It is located 267 kilometres (166 mi) north-north-west of the state capital, Melbourne.

[2] The expedition by Burke and Wills to the Gulf of Carpentaria passed through the Tragowel area.

[3] On 2 September 1860, the expedition, led by Robert O'Hara Burke, arrived at the homestead of Abraham Booth and John Holloway, called Tragowell Station (later renamed Tragowel Estate), on the Loddon River.[4][page needed].

The homestead has since been demolished, but a piano played by Burke still exists, and is owned by Holloway's grandson.

In the 2021 census, the population of Tragowel was 83,[1] 53.2% males and 46.8% females, with a median age of 48.