Birdsville

About Birdsville

Birdsville is a remote outback town and locality in the Shire of Diamantina, far south-western Queensland, situated approximately 1,581 kilometres west of Brisbane near the junction of the Queensland, Northern Territory, and South Australian borders. The locality covers an extraordinary 32,952 square kilometres of arid desert and channel country terrain, making it one of the largest localities by area in Australia. With a 2021 Census population of 110 permanent residents, Birdsville is one of the most remote inhabited places in Queensland, perched on the edge of the Simpson Desert at an elevation of around 47 metres above sea level.

Despite its tiny permanent population, Birdsville is one of Australia's most famous outback destinations, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year. The iconic Birdsville Hotel, established in 1884, is a beloved landmark and gathering place for travellers on the Birdsville Track and Simpson Desert crossings. The town is world-famous for the annual Birdsville Races, a horse racing and outback festival held each September that transforms the town into a temporary city. The massive Big Red sand dune — the tallest in the Simpson Desert — lies just 35 kilometres to the west, and Birdsville is the last resupply stop for adventurers heading into one of Australia's most challenging desert landscapes.

Birdsville falls under postcode 4482 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Gregory electorate.

Nearby Suburbs

• Farrars Creek, QLD 4481
• Tanbar, QLD 4481
• Windorah, QLD 4481
• Eromanga, QLD 4480
• Quilpie, QLD 4480
• Cooladdi, QLD 4479