Queensland
Queensland (QLD) is Australia’s second biggest state and covers an area of 1,727,200 km². If it were a country in its own right, it would be the 18th biggest in the world, just behind Libya. The UK could fit into it over 7 times and it is the same size as America’s biggest state, Alaska.
It has a population of around 4.3 million people. It is known as “The Sunshine State” and its residents are affectionately called “Banana Bender’s” or sometimes, less affectionately, “Cane Toads”.
Its most famous attraction has to be The Great Barrier Reef, arguably the best place on the planet to look at the pretty fish.
Famous Queenslanders include Geoffrey Rush, actor, Rod Laver, tennis star and Powderfinger, one of Australia’s most successful rock groups. But surely the states most famous resident was John McCallum. John who? McCallum! Creator of Skippy, Australia’s most famous resident of ALL time.
Places in Queensland
The capital city of Queensland is Brisbane, but there are plenty other major towns, cities and localities to choose from within the state.
Here’s a list of all of them with a population in excess of 10,000 people along with a guide to how many people live there…..
- Gold Coast-Tweed Heads – over 450,000
- Sunshine Coast – over 180,000
- Townsville – over 128,000
- Cairns – over 98,000
- Toowoomba – about 95,000
- Mackay – about 66,000
- Rockhampton – approximately 60,000
- Bundaberg – approaching 50,000
- Hervey Bay – over 40,000
- Gladstone – about 28,000
- Maryborough- over 20,000
- Mount Isa – about 19,000
- Cairns Northern Beaches – over 15,000
- Bongaree – around 14,000
- Nambour – about 13,000
- Yeppoon – about 13,000
- Warwick – over 12,000
- Emerald – about 11,000
- Gympie – about 11,000
And then there are all the towns with less than 10,000 population, we’ll be adding those as we go. If you live in one any of these towns, or the smaller ones not yet listed, why not Own Your Town now!
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Only 4.3 million in an area that size! so why am I looking at plots of land about 600 square meters???? I should maybe think about the outback and get me 600 square miles
lovin this new site Bob, real easy to navigate, if only the migration process was this simple!
If you want land, there’s plenty out here. Just search for acreage instead of houses. See my page about buying a house in Australia for a link to the best place to search for property.
For some people who live in the outback, it’s a 40 min drive from their front door before they get to the end of the driveway. Now that’s land!
Glad you love the new design.
40 minutes! on second thoughts….
Hi Mr.BobinOz
as a immigrant who is confused of selecting a destination ,there is a question in my mind I am always looking for answer, what is special thing about australi that i cant find it elsewhere particularly in USA and Canada please send me answer ?
sincerely yours
Wow! What a question! You don’t seriously think I can answer it, do you? But do feel free to read any one of the hundreds of pages I’ve written on this blog and website, I’m sure you’ll find lots of useful information.
Hi Bob,
Your coverage on cities is excellent. I am planning to relocate to your great nation and have just gone through an interview process which may lead to a job opening in either Darwin or Cairns. There are 2 positions, one each in Darwin and Cairns, same salary and perks. My dilemma is, if I am offered the job which place to choose. My decision would not be based on cost of living alone.
I lived for about 2 years in Brisbane way back in 2001 and loved it. Your write up on Darwin is fascinating me, I love outdoors and nature but I am not sure if I would like to be in perpetual hot and humid climate. You have obviously covered the major cities in Australia and thus left the likes of Cairns, do you have any comments on living in Cairns Vs Darwin?
I am of Indian origin and would be moving from Hong Kong where I have lived for the last 20 years.
Many thanks.
Peter
Hi Peter
Well, I’ve not been to either place so I’m probably not the best person to ask
Having said that, you have read what I have researched about Darwin, all I can tell you about Cairns is that my son loved it when he went there to go scuba diving.
He was there for a week and absolutely loved it. He described it as a holiday resort, which is not surprising being as it has the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep. Yes, it’s a bit of a tourist attraction, being one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Cairns was big on nightlife, apparently.
But as I said, I’ve never been. Perhaps someone who has might swing by here soon and tell you more.
Cairns vs Darwin – I’m uniquely placed to comment on this as I lived in Cairns for 13 years and I am just leaving Darwin (28/8/11) and going back to Queensland (Townsville, 370 kms South of Cairns) after 6 years. Frankly, Cairns leaves Darwin for dead in the liveability stakes. Darwin is just a blunder – that is, someone blundered onto a peninsula surrounded by scrubby bush and decided to build a town there. This town (after a touch up by Cyclone Tracy) has now become a small city. Where there was once character and the outback spirit, there are high rise apartments and (relatively) big business. The nearest major centre with over 100,000 people is Townsville (2400kms) Nearest city is Adelaide (3000kms). Darwin property prices are sky high – I can purchase two houses in Townsville/Cairns (a comparable population density) for what I would pay for one in Darwin. Fuel and food are also cheaper in Cairns. Main pastimes in Darwin are fishing and drinking (usually combined). Once you have flown over Litchfield and Kakadu parks (around 250 kms away) in the wet, that’s your sightseeing done. Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, boasts some of the best beaches in Australia (with stinger nets), has the great dividing range with world heritage rainforest as a backdrop and if you want a cool change, drive up to the Atherton Tablelands where the views and waterfalls are spectacular. If heat and humidity are a factor, Cairns isn’t far behind Darwin – Darwin just gets the build up/wet season a little earlier. Just google http://www.ntnews.com.au for a few days to get an overview of the Darwin culture
Sorry Steve, wasn’t quite clear, Cairns or Darwin? Just kidding!
Well I was hoping someone would pop by who did know, so glad you came along Steve. I hope Peter has found it useful, I have. Although I’m sure there is someone else out there who would vote heavily for Darwin, but maybe somebody who just loves fishing and drinking?
It’s amazing (but true) that Adelaide is the nearest major city to Darwin.
I have heard houses in Darwin are hugely expensive, any idea why?
Cheers
Bob
Hi Steve,
I wish I had seen your post 2 days ago, I have already agreed to Darwin. I am quite sure all the points that you have listed are very valid and I will just have to learn to live there. Unfortunately I don’t fish or even drink much…but let me at least write why I chose Darwin over Cairns:
a) Darwin is the capitol city and thus has an International Airport, a better University and hopefully better other public facilities – library, hospital etc.
b) Off shore oil and gas exploration work which was started about 10 years ago by ConocoPhillips is now a major industry.
c) Darwin LNG plant is a modern plant, completed in 2006. It incorporates several advanced design features to improve reliability and safety and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One such feature is the waste heat recovery on the gas turbine exhaust that is used for various heating requirements within the plant. d) Tokyo Electric and Tokyo Gas transport LNG from Darwin to Japan. So there large LNG ships calling Darwin regularly.
e) I have mentioned above not because I work in LNG industry but because I believe this industry is going to expand. After the Fukushima nuclear power plant melt down, Japan and Germany have taken a view not to increase nuclear power plants. Coal is clearly not an option so LNG is the likely source of energy for large power plant gas turbines.
f) I am hoping that this will bring more jobs to Darwin.
g) This also explains why property prices in Darwin are 10-15% more than Brisbane. I believe they will continue to rise.
Once I am there, I will update my post if my assumptions are incorrect.
Peter
Unfortunately a lot of those points also apply to Cairns, It has an international airport, a respectable university, and a public library system which enables statewide access to resources (they move books around on request).
Queensland is currently building a major LNG pipeline from PNG to plants in the South East. Cairns is also becoming a more attractive FIFO base for the central Queensland mines.
I’m sure you will be happy in Darwin, but I think you may have missed out in all honesty.
Hi Dan
Good additional info, thanks for that. As it turns out though, Peter didn’t go to Darwin in the end, you can read about that further down below in these comments.
Many thanks, Bob.
Peter, Steve has added some local knowledge above that you might find very useful.
Hi Bob,
Property is so expensive in Darwin because of undersupply and overdemand. I also believe that landlords and agents have grossly inflated the prices over the last ten years because they know that intending renters/purchasers are the proverbial rabbits trapped in headlights. As Peter stated in his reply to my e-mail, there are large developments either mooted or approved in this area and the Northern Territory Government is happy to take the money but where are these people going to live and at what cost? I invite you to do a search on realestate.com.au and set the following parameters: Buy; House; $250,000 – $400,000. With Darwin as your destination you will find 7 properties – in Townsville, 216 properties. I’m using Townsville as my control because it has a similar population and like Darwin, a significant Defence and Commonwealth Government public service presence – the lifeblood of any regional city. The only thing I will miss leaving the NT are the spectacular Darwin thunderstorms – I didn’t get any of those growing up on the Isle of Wight but they are not worth paying half your wages in rent/mortgage.
Peter – if it’s any consolation I had an email from a former UK resident who moved to Darwin about a couple of years ago and he said he felt like it was paradise. And even given Steve’s reply, at least he still managed to stay there for six years
I would be very interested to hear what you think of it once you’ve had a chance to settle in.
Steve – yes, I suppose that makes sense, all house prices are basically down to supply and demand. Seems there is a big and growing demand for houses in Darwin that supply cannot keep up with. And maybe you can let us know what you think of Townsville after you’ve had a chance to take a look around. It would be interesting to hear how it compares with Cairns.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob, you did ask me to comment on Townsville and being a verbose sort of fellow, I thought I’d share with you my observations up until now. There is a fierce rivalry between Cairns and Townsville and it does seem odd to be playing for the opposition now. Cairns has an unfair advantage in it’s location being in the ‘wet’ tropics surrounded as it is by mountains covered in rainforest. Townsville has mountains too but being in the ‘dry’ tropics, they look as if they have been napalmed in comparison. On the waterfront front (I was going to change that but I like the syntax, however wrong), Townsville wins there with the Strand – 2.2 kms of beach and a river compared to Cairns mudflats at low tide. I have to add however, that the beaches only 10 – 15kms north of Cairns are some of the best in Australia. Geography aside, there is little to differentiate between the two – population and cost of living is almost identical but Cairns is a ‘holiday’ city and my best description of Townsville is a ‘functional’ city (the corollary of that being that Cairns is ‘dysfunctional’ -some of the tourism operators there may agree at present with the Aussie dollar being so strong it’s putting them out of business). Will I stay in Townsville? I have no choice, I signed up for a two bedroom, fully tiled and airconditioned unit with seperate remote controlled garage on Friday – cost? $199,000 – for that price, I’d live in Wittenoom in NW W.A. and play amongst the asbestos but luckily, I don’t have to . Townsville rocks !
Hi Steve
Thanks for coming back with your report, much appreciated. It sounds like Townsville out points Cairns in a toe to toe face-off. But given the fierce rivalry which you mention, I expect there will be a resident of Cairns somewhere who is known to take this lying down.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if someone counters your claims with a defence for Cairns. I’ve never been to either town so I can’t really get involved, but I kind of understand your point about the possible dysfunctionality of a “holiday” city.
Anyway, congratulations on your new home, it sounds like you’ll be setting in Townsville for a while and thanks for letting us know about it. I’ll put you down as a thumbs up for Townsville.
….now I’m wondering….where’d Peter go??!
I’ve enjoyed reading the comparisons above, so was wondering if Peter has emerged through a humid fog yet? Personally, just the frizzy hair alone would have me high-tailing it far, far away…
Johanna x
Peter, if he is here, is probably waiting to get an Internet connection.
Are you here yet Peter?
Apparently the frizzy hair problem extends to Brisbane, according to my wife. My hair, of course, always looks perfect
Sorry guys,
My apology to you both, actually a lot has happened from the time I last visited this post. My personal circumstances have changed quite a bit due to which I have temporarily declined Darwin job offer. Although cost was not the reason for my decision to stay put where I am, when I compared the saving potential at Hong Kong (that is where I am) and Darwin, I found the saving potential in Hong Kong is at least 30% more than Darwin, drawing same salary at both the places.
Steve, Townsville is great, I was there a year ago, though for just 2 days. I loved the city. Costs aside, everything that I have read about Darwin is actually pretty exciting and good and I am determined to visit the city next year June-July and hopefully one day relocate there.
All the best to all and thanks for your feedback.
Peter
Hi Peter
No apology needed, we were just trying to be a bit nosy, I think. Maybe you’re circumstances will change again, Darwin will still be here.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Peter
Thanks for updating us, being nosy and a little anxious for ya! So long as all’s working out okay, then that’s great! Just wondered what transpired, and I’m glad you’ve been able to take an option that suits you
)
Tell Mrs BobinAuz she has my sympathies, not just for the frizzes but for the smug husband *haha*.
Actually, I’d definitely tolerate the frizzes and a smug husband to live in Auz. Yes, I really do have it that bad. *gnash*
Keep well and look forward to more BobinAuz adventures! Any road trip/holidays planned?
Johanna x
Mrs BobinOz has never ever, not for one teeny weenie little second, at all, in the slightest, thought of me as being smug. Honest
Hi Peter, Bob (and Johanna), I pop in every now and then to see if there are any updates and what do you know? Being a mature age man who still has all his hair (albeit grey), I have a well sharpened set of clippers in my bathroom so I don’t ever suffer ‘the frizzies’- I must check with my female colleagues at work. Peter, in your original post you stated: “I am not sure if I would like to be in perpetual hot and humid climate”. At the risk of becoming the antichrist to the Darwin tourism industry, Darwin is the the epitome of hot and humid for 7 months of the year – nowhere with a population over 10,000 in Australia even comes close (Broome in W.A. may dispute that assertion – they have their moments). The colloquially named ‘build-up’ (temperatures and humidity rising to 35 degrees and 80%) starts in early October and only abates in December when the monsoon usually arrives, the rain driving the temperatures down. The humidity then stays sky high and temps vary from 27C – 32C in the ‘wet’ (depending on the position of the monsoon trough and associated rainfall) until the end of April/beginning of May. With the greatest respect, if this is an important factor in your decision to move, I urge you to visit Darwin in the ‘wet’. From May – September, Darwin is the best place to be in Australia, 27C – 30C, humidity around 30-40% and an average of 2/3 days of brief showers over the entire five months – definitely barbeque weather but all good things come to an end……..
Hi Steve
Whenever anybody asks, I always say that Darwin is not for the faint hearted. Those humid seven months you describe, we get in Brisbane for about one month. It’s quite a tough month, so seven of them would really be a test.
I still want to visit though, so when I come along it’ll certainly be between May and September.