Southern Downs Regional Council
Southern Downs Regional Council ranks 3rd of 13 Queensland councils of 25,000–79,999 residents on Sustainability and 8th of 14 on Core Operations.
"Granite Belt wine country — Stanthorpe and Queensland's coolest climate"
See where Southern Downs Regional Council ranks: Best Councils in Queensland 2026
Queensland · medium council · Pop. 38,064
Data last updated: 2024-25 · Data confidence: high
Overall Score
No overall score — Queensland publishes data for two of the four dimensions. How these scores are calculated.
Sustainability: 3rd of 13 medium councils scored on this dimension in QLD.
Core Operations: 8th of 14 medium councils scored on this dimension in QLD.
Peer group: 14 councils.
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 68/100 |
| Core Operations | 51/100 |
| Community Services | Not published by Queensland |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | Not published by Queensland |
What This Means For You
Among Queensland councils of 25,000–79,999 residents, Southern Downs ranks 3rd of 13 on Sustainability and 8th of 14 on Core Operations. Queensland publishes no Community Services data and only one amenity measure, so those two dimensions are not scored here and no overall score is calculated.
What Makes This Place Unique
Granite Belt wine country — Stanthorpe and Queensland's coolest climate
Queensland's only genuine cool-climate wine region.
Known For
- Granite Belt wines
- Stanthorpe stone fruit
- Warwick Rose and Rodeo Festival
- Girraween National Park
Living Here
Queensland's closest thing to southern climate. Wine region increasingly acclaimed.
Hidden Gem
Girraween National Park — massive granite boulders and wildflower heathland.