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Key Industries in Regional Victoria

Food & Fibre

Shepparton is the Food Bowl and Fruit Capital of Australia with an international reputation for quality fruit and dairy products. Bendigo and Ballarat have the two largest Livestock Exchanges in Victoria, which turn over more than half a billion dollars of sheep and lambs annually.

Hamilton in the Grampians region is among the world’s densest population of broadacre livestock farming, with over 1 million sheep and 50,000 cattle sale annually. Horsham – the hub of Victoria’s wheat belt, is a top growing region for grain, pulse and oilseed and is a world leader in agricultural research. It is home to the Australian Grains Genebank, housed within the Grains Innovation Park and a national centre for storing generic material for plant breeding and research as well as conducting vital research in future cropping.

The Murray is one of the most diverse agriculture and food processing regions in Victoria. Mildura’s economy was built from agriculture and horticulture and its semi-arid climate and innovative irrigation infrastructure provides a strong base for cultivating table, wine and dried grapes, along with citrus, olives, vegetables and nuts. Campaspe Shire, has in recent years turned its focus to solar and intensive farming and production techniques such as greenhouse, hydroponics and feedlots. The Gippsland region, combined with its best weather conditions and the Macalister Irrigation District, supports Wellington’s strong dairy, beef and vegetable growing regions. Victoria is positioned as a low emissions agricultural sector and well-placed to manage climate risk. The Ellinbank Smart Farm in Gippsland is on track to become the world’s first carbon neutral dairy farm by 2026.

East Gippsland’s fishing industry is the largest employer of its type in regional Victoria and Lakes Entrance is Victoria’s largest fishing port and home to Australia’s largest fishing fleets, landing around $30m annually of sustainably caught fish and high quality seafood. Mallacoota and Warrnambool have significant abalone industries. Mallacoota is a prime catching area in Australia for wild abalone, with the processing plant located in the area and close to the clean pristine water. Warrnambool has an abalone farming industry and Tumbah Aquaculture is the world’s largest producer of Green Lip abalone and one of the first abalone farms in Australia.

Wangaratta in Victoria’s High Country produces one of Victoria’s widest range of agricultural produce, from apples to hops, pork to goat meat, green tea to saffron. The King Valley, in particular Milawa, is a viticulture and cheese-making hub. The wine industry is this region, traditionally solely manufacturing, has successfully transitioned to create iconic cellar door and fine dining restaurant and experiences.

Explore the Key Industries of Regional Victoria

Explore the Regions

Grampians

Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

Great Ocean Road

Phillip Island

Goldfields

Greater Geelong & The Bellarine

The Murray

Daylesford & Macedon Ranges

Gippsland

Victoria’s High Country