Burketown has a population of approximately 240 people and is located on the Albert River in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along with the township of Gregory Downs approximately 120km south on the Gregory River, it is part of the far north-western Shire of Burke in Queensland.

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Burketown’s location in the State is 2115km north west of Brisbane, 900km east of Cairns and approximately 30km inland from the Gulf of Carpentaria. The nearest large regional centre is Mount Isa, 425km to the south.

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The Shire is within a regional area known as the Gulf Savannah, defined as the region of woodland and savanna grassland surrounding the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory. Within the Burke Shire boundary lies the Boodjamulla National Park, formerly known as the Lawn Hill National Park, and the World Heritage Site Riversleigh Fossil Fields.

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