehicle or light aircraft required N/A

Commute to Mount Isa CBD (QLD)

Distance
250 km
By Train
No rail service; Greyhound coach on Barkly Highway
By Car (Peak)
2 hr 30 min - 3 hr 30 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
2 hr 30 min - 3 hr

🛣️ Barkly Highway provides the main access route; 4WD recommended on station tracks; Tennant Creek is approx. 300 km north

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Ranken is one of Australia's most remote localities; all travel requires a private vehicle or light aircraft over vast distances.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
51
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
N/A
Personal Income 2021
N/A
▲ 0% increase

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ranken known for? +

Ranken is known as a vast, remote cattle station locality on the Northern Territory's Barkly Tablelands — one of Australia's most important beef cattle producing regions, with station properties covering enormous areas of grassland.

How far is Ranken from the nearest service town? +

Ranken is approximately 250 kilometres from Mount Isa (QLD) and approximately 300 kilometres from Tennant Creek (NT), both accessible via the Barkly Highway, typically a 2.5 to 3.5 hour drive.

Does Ranken have public transport? +

There is no public transport in Ranken. The Greyhound coach travels the Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek, but station properties require private vehicles or light aircraft for local travel.

What is the population of Ranken? +

According to the 2021 Census, Ranken has a population of approximately 51 residents across its 19,843 square kilometre area, making it one of Australia's most sparsely populated localities.

Is Ranken a good place to live? +

Ranken suits those working in the Northern Territory's cattle station industry who thrive on remote outback life, with vast open spaces, stunning skies, and a proud pastoral heritage unlike anywhere else in Australia.

What is the postcode for Ranken? +

The postcode for Ranken, NT is 4825.