🔍

Ugar Island

QLD 4875 • Queensland

69
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
0.36 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
CoastalRuralMulticultural
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About Ugar Island

Ugar Island, also known as Stephen Island, is a small island community in the Torres Strait in far north Queensland, located approximately 200 kilometres north of Thursday Island and close to the coast of Papua New Guinea. With a population of around 69 residents, the island is home to the Ugar people, a Meriam-speaking Indigenous community with a deep cultural connection to the land and surrounding sea. The island falls within the Torres Strait Island Regional Council area and the federal electorate of Leichhardt.

Life on Ugar Island centres on community, culture and the sea, with traditional fishing and marine activities playing a central role in everyday life. The island has limited services and residents depend on supply flights and boats for goods and access to larger centres. Thursday Island is the main administrative hub for the Torres Strait, accessible by air or sea. The community maintains strong connections to traditional Meriam customs, language and ceremonies, and the island's remote location preserves a way of life largely unchanged by broader Australian urban influences.

Ugar Island falls under postcode 4875 and is governed by the Torres Strait Island Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Leichhardt, while state elections fall under the Cook electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4875
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Torres Strait Island
Federal Electorate
Leichhardt
State Electorate
Cook
Type
Locality
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-9.58°, 143.77°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
0.36 km²
Population Density
190 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 4875

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 4875, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$47,835
Median 2023–24
$54,895
▲ 14.8% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$66,357

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 4875; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Commute to Brisbane CBD

Distance
1950 km
By Train
No train service available
By Car (Peak)
Not accessible by road
By Car (Off-Peak)
Not accessible by road

🛣️ Ugar Island is accessible only by light aircraft or boat. The nearest hub is Thursday Island (approx. 200 km south).

Walkability Walkable Locally

The island community is small enough to navigate on foot, but there is no road access to the mainland or other islands.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
69
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
139.8 / 100k
2yr Down 66.7% 10yr Down 81.5%
Motor vehicle theft
23.3 / 100k
2yr Down 66.7% 10yr Down 44.4%
Non-FV assault
2,632.2 / 100k
2yr Up 12.8% 10yr Up 42.8%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
46.6 / 100k
2yr Up 99.6% 10yr Down 25.8%
View all offence categories for Torres Strait Island →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Ugar Island? +

Ugar Island, also known as Stephen Island, is located in the Torres Strait in far north Queensland, approximately 200 kilometres north of Thursday Island and near the coast of Papua New Guinea.

Who lives on Ugar Island? +

Ugar Island is home to the Ugar people, a Meriam-speaking Indigenous community with deep cultural ties to the island and surrounding Torres Strait sea country. The population is approximately 69 residents.

How do you get to Ugar Island? +

Ugar Island is accessible only by light aircraft or boat. There are no road connections. Thursday Island is the main regional hub, and flights to the outer islands are operated by regional carriers.

What language is spoken on Ugar Island? +

The Ugar people speak Meriam Mir, one of the traditional languages of the eastern Torres Strait islands, alongside English.

What council manages Ugar Island? +

Ugar Island is governed by the Torres Strait Island Regional Council, which manages community services across many of the outer Torres Strait islands.

Is Ugar Island a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Ugar Island is part of the Torres Strait Island 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.

What is the population of Ugar Island? +

Ugar Island had a population of 69 at the 2021 Census.