2,009 LOCAL EMPLOYEES

OUTPUT OF $721.02 MILLION PER YEAR

#1 LARGEST EMPLOYER

Industry Overview

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing is the region’s primary industry across employment, exports, industry growth and economic value. It employs 17.4% of the workforce and accounts for 22.5% of the region’s economic turnover. The sector has many industry-leading operators located in the region and accounts for almost half of the value of the region’s exports. The Southern Downs agricultural land is used largely for sheep and cattle grazing, orcharding, and vegetable and grain growing. Forestry and viticulture are also important industries.

Join other leading agriculture enterprises on the Southern Downs including:

• Taylors Family Produce
• Grainx Australia
• Sweet’s Strawberry Runners
• Wickham Farms
• Maydan Feedlot
• Riverina
• Carr Farming
• Darwalla Group
• Rugby Farm
• Palgrove
• Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Hermitage Research Facility and Applethorpe Research Facility

Key benefits of investing in agriculture on the Southern Downs:

• Agriculture is the region’s largest employer, the most productive industry and accounts for almost half of the value of the region’s exports.  
• The region has a strong agriculture history and culture with many industry-leading operators located in the region.
• There is an experienced workforce in the region, with an additional 8,000 working backpackers calling the region home each year.
• The region has favourable climatic conditions that are ideal for food production with rich granitic soils, a clean water supply and four distinct seasons offering year-round diversity in production.
• The Southern Downs Regional Council has a Planning Scheme that supports high intensity livestock including chickens, beef and pigs.  
• The region enjoys excellent access to national and international air and sea ports, and is well connected to national road and rail networks.
• The region is home to some of the nation’s leading freight and distribution suppliers.

Download Agriculture Industry Analysis (PDF 5.8MB)

1,420 LOCAL EMPLOYEES

OUTPUT OF $488.15 MILLION PER YEAR

5TH LARGEST EMPLOYER

46% OF LOCAL EXPORTS

Industry Overview

The Southern Downs has a strong and diverse manufacturing sector and is home to many operations creating an array of products, from mobile homes to specialised engineering components. Most of the economic data for manufacturing on the Southern Downs is generated by food processing, with the region’s single largest employer, John Dee, operating in Warwick. Food processing is the fourth largest employing sector and the second largest generator of output.

Join other leading manufacturing and food processing enterprises on the Southern Downs including:

• John Dee
• Shelleys Industries
• NetPro Canopies
• Lirah Vinegar

Key benefits of investing in manufacturing on the Southern Downs:

• The region enjoys excellent access to national and international air and sea ports, and is well connected to national road and rail networks.
• Sizeable land is available at a competitive price.
• Supply chains are available locally with expertise to assist the manufacturing industry.
• The region is home to some of the nation’s leading freight and distribution suppliers.
• Access to a local skilled workforce of over 17,000 with an extra 60,000 available in nearby Toowoomba.

Download Manufacturing Industry Analysis (PDF 4.4MB)

1,624 LOCAL EMPLOYEES

OUTPUT OF $220.12 MILLION PER YEAR

3rd LARGEST EMPLOYER

7th LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO ECONOMIC OUTPUT

Industry Overview

Health Care and Social Assistance is the region’s 3rd largest employer and 7th largest contributor to economic output. The Southern Downs has a growing health and aged care industry and is expected to continue to develop to accommodate the region’s rapidly increasing population.  The recent Churches of Christ $32million development in Warwick secures the future of the Southern Downs as the premier location of choice for the provision of residential aged care, home and community care services and retirement living options.

Key health and aged care enterprises on the Southern Downs include:

• Warwick Hospital
• Stanthorpe Hospital
• Churches of Christ
• Griffith University Warwick Dental Clinic

Key benefits of investing in health and aged care on the Southern Downs:

• The region has experienced recent major investment including the $32million Churches of Christ project.
• Southern Downs experiences a high demand for health and aged care services. The median age of the population is 45, much higher than the Queensland average of 37. Residents aged over 65 account for almost one quarter of the population. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016)
• Strong industry links to education and training providers including Griffith University.

Download Health and Aged Care Industry Analysis (PDF 1.3MB)

1,068 LOCAL EMPLOYEES

OUTPUT OF $238.42 MILLION PER YEAR

7th LARGEST EMPLOYER

5th LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO ECONOMIC OUTPUT

Industry Overview

Transport, Logistics and Warehousing is the region’s 7th largest employer and 5th largest contributor to economic output. The region’s excellent access to national and international air and sea ports, and its connections to national road and rail networks is ideal for the industry. Some of the nation’s largest transport operators call the Southern Downs home, with a Big W Distribution Centre also taking advantage of the region’s competitive land prices.

Join other leading transport and logistics enterprises on the Southern Downs included:

• Big W Distribution Centre
• Wickham Freight Lines
• Fraser’s Livestock Transport
• Granite Belt Fruit Freighters
• South West Wholesalers

Key benefits of establishing a transport and logistics enterprise on the Southern Downs:

• Road access: The Southern Downs region is located about two hours southwest of Brisbane at the junction of the Cunningham Highway and the New England Highway, which joins Sydney with central Queensland. Due to this hub-like location, the Southern Downs is a strategic site for companies servicing customers in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne via road.
• Air access: Located only one hour from Warwick, the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport (WTB) operates a fully licensed international air cargo terminal. Brisbane Airport is just two hours away.
• Rail access: Stanthorpe and Warwick are connected to the Queensland Rail regional freight network.
• Port access: The Port of Brisbane is just over two hours away by road and connected to the Southern Downs by the national Cunningham Highway.
• Sizeable land is available at a competitive price.
• Supply chains are available locally with expertise to assist the industry.

Download Transport and Logistics Industry Analysis (PDF 4.7MB)

1,138 LOCAL EMPLOYEES

OUTPUT OF $170.5 MILLION

Industry Profile

The tourism sector in the region accounts for approximately 6% of the economy. The tourism industry is growing, with a 20% increase in output between 2011/12 and 2016/17.  The region is a recognised short-break destination for South East Queensland and is home to the state’s premier wine district, the Granite Belt. The Southern Downs is known for its four distinct seasons, award-winning food and wine, striking natural assets and heritage buildings.

The Southern Downs also plays host to a number of major events including the Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft, the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival, Jumpers and Jazz in July and the Historic Leyburn Sprints. Warwick will also host the 2019 Polocrosse World Cup.

Key tourism enterprises on the Southern Downs include:

• Over 50 wineries in the Granite Belt, Queensland’s premier wine region
• Over 130 accommodation establishments
• 3 National Parks – Girraween, Main Range and Sundown
• Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, located just outside the Southern Downs region
• Queensland College of Wine Tourism
• Morgan Park, Warwick
• Carnell Raceway
• Warwick Turf Club
• Stanthorpe Turf Club
• Southern Downs Steam Railway

Key benefits of establishing a tourism business on the Southern downs:

• In 2016/17, the Southern Downs welcomed 822,294 visitors with overall expenditure of approximately $99million and 1.28 million domestic visitor nights.
• Domestic day visitation has increased by an average of 8% per annum across the last decade.
• The Southern Downs Regional Council is a key member of Southern Queensland Country Tourism, the regional tourism organisation providing extensive tourism marketing and development for the region in alignment with Tourism and Events Queensland.
• Council’s Economic Development and Tourism Unit delivers seasonal marketing campaigns year-round to support all tourism operators, as well as operating the southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au website and social media pages.

Download Tourism Research Report 2018 (PDF 1.3MB)

Visit the Tourism and events website - Southern Downs & Granite Belt