Surat
QLD 4417 • Queensland
About Surat
Surat is a small historic town in the Maranoa region of south-western Queensland, situated on the banks of the Balonne River approximately 360 kilometres south-west of Brisbane. With a population of around 400 residents, it is one of Queensland's oldest inland towns, established in 1846 as a crossing point on the Balonne River and later becoming an important staging post for the pastoral industry. The town sits at the heart of rich grazing country and has retained much of its original nineteenth-century character.
Surat offers an authentic slice of outback Queensland life, with a pub, post office, school, and basic services catering to locals and the surrounding rural community. The Balonne River provides opportunities for fishing and bird watching, and the town is a popular rest stop for travellers on the Carnarvon Highway. The community is tight-knit and largely made up of farming families who have worked the surrounding properties for generations, giving Surat a genuine and unhurried country atmosphere.
Surat falls under postcode 4417 and is governed by the Maranoa Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Maranoa, while state elections fall under the Warrego electorate.
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Income
ATO taxable income Postcode 4417
Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 4417 for the 2023–24 financial year (2019–20 data not published for this postcode).
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 4417; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.
Transport & Commute
Commute to Brisbane CBD
🛣️ Vehicle essential. Nearest larger town is Roma (~100 km north), which has flights to Brisbane.
Small town centre is walkable; vehicle required for all other travel
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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55 Robert Street
Demographics
Population Growth
Gender Distribution (Census 2021)
Crime Statistics LGA-wide
These are the latest rates for the Maranoa Local Government Area, which contains Surat. Rates are per 100,000 residents for calendar year 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.