Portsmith, 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 Portsmith, in the Cairns Regional local government area.
| Locality | Portsmith |
| State | Queensland (QLD) |
| Local Government Area | Cairns Regional |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - no daylight saving |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional Australia |
| Latitude | -16.96021 |
| Longitude | 145.77952 |
| Population | 474 |
| Density | 30.5 /km² |
| Area | 15.6 km² |
| Elevation | 3 m |
| Postcode | 4870 |
| Area Code | 07 |
| Distance to Brisbane | 1386 km northwest |
Portsmith is a locality in the Cairns Regional local government area of Queensland, Australia. It is a small community with a population of 474. The locality covers an area of 15.6 km², giving a population density of about 30.5 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 3 m above sea level. It lies approximately 1386 km northwest of Brisbane. Portsmith is located at 16.9602°S, 145.7795°E. It observes Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - no daylight saving. Postcode: 4870. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Outer Regional Australia.
Portsmith hums with the low thrum of industry, a working harbour where the air is thick with the briny scent of the sea and the exhaust of machinery. It lies 278.1 km north-north-west of Townsville City, QLD (from Townsville City, QLD: bearing 337°T), and is situated 7.4 km north-east of Edmonton. Cranes stand like skeletal sentinels against a sky that bleeds from cerulean blue to the soft blush of an impending tropical dusk, their metallic arms poised to lift and shift the bounty of this coastal fringe. The land itself is a low-lying canvas, a blend of mangrove-fringed waterways that whisper secrets of the tides and reclaimed industrial spaces where the earth bears the marks of human endeavour. The damp, fertile soil, perpetually kissed by humidity, gives way to the grey bitumen of docks and warehouses, a stark yet functional contrast.
This maritime gateway to the Atherton Tablelands has long been defined by its connection to the sea and the fertile lands beyond. Historically, Portsmith’s existence is intrinsically linked to the development of Cairns as a port, a crucial hub for exporting sugar cane, timber, and later, minerals from the rich hinterland. The local economy here remains anchored by these foundational industries, with constant activity in shipping, logistics, and the associated service sectors. You can feel the pulse of trade in the constant movement of goods, the clang of metal, and the distant calls of gulls that circle overhead, a testament to Portsmith’s enduring role as a vital economic engine for the region.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Portsmith, 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 Portsmith, in the Cairns Regional local government area.
Detailed location data for Portsmith includes the postcode (4870), telephone area code (07), and local government area (Cairns Regional), with an ABS remoteness classification of Outer Regional Australia. 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 Portsmith 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. |