Yabulu
QLD 4818 • Queensland
About Yabulu
Yabulu is a coastal town and locality in the City of Townsville, located approximately 25 kilometres north-west of the Townsville CBD along the Bruce Highway, with its north-eastern boundary fronting Halifax Bay on the Coral Sea. The locality covers 35 square kilometres and recorded a population of 719 at the 2021 Census, with a median household income of 7,479 reflecting a workforce centred around industry. Yabulu is dominated by a major nickel and cobalt refinery — one of the largest of its kind in Australia — which has defined the character and economy of the locality for decades.
Yabulu's identity is shaped primarily by its industrial heritage, with the refinery providing the economic backbone for much of the local working population and the nearby coastal fringe of Halifax Bay offering some recreational relief. The Bruce Highway runs through the locality and provides direct road access to Townsville's suburbs, schools, and services, including the major Stockland Townsville and Castletown Shoppingworld centres. The North Coast railway line passes through Yabulu with local stations, though regular passenger services are limited and most residents commute by car; the surrounding coastal setting with access to Halifax Bay and proximity to the natural beauty of the north Queensland coast adds to the lifestyle appeal beyond the industrial character.
Yabulu falls under postcode 4818 and is governed by the Townsville Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Kennedy, while state elections fall under the Townsville electorate.
Location
Ad
Income
ATO taxable income Postcode 4818
Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 4818, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 4818; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.
Transport & Commute
Nearest Train Stations
Bus Services
- Townsville City Bus network — Townsville CBD 35–50 min
Commute to Townsville CBD
🛣️ Bruce Highway provides direct access south to Townsville; car is primary mode of transport
Yabulu has minimal local retail and services; a car is essential for shopping, healthcare, and most daily activities
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Buckby Street
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Bohlevale School Road
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Meranti Street
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4818 Joanne Street
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Demographics
Population Growth
Gender Distribution (Census 2021)
Crime Statistics LGA-wide
These are the latest rates for the Townsville Local Government Area, which contains Yabulu. Rates are per 100,000 residents for calendar year 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.