East Russell is a rural locality in Queensland, 1,651 km from Brisbane CBD, around 19 hours by car. Population is 83; the median age is 53 and the median household income is $67,184 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the lower-middle tier nationally. The locality grew 16.9% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $150 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,186. East Russell is characterised by high coastal erosion 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 East Russell safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in East Russell sits in the moderate band, with 2 incidents recorded in 2025 — up roughly 100% on the prior year.
2 offences
100.0% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–2024No crash in East Russell killed anyone or put anyone in hospital in 2020–2024.
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.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1988–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 786 m
- Rate
- -0.07 m/yr
- Net Movement
- 1.3 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
Walkability
East Russell 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 East Russell.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 44
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
Cairns: 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
East Russell is home to 83 residents, with a median age of 53 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $67,000 a year, with unemployment at 12.1%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
83
Median Age
53
Median Household Income
$67,184/yr
Census Median Rent
$150/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,186/mo
Avg Household Size
2.2
Median Personal Income
$32,292/yr
Unemployment Rate
12.1%
Unoccupied Dwellings
35.3%
Total Dwellings
34
Owner-Occupier Rate
88.9%
Houses
91.2%
Rental Stress
11.6%
Mortgage Stress
21.2%
Work From Home
26.7%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 72.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 84.3%
- Employment Rate
- 44.6%
- Completed Year 12
- 31.3%
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 $1,354 a year through Cairns based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Cairns
In the year to August 2026, 767 new dwellings were approved across Cairns. That mix is 681 houses and 86 units. Approvals are down 81.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
No native title party is registered for this area. Under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party is then whoever is recognised under tradition or custom as responsible for the area — which a native title register cannot show.
Climate & Setting
from Innisfail, 29.1 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 243 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 783 m
- Annual rainfall
- 3,531 mm
- 166 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 31.2°C
- 3 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 17.0°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
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 4861, 5 of 1,324 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.7% (23 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.1%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4861, 277 rooftop-solar systems totalling 2.3 MW have been installed since 2001, against 686 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 17 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 Shane Knuth Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Shane Knuth KAP | 63.7% |
| 2020 | Shane Knuth KAP | 72.5% |
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 East Russell?
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
Babinda QLD 4861
Mirriwinni QLD 4871
Eubenangee QLD 4860
Bellenden Ker QLD 4871
Bramston Beach QLD 4871
Deeral QLD 4871
Compare East Russell 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 East Russell
Is East Russell a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in East Russell is moderate (58/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect East Russell?
East Russell has a low recorded bushfire history (19/100, 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 East Russell?
East Russell, QLD had a population of 83 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for East Russell, QLD?
The postcode for East Russell, QLD is 4861.
How far is East Russell from Brisbane?
East Russell is 1,651 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 1140 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in East Russell?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in East Russell was $67,184 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in East Russell?
There are too few current rental listings in East Russell for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $150, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in East Russell?
The median age of residents in East Russell was 53 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is East Russell at risk of bushfire?
East Russell has a low recorded bushfire history (19/100). 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.
What is the weather like in East Russell?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to East Russell, Innisfail (29.1 km away), summer days average 31.2°C, winter nights 17°C, 3,531 mm of rain a year over 166 rainy days, and 3 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in East Russell?
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 East Russell belong to?
East Russell sits within the Cairns local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in East Russell?
The average residential rates bill through Cairns is $1,354 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near East Russell?
Across Cairns, 767 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 81.0% 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 East Russell in?
East Russell 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
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Climate · 2006–2026
- 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.
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