Chinchilla

RebelFM | TheBreeze

At A Glance

Chinchilla, “Melon Capital” of Australia, is a growing town 300km northwest of Brisbane. It’s famous for its biannual MelonFest and watermelon production. The Chinchilla Weir offers recreation, and “Chinchilla Red” petrified wood attracts lapidary fans. However, its rapid population growth stems from its role as a supply town for Surat Basin natural gas projects. Mining and gas industries drive employment, leading to temporary accommodation villages.

The area is part of the Surat Basin and has a non resident population of around 4000 who are temporarily in the Surat Basin working in industries like coal seam gas (CSG) and renewable energy. This includes fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) workers

Transmission Coverage

Population

Total Population: The total usual resident population for the Chinchilla locality was 6,292 people.

Percentage of Women: 50.0%

Percentage of Men: 50.0%

Average Age

Median Age in the Region: The median age for people in the Chinchilla locality was 33 years. This is significantly lower than the Queensland median age of 38, indicating a large, younger, working-age population driven by the resource sector.

Income (Weekly Household)

The median weekly household income for the Chinchilla locality was $1,496 AUD, which is high for a regional town, reflecting the influence of the high-wage energy sector.

The three top income brackets (based on the broader Chinchilla Statistical Area) and their approximate percentage of households are:

$3,000 – $3,499: 11.2%
 
$2,000 – $2,499: 8.1%
 
$1,500 – $1,749: 7.5%

Industry

Mining: The largest employer by industry (including resource extraction, oil, and gas operations).

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Reflecting the town’s historical strength in farming, particularly watermelons, beef, and grain.

Construction: Driven by housing demand and infrastructure projects associated with the resources boom (residential, commercial, and industrial building).

More of our Network

Amrun

Amrun

The Amrun bauxite mine on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula, operated by Rio Tinto, is a major open-pit project producing around 22–23 million tonnes...

Adani Mine

Adani Mine

The Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, operated by Adani’s Bravus Mining & Resources, spans roughly 447 sq km and currently...

Wide Bay

Wide Bay

Wide Bay, Queensland, encompassing five local government areas, covers 48,400 sq km and has nearly 307,745 residents. Primarily agricultural, it's...

View All