Townsville and North West, QLD
About the Townsville and North West region
This huge Queensland region takes up approximately a quarter of the state's land. It stretches from Townsville on the east coast to the Northern Territory border in the west and Carpentaria in the north, and is home to the major regional centres of Townsville and Mount Isa.
The traditional owners and custodians of the land that is now Townsville are the Gurambilburra Wulgurukaba, Bindal, Nywaigi, and Gugu Badhun people. We invite readers to explore the Indigenous languages map of Queensland to learn more about the traditional owners of other parts of this region.
Local councils
Queensland's Townsville and North West region includes 15 municipalities: Boulia Shire Council, Burdekin Shire Council, Burke Shire Council, Carpentaria Shire Council, Charters Towers Regional Council, Cloncurry Shire Council, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, Flinders Shire Council, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, McKinlay Shire Council, Mornington Shire Council, Mount Isa City Council, Palm Island Shire Council, Richmond Shire Council, and Townsville City Council
Climate information
The coastal parts of the Townsville and North West region, including both Townsville and Charters Towers (just inland from Townsville), experience a tropical climate. The summer average temperature is 28 °C, usually accomapnied by high humidity, while the winter average temperature is 18 °C. Annual average rainfall for this part of the region is 661 mm, but is higher closer to the coast.
The western reaches of the region have a semi-arid climate, experiencing hot, humid summers and dry, warm winters. The average temperature in summer is 30 °C, while the winter average sits at 19 °C. The average annual rainfall in this part of the region is 453 mm, with most rain occurring during the summer wet season (October–March).
Population
The estimated population of the Townsville and North West region is reported as 267,385 as of June 2019.
Education
The Townsville and North West region is home to a number of educational institutions, including:
- 81 primary schools
- 15 secondary schools
- 7 P-10/12 schools
- 2 Schools of Distance Education
- 3 Special schools
- an Education and Training Centre
- an Environmental Education Centre
- 2,778 teachers, and
- 33,030 students
Those hoping to undertake tertiary studies can also study at one of the region's numerous universities and TAFEs. These include campuses of Central Queensland University and James Cook University, the Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health, and TAFE campuses at Burdekin, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Ingham, Mount Isa, Normanton, Palm Island and Townsville.
Employment and local businesses
The Townsville and North West region has a Gross Regional Product of $16.8 billion, and is home to approximately 138,981 local jobs.
The top three industries by employment are healthcare & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail, while the mining and agriculture sectors are the largest export sectors and make a significant contribution to the region's economy.
Housing
The median house price of the key regional centres in the Townsville and North West region sit at $320,000 in Townsville and $250,000 in Mount Isa, neither of which exceed the Queensland median of $460,000.
The region had a median weekly house rental (for a 3-bedroom home) of $330 in Townsville and $400 in Mount Isa. While Townsville comes in below the state median of $370, Mount Isa hovers just over this value.
Events
Where: Mount Isa, QLD
When: Annually, in August
What: Mount Isa is home to the largest and richest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere, which draws crowds from across Queensland and the nation to appreciate the finest in outback Aussie riding. The main competition begins on Friday continues to run over the following three days, providing visitors with live concerts, markets, and (of course) non-stop rodeo action.
Where: Burdekin, QLD
When: Annually, in September
What: This festival is one of the longest-running events in Queensland. It celebrates the abundance of water in the Burdekin district and surrounding area, offering a diverse calendar of events including parades, art exhibitions, and markets that bring the community together to commemorate their good fortune.
Where: Magnetic Island, QLD
When: Annually, in September
What: This high-energy yachting event offers an experience to remember for everyone, regardless of whether you've got sea legs. The annual regatta promises visitors top-notch racing, live bands and partying galore, with the shoreside program just as thrilling as the action on the water.
Additional Information
Townsville and North West has 16 subregions. Use the list below or the map above to learn more about individual subregions.
Townsville and North West Schools
- Government Schools
- Independent Schools
Combined
- Bwgcolman Community School PALM ISLAND QLD 4816
- Charters Towers School of Distance Education MILLCHESTER QLD 4820
- Cleveland Education and Training Centre ROWES BAY QLD 4810
- Cloncurry State School P-12 CLONCURRY QLD 4824
- Doomadgee State School DOOMADGEE QLD 4830
- Hughenden State School HUGHENDEN QLD 4821
- Kowanyama State School KOWANYAMA QLD 4892
- Mornington Island State School WELLESLEY ISLANDS QLD 4892
- Mount Isa School of the Air PIONEER QLD 4825
- Normanton State School NORMANTON QLD 4890
- Richmond State School RICHMOND QLD 4822
Primary
- Abergowrie State School ABERGOWRIE QLD 4850
- Airville State School AIRVILLE QLD 4807
- Aitkenvale State School AITKENVALE QLD 4814
- Annandale State School ANNANDALE QLD 4814
- Ayr State School AYR QLD 4807
- Barkly Highway State School SOLDIERS HILL QLD 4825
- Belgian Gardens State School BELGIAN GARDENS QLD 4810
- Bluewater State School BLUEWATER QLD 4818
- Bohlevale State School BURDELL QLD 4818
- Boulia State School BOULIA QLD 4829
- Brandon State School BRANDON QLD 4808
- Burketown State School BURKETOWN QLD 4830
- Cameron Downs State School TANGORIN QLD 4821
- Camooweal State School CAMOOWEAL QLD 4828
- Charters Towers Central State School CHARTERS TOWERS QLD 4820
- Clare State School CLARE QLD 4807
- Cranbrook State School CRANBROOK QLD 4814
- Currajong State School GULLIVER QLD 4812
- Dajarra State School DAJARRA QLD 4825
- East Ayr State School AYR QLD 4807
- Forrest Beach State School FORREST BEACH QLD 4850
- Garbutt State School GARBUTT QLD 4814
- Giru State School GIRU QLD 4809
- Greenvale State School GREENVALE QLD 4816
- Halifax State School HALIFAX QLD 4850
- Happy Valley State School HAPPY VALLEY QLD 4825
- Healy State School HEALY QLD 4825
- Heatley State School HEATLEY QLD 4814
- Hermit Park State School HYDE PARK QLD 4812
- Home Hill State School HOME HILL QLD 4806
- Homestead State School HOMESTEAD QLD 4816
- Ingham State School INGHAM QLD 4850
- Jarvisfield State School JARVISFIELD QLD 4807
- Julia Creek State School JULIA CREEK QLD 4823
- Kalamia State School BRANDON QLD 4808
- Karumba State School KARUMBA QLD 4891
- Kelso State School KELSO QLD 4815
- Kirwan State School KIRWAN QLD 4817
- Macknade State School MACKNADE QLD 4850
- Magnetic Island State School NELLY BAY QLD 4819
- Maidavale State School AIRVILLE QLD 4807
- Millaroo State School MILLAROO QLD 4807
- Millchester State School MILLCHESTER QLD 4820
- Mount Fox State School MOUNT FOX QLD 4850
- Mount Isa Central State School MOUNT ISA QLD 4825
- Mundingburra State School MUNDINGBURRA QLD 4812
- Mutarnee State School MUTARNEE QLD 4816
- North Shore State School BURDELL QLD 4818
- Oonoonba State School IDALIA QLD 4811
- Osborne State School OSBORNE QLD 4806
- Pentland State School PENTLAND QLD 4816
- Prairie State School PRAIRIE QLD 4816
- Railway Estate State School RAILWAY ESTATE QLD 4810
- Rasmussen State School RASMUSSEN QLD 4815
- Ravenswood State School RAVENSWOOD QLD 4816
- Richmond Hill State School RICHMOND HILL QLD 4820
- Rollingstone State School ROLLINGSTONE QLD 4816
- Sunset State School SUNSET QLD 4825
- The Willows State School KIRWAN QLD 4817
- Toobanna State School TOOBANNA QLD 4850
- Townsville Central State School NORTH WARD QLD 4810
- Townsville South State School SOUTH TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810
- Townsville West State School WEST END QLD 4810
- Townview State School TOWNVIEW QLD 4825
- Trebonne State School TREBONNE QLD 4850
- Urandangi State School PITURIE QLD 4825
- Victoria Plantation State School VICTORIA PLANTATION QLD 4850
- Vincent State School VINCENT QLD 4814
- Weir State School THURINGOWA CENTRAL QLD 4817
- Woodstock State School WOODSTOCK QLD 4816
- Wulguru State School WULGURU QLD 4811
Secondary
- Ayr State High School AYR QLD 4807
- Charters Towers State High School CHARTERS TOWERS QLD 4820
- Heatley Secondary College HEATLEY QLD 4814
- Townsville-Thuringowa Centre for Continuing Secondary Education HEATLEY QLD 4814
- Home Hill State High School HOME HILL QLD 4806
- Ingham State High School INGHAM QLD 4850
- Kirwan State High School KIRWAN QLD 4817
- Northern Beaches State High School DEERAGUN QLD 4818
- Pimlico State High School GULLIVER QLD 4812
- Queensland Pathways State College - Townsville Campus GULLIVER QLD 4812
- Spinifex State College - Mount Isa Education and Training Precinct PARKSIDE QLD 4825
- Spinifex State College - Mount Isa - Junior Campus PARKSIDE QLD 4825
- Spinifex State College - Mount Isa - Senior Campus PIONEER QLD 4825
- Thuringowa State High School CONDON QLD 4815
- Townsville State High School RAILWAY ESTATE QLD 4810
- William Ross State High School ANNANDALE QLD 4814
Special
- Burdekin School AYR QLD 4807
- Mount Isa Special School PIONEER QLD 4825
- Townsville Community Learning Centre - A State Special School MUNDINGBURRA QLD 4812
Combined
- All Souls St Gabriels School CHARTERS TOWERS QLD 4820
- Annandale Christian College ANNANDALE QLD 4814
- Blackheath and Thornburgh College CHARTERS TOWERS QLD 4820
- Burdekin Christian College AYR QLD 4807
- Calvary Christian College MOUNT LOUISA QLD 4814
- Gulf Christian College NORMANTON QLD 4890
- Gulf Christian College - Thompson Street Campus NORMANTON QLD 4890
- Hinchinbrook Christian School INGHAM QLD 4850
- Hinchinbrook Christian School INGHAM QLD 4850
- Ryan Catholic College KIRWAN QLD 4817
- Shalom Christian College Condon Campus CONDON QLD 4815
- Southern Cross Catholic College ANNANDALE QLD 4814
- St Joseph's Catholic School CLONCURRY QLD 4824
- The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James MUNDINGBURRA QLD 4812
- Townsville Christian College VINCENT QLD 4814
Primary
- Columba Catholic College - St Mary's Campus CHARTERS TOWERS QLD 4820
- Enkindle Village School DOUGLAS QLD 4814
- Good Shepherd Catholic School RASMUSSEN QLD 4815
- Holy Spirit Catholic School CRANBROOK QLD 4814
- Marian Catholic School CURRAJONG QLD 4812
- Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School INGHAM QLD 4850
- Riverside Adventist Christian School AITKENVALE QLD 4814
- St Anthony's Catholic College - Primary Campus DEERAGUN QLD 4818
- St Benedict's Catholic School SHAW QLD 4818
- St Clare's Catholic School BURDELL QLD 4818
- St Colman's School HOME HILL QLD 4806
- St Francis Catholic School HUGHENDEN QLD 4821
- St Francis' School AYR QLD 4807
- St Joseph's Catholic School MUNDINGBURRA QLD 4812
- St Joseph's Catholic School MOUNT ISA QLD 4825
- St Joseph's Catholic School, The Strand NORTH WARD QLD 4810
- St Kieran's Catholic School MOUNT ISA QLD 4825
- St Michael's Catholic School PALM ISLAND QLD 4816
- St Peter's Catholic School HALIFAX QLD 4850
- Townsville Christian College - Garbutt Campus GARBUTT QLD 4814
- Townsville Grammar School - Annandale Campus ANNANDALE QLD 4814
- Townsville Grammar School - Burdell Campus BURDELL QLD 4818
Secondary
- Burdekin Catholic High School AYR QLD 4807
- Burdekin Christian College AYR QLD 4807
- Columba Catholic College CHARTERS TOWERS QLD 4820
- Gilroy Santa Maria College INGHAM QLD 4850
- Good Shepherd Catholic College MOUNT ISA QLD 4825
- Ignatius Park College CRANBROOK QLD 4814
- Mungalla Silver Lining School MUTARNEE QLD 4816
- St Anthony's Catholic College - Secondary Campus DEERAGUN QLD 4818
- St Margaret Mary's College HYDE PARK QLD 4812
- St Patrick's College Townsville TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810
- St Teresa's College ABERGOWRIE QLD 4850
- Tec-NQ DOUGLAS QLD 4814
- Tec-NQ - Rosslea Campus ROSSLEA QLD 4812
- Townsville Grammar School NORTH WARD QLD 4810
Special
- Mount Isa Flexible Learning Centre SUNSET QLD 4825
- Townsville Flexible Learning Centre WEST END QLD 4810
Townsville and North West Housing
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Houses in Townsville and North West
The price of a house in Townsville and North West ranges from around $132,000 to $2,821,000.
A typical house in has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom & parking for 3 cars.
Townsville and North West Census Information
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Dwelling Type
What types of residential properties are available in Townsville and North West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Tenure Type
Which residential properties in Townsville and North West are owned, mortgaged or rented out?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Change in Residence
Did people in Townsville and North West change address in the last year?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Working Population
What age groups are most strongly represented in Townsville and North West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Top 5 Industries
What industries do people in Townsville and North West work in?
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration and safety
- Education and training
- Retail trade
- Construction
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Family Size
How many people live in a household in Townsville and North West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP
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Properties in Townsville and North West
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