Silkwood

About Silkwood

Silkwood is a small rural town in the Cassowary Coast Region of Far North Queensland, situated on the Bruce Highway roughly halfway between Tully and Innisfail, approximately 25 kilometres south of Innisfail and 90 kilometres south-east of Cairns. The locality covers approximately 23 square kilometres of flat coastal lowlands and had a population of 407 people at the 2021 census. The name Silkwood derives from a timber-covered hill in the area, featuring silkwood trees native to north Queensland and prized for their fine furniture timber. The town sits in a region of high annual rainfall, lush tropical vegetation, and some of Australia's most productive sugar cane country.

Silkwood is deeply connected to Queensland's sugar industry, with the surrounding district given over almost entirely to sugar cane farming. The town has a notable Italian-Australian heritage, reflected in the annual Feast of the Three Saints celebration, a vibrant cultural tradition brought by Italian migrant workers who came to the region in the early twentieth century. Local amenities include a primary school, community hall, hotel, and basic services, with Innisfail providing the nearest full range of shops, medical facilities, and secondary schools. The Cassowary Coast is renowned for its tropical rainforests, beaches, and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area nearby.

Silkwood falls under postcode 4856 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Hill electorate.

Nearby Suburbs

• Goolboo, QLD 4856
• Japoonvale, QLD 4856
• McCutcheon, QLD 4856
• No 4 Branch, QLD 4856
• No 5 Branch, QLD 4856
• Walter Lever Estate, QLD 4856