explore: Outback Queensland

The Central West region borders South Australia and the Northern Territory, and consists of the Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Diamantina, Longreach and Winton local government areas. Despite its vast land area of 396,650 km², it only had a population of 12,387 (2010). It includes the region commonly known as Channel Country.

Known as the Gulf Country, the North West region is located along the Gulf of Carpentaria coast. The region's terrain is mostly arid or Savannah country. The major city in the region is Mount Isa with a population of approximately 25,000. Other population centres include Burketown, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, Kowanyama, Mornington Island and Normanton. 28.1% of the region's population identify as Indigenous. 

The region's economy is heavily dominated by the Mount Isa Mines which extracts zinc, copper, silver and lead. Another significant industry is cattle grazing.