Palm Island, Queensland — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Palm Island, in the Hinchinbrook Shire local government area.
| Locality | Palm Island |
| State | Queensland (QLD) |
| Local Government Area | Hinchinbrook Shire |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - no daylight saving |
| Latitude | -18.70275 |
| Longitude | 146.56416 |
| Population | 2,516 |
| Density | 4.4 /km² |
| Area | 572.8 km² |
| Elevation | 6 m |
| Area Code | 07 |
| Distance to Brisbane | 1177 km northwest |
Palm Island is a locality in the Hinchinbrook Shire local government area of Queensland, Australia. It has a population of approximately 2,516. The locality covers an area of 572.8 km², giving a population density of about 4.4 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 6 m above sea level. It lies approximately 1177 km northwest of Brisbane. Palm Island is located at 18.7028°S, 146.5642°E. It observes Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - no daylight saving.
Palm Island rises from the turquoise shallows of the Great Barrier Reef, a verdant jewel fringed by coral sands and sheltered by neighbouring islands. It lies 67.3 km north-north-west of Townsville City, QLD (from Townsville City, QLD: bearing 337°T), and is situated 43.7 km east of Ingham. Its landscape is a study in tropical abundance, a tapestry of dense rainforest that spills down to meet the ocean, its edges softened by the gentle caress of the sea. Ancient palms, their fronds whispering secrets to the persistent breeze, dominate the skyline, while beneath their shade, the air hangs thick with the scent of salt and damp earth. The island's terrain, a gentle swell rather than dramatic peaks, is crisscrossed by ephemeral creeks that, after the rains, carve fleeting paths towards the coast, their waters carrying the rich, dark sediment of the interior. Sunlight, when it breaks through the canopy, falls in luminous shafts, illuminating the dew-kissed leaves and the occasional flash of iridescent blue from a passing butterfly.
The history of Palm Island is deeply entwined with its Indigenous custodians, the traditional owners who have known and cared for this land for millennia, their connection evident in the enduring spirit of the place. Later, it became a significant location for colonial administration, its isolation lending itself to the establishment of a penal colony and, subsequently, a reserve. The economic life of Palm Island today revolves around its natural bounty. Fishing fleets, their colourful hulls bobbing in the sheltered harbour, bring in the day's catch, a vital contribution to the local diet and a source of pride. Tourism, though still developing, offers a glimpse into the island's unique character, attracting travellers seeking respite from the mainland and a deeper connection to the natural world. The pace of life here is dictated by the sun and the tides, a gentle rhythm that resonates through the island's quiet villages, where the laughter of children often echoes against the backdrop of the lapping waves.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Palm Island, Queensland with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Palm Island, in the Hinchinbrook Shire local government area.
Detailed location data for Palm Island includes the postcode, telephone area code (07), and local government area (Hinchinbrook Shire). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Palm Island is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |