Dotswood is a rural locality in Queensland, 1,426 km from Brisbane CBD, around 16 hours 15 minutes by car. Population is 83; the median age is 52 and the median household income is $49,348 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the middle range nationally. Population fell 17.8% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median monthly mortgage of $1,437. The area shows high crime risk. Walkability is low.
This locality is too small to rate.
The Liveability Rating is calculated for suburbs of 500 residents or more, and this one has 83. Below that the school, census and safety figures behind the score cover too few people to rank fairly against the rest of the state. The individual measures further down this page are still shown.
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Is Dotswood safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Dotswood sits in the high band, with 6 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 14% on the prior year.
6 offences
14.3% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–20248 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 2 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Dotswood is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Dotswood.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 16
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Charters Towers: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Dotswood is home to 83 residents, with a median age of 52 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $49,000 a year, with unemployment at 0.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
83
Median Age
52
Median Household Income
$49,348/yr
Census Median Rent
—
Census Median Mortgage
$1,437/mo
Avg Household Size
2.5
Median Personal Income
$42,848/yr
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
42.9%
Total Dwellings
28
Owner-Occupier Rate
100.0%
Houses
71.4%
Rental Stress
—
Mortgage Stress
34.9%
Work From Home
51.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 74.7%
- English Spoken at Home
- 84.3%
- Employment Rate
- 58.1%
- Completed Year 12
- 33.7%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,328 a year through Charters Towers based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Charters Towers
In the year to August 2026, 24 new dwellings were approved across Charters Towers. Almost all of the pipeline is detached houses. Approvals are down 66.7% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Gudjala People.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. Native title over this area has been determined.
Setting
- Elevation
- 324 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
Elevation is the ground at the locality centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
EV adoption
In postcode 4820, 15 of 8,924 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.4% (126 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.6%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4820, 2,143 rooftop-solar systems totalling 15.7 MW have been installed since 2001, against 4,370 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 143 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$30,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
$30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, with no end date. IT DID NOT REVERT TO $15,000: the tier was due to end 30 June 2026 and the 2026-27 Queensland Budget (23 June 2026) continued it for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. This file carried a "due to revert" note until 2026-09-18 — it was never true, and a note predicting a change is not the same as a change. Cap is "less than $750,000" including land and contract variations — less than, not up to. New homes only: "There are no home owner grants for established homes."
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Bob Katter Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bob Katter | 40.7% | 59.3% | +0.8 |
| 2022 | Bob Katter | 39.8% | 60.2% | -4.3 |
| 2019 | Bob Katter | 35.5% | 64.5% | +7.8 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Robbie Katter Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Robbie Katter KAP | 63.7% |
| 2020 | Robbie Katter KAP | 74.7% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Dotswood?
Every figure above is a locality average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 83 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Compare Dotswood to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Dotswood
Is Dotswood a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Dotswood is high (84/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Dotswood?
Dotswood has a moderate recorded bushfire history (42/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of Dotswood?
Dotswood, QLD had a population of 83 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Dotswood, QLD?
The postcode for Dotswood, QLD is 4820.
How far is Dotswood from Brisbane?
Dotswood is 1,426 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 976 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Dotswood?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Dotswood was $49,348 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median age in Dotswood?
The median age of residents in Dotswood was 52 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Dotswood at risk of bushfire?
Dotswood has a moderate recorded bushfire history (42/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the locality relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Dotswood?
First-home buyers in QLD may be eligible for $30,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by Queensland Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Dotswood belong to?
Dotswood sits within the Charters Towers local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Dotswood?
The average residential rates bill through Charters Towers is $1,328 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Dotswood?
Across Charters Towers, 24 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 66.7% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Dotswood in?
Dotswood sits within the federal Division of Kennedy, currently held by Bob Katter (Katter's Australian Party (KAP)).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.