South Townsville Road runs along part of the south-western boundary, while Townsville Connection Road runs along another section of the south-western boundary.

Townsville Port Road passes through the south-eastern corner.

[3] The suburb takes its name from a property name used by James Gordon (1822-1904), Sub-Collector of Customs in Townsville from 1865.

The name is probably referring to Cluden Water, a stream in Scotland near his birthplace in Dumfries.

[2] The presence of the Cluden railway station (19°19′01″S 146°49′24″E / 19.31691°S 146.82333°E / -19.31691; 146.82333 (Cluden railway station (former)))[4] on the North Coast railway line prompted the relocation of the racecourse from central Townsville to a new site near the railway station called Cluden Racecourse to enable people from a wider area to attend the races through the convenience of travelling by rail.