🔍

Toogoolawah

QLD 4313 • Greater Brisbane

1,200
Population (2021)
$50,284
Median Household Income
43.41 km²
Area
$260/wk
Median Rent
RuralHinterlandRetiree-HavenPeacefulAffordable

About Toogoolawah

Toogoolawah is a rural town in Queensland's Somerset Region, located approximately 106 kilometres north-west of Brisbane and 82 kilometres north of Ipswich, at an elevation of 97 metres in the scenic Brisbane Valley. Covering 43.4 square kilometres, it serves as a local service centre for the surrounding rural district under the Somerset Regional Council. With a population of 1,200 and a median age of 56, it is an established, largely older community with median weekly household income of $967.

The town offers a genuine country lifestyle, with farming, bushwalking, and the nearby Brisbane Valley Rail Trail — a popular long-distance cycling and walking trail following the old Esk branch railway corridor — providing outdoor recreation opportunities. Toogoolawah has local primary and secondary schooling, a small retail strip, and essential community services for day-to-day living. The area draws retirees and rural lifestyle seekers attracted by affordable property prices, wide open spaces, and the relaxed pace of Queensland's Somerset hinterland.

Toogoolawah falls under postcode 4313 and is governed by Somerset Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Nanango electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4313
Urban Area
Esk - Kilcoy
LGA / Council
Somerset
Federal Electorate
Blair
State Electorate
Nanango
Type
Urban
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-27.10°, 152.37°
Statistical Area
Greater Brisbane
Area
43.41 km²
Elevation
97m

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$260
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,127
Avg Household Size
2.2 people
Median Age
56 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
1.8%

5 state housing + 4 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Translink regional coach services — Ipswich / Brisbane Approx. 1.5-2 hours to Ipswich

Commute to Brisbane CBD

Distance
106 km
By Train
No direct train service; drive or coach to Ipswich, then rail to Brisbane
By Car (Peak)
1.5-2 hours
By Car (Off-Peak)
1.25-1.5 hours

🛣️ Car is essential. Ipswich is the nearest major urban centre with full services and rail to Brisbane.

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Toogoolawah is a small rural town where a car is essential for nearly all errands; only the most basic local services are accessible on foot.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
282.4 / 100k
2yr Down 32.6% 10yr Down 43.6%
Motor vehicle theft
226.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 67.7%
Non-FV assault
973.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 163.3%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr Down 100.0% 10yr Down 100.0%
Steal from vehicle
267.5 / 100k
2yr Down 28.4% 10yr Up 31.9%
View all offence categories for Somerset →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,279
Census 2021
1,200
▼ 6.2% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$23,296
Personal Income 2021
$26,052
▲ 11.8% 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
$26,052 / yr
$501/wk
Household
$50,284 / yr
$967/wk
Family
$63,960 / yr
$1230/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,035
Born Overseas 123

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 46
  • 2. New Zealand 23
  • 3. Philippines 13
  • 4. Netherlands 7
  • 5. Scotland 7
  • 6. South Africa 5
  • 7. Croatia 4
  • 8. Germany 4
  • 9. Italy 3
  • 10. Wales 3

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 553
English 519
Scottish 161
German 151
Irish 144
Australian Aboriginal 49
Filipino 16
Dutch 13
Italian 10
Maori 8

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

889
Both parents born in Australia
151
Both parents born overseas
127
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
56.9%
No Religion
36.4%
Buddhism
0.5%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
48 (4.0%)
5-14 years
113 (9.4%)
15-19 years
58 (4.8%)
20-24 years
40 (3.3%)
25-34 years
81 (6.8%)
35-44 years
108 (9.0%)
45-54 years
147 (12.3%)
55-64 years
171 (14.2%)
65-74 years
244 (20.3%)
75-84 years
154 (12.8%)
85+ years
48 (4.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Toogoolawah known for? +

Toogoolawah is known for its quiet rural character in Queensland's Somerset Region and its proximity to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, a popular cycling and walking route following the old Esk branch railway line. It is a genuine country town serving the surrounding farming and rural residential community.

How far is Toogoolawah from Brisbane? +

Toogoolawah is approximately 106 kilometres north-west of Brisbane CBD, making it around a 1.5 to 2 hour drive depending on traffic. Ipswich, the nearest large regional city, is about 82 kilometres to the south.

Does Toogoolawah have public transport? +

Toogoolawah has no rail service. Translink regional coach services provide limited connections to Ipswich and Brisbane, but a car is essential for residents. The nearest rail station is in Ipswich, approximately 82 kilometres away.

What is the population of Toogoolawah? +

According to the 2021 Census, Toogoolawah has a population of 1,200 residents, down slightly from 1,279 in 2016. The median age of 56 reflects an older, established community typical of rural Queensland towns.

Is Toogoolawah a good place to live? +

Toogoolawah suits those seeking an affordable rural lifestyle away from Brisbane's urban sprawl, with wide open spaces, community spirit, and outdoor recreation on the doorstep. It is best suited to retirees, rural property buyers, and those who work locally or can work remotely.

What is the postcode for Toogoolawah? +

The postcode for Toogoolawah, QLD is 4313, shared with surrounding Somerset Region localities.

What is the average income in Toogoolawah? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Toogoolawah is about $501 per week (around $26,100 per year). The median household income is $967 per week and the median family income is $1,230 per week.

What is the age profile of Toogoolawah? +

The median age in Toogoolawah is 56. The largest age group is 65–74 (244 residents, around 20%). Around 18% of residents are under 20 and about 37% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Toogoolawah a safe area? +

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

In Toogoolawah, the median weekly rent is $260, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,127 (2021 Census).