Discover South West Queensland
The South West region is a critical contributor to the Queensland economy, and has the ingredients to play an even greater, more diversified role. With a recent pipeline of significant infrastructure investment, the region is poised to attract a new wave of investment and economic opportunity.
Combining accessibility and affordability with a unique adventure lifestyle, SWQ has been experiencing significant economic growth, catalysing a range of opportunities to invest and do business in the region.
Download a PDF of the regional prospectus. Each council has their own downloadable prospectus in their respective sections below.
Roma Saleyards are the largest cattle saleyards in Australia
$4M investment in the Morven Freight Hub
Enterprise centre as part of new civic space in Cunnamulla
Telstra 4G and high speed internet throughout most of the region
Eromanga Natural History Museum recently expanded
Thargomindah with state-of-the-art airport
Country Universities Centres in St George, Dirranbandi and Roma, providing dedicated study and learning spaces.
OVERVIEW
Hear from our locals how they have found boundless opportunity in SWQ.
Discover Balonne
Balonne Shire is a prime agricultural and horticultural region. Its producers are global leaders in food and fibre production and early adopters of innovative technologies. They are growing the best quality cotton in the world, along with table grapes, onions, garlic, carrots and cereals.
St George is the regional centre of the Balonne Shire. It is the central hub for services and is intersected by three major road freight routes. Two routes are aligned east-west and another north-south; together they provide efficient access to ports and other major centres.
St George also houses the region’s main airport for both commuter and commercial aircraft, where industrial lots are available for lease.
Dirranbandi has Cubbie Station and Ginnery, is a hub for cotton production with about half a million bales of cotton processed annually in the town.
Heavy rail freight access to the Balonne Shire is at Thallon. Grain is shipped directly to the Port of Brisbane from two sites: GrainCorp and Thallon Grains.
The Balonne Shire has a re-emerging small livestock industry, covering both meat and wool/pelts. Sheep and goat herds are growing following significant investment in exclusion fencing, making way for adjacent industries in the region.
Residing within Balonne are corporates such as Cubbie Station, Olam (Queensland Cotton), Moonrocks, JBS Australia, Romeo’s, GrainCorp, Lammatina’s, Elders and Nutrien.
$30m in private and public funding in exclusion fencing projects with a further $100m+ capital projects to support the re-emergence of the small livestock sector (sheep and goats) and supply chain opportunities.
$50m in road infrastructure projects slated for 2021-2023.
$6m invested in the St George Library and Innovation Hub supporting business needs, encouraging innovation, and connecting to regional hubs including AgTech and inbound and outbound education.
A Country Universities Centre is providing access to tertiary education for all, connecting the region to universities and registered training organisations nationwide.
Discover our Accessibility
St George airport is integrated wihtin the regional air network with Rex Airlines flights to Brisbane and Toowoomba.
Centrally located on five Queensland and interstate highways providing excellent access to regions in Queensland, western regions (SA and NT) and southern states (NSW and VIC).
Western end of the South-Western Rail line (Thallon) and linkages to Inland Rail
Investment in digital technology infrastructure for mobile and internet services (Telstra, Optus, Field Solutions Group) and near “junction”of fibre optic lines to Brisbane and Sydney.
Discover our Affordability
House prices are very affordable as is the price of land.
Industrial land is available and affordable.
Lower cost of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Balonne has a full events calendar including a golf carnival, country shows and rodeos, endurance rallies, fishing competitions, and flower, craft and wool shows.
The 399 race comes through Balonne annually, attracting hundreds of spectators to see off road motor sport up close.
Stratospheric Growth
Moonrocks is a family owned, Australian business, operated by fifth generation farmers Andrew and David Moon. Built on a strong foundation of consistent quality through environmentally sustainable farming practices and attention to detail, the Moonrocks farms are located in St George.
Moving to the region over 40 years ago the family has been farming there ever since. Known for growing rockmelons in their early days, the brothers ventured into onions over 20 years ago, with garlic following shortly after.
With a predominantly hot and dry climate the region provides the perfect environment for high quality produce to be grown. By continually investing in the latest technology, Moonrocks has added value to its staple product lines of onions, garlic and broccoli, producing peeled onions and dried garlic, and demonstrating the enormous opportunity for continual refinement and innovation within horticulture in the region.
“We were brought to the region by the soil and growing conditions, and we expect the area to continue to evolve as a mega hub for horticulture.”
Boundless Opportunities for Investment
Housing
Housing shortage with demand exceeding supply - requirements for various housing types including 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes and opportunities to expand housing stock (units, worker accommodation). Median house prices are $183,500 with rent at $300 per week (3-bedroom home).
Industrial space
Range of opportunities within agriculture, including:
Top producing cotton region and opportunities (value-add, waste) with 3 cotton ginneries
Feedlots (cattle and sheep)
Small Livestock supply chain (sheep and goat meat processing, wool)
Animal feed processing
Trialling and adoption of new AgTech related technologies
AgBiotech development
Education
Recycling
Potential to manage regional waste.
Horticulture
Prospects for corporate investment in food production with the region tipped to be mega horticulture hub in the future.
Table grapes, carrots, broccoli, onions, garlic, blueberries, and citrus
Food and beverage processing opportunities
Seasonality opportunities for southern and northern region growers
Native bush foods and nutraceuticals
Further value-add opportunities
Environmental
Energy including renewable, alternative and hydrogen
Waste recycling and energy recovery
Water saving technologies
Animal and plant-based waste and byproducts
Tourism
As a gateway to the outback, Balonne has opportunities to develop tourism further:
Farmstays and Agritourism
Opportunities on the Balonne River (water activities, tourism facilities, iconic structures)
Indigenous tourism
Space and science tourism opportunities
Corporate Tourism
Australian Super Cotton
Rogan Pastoral Company is a third-generation family cotton farming operation and is the home of Australian Super Cotton. Growing inland cotton at St George since 1976 Super Cotton is Australia’s only remaining dedicated grower of Australia’s Long Staple (ALS) cotton since its inception in 2007.
Australian Super Cotton was launched and trademarked in 2012 and can value add to brand owners via “ingredient marketing”. The brand has multiple layers including the Australian family farming story, high quality and care for the natural environment and was designed to position Australian cotton against other competing nations such as America and Egypt.
Boundless Opportunities in South West Queensland
South West Queensland, a place of immense natural resource, talent and enterprise, a place that people and businesses are proud to call home. A place of boundless opportunity.
Discover our Accessibility
Unrivalled access to regional Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory.
Discover our Affordability
Lower costs of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Infinite possibilities to explore the expansive landscape, and thrive in a unique and supportive environment.
“We do everything here to grow and promote this extraordinary crop, from bed renovation to fertilising, planting, cultivation and harvesting, and we’re continually looking at ways to add further value within the region. We know from CSIRO research that ALS cotton can go into many high-quality yarns and fabrics”
Contact for More Information
Balonne Shire Council
Garnet Radford, Economic Development Officer
Tel: 07 4620 8805
Email: Garnet.Radford@balonne.qld.gov.au
Web: www.balonne.qld.gov.au
South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
Simone Talbot, Executive Officer
Tel: 0427 990 201
Email: simone.talbot@swqroc.com.au
Web: www.swqroc.com.au
Hear from our locals how they have found boundless opportunity in SWQ.
Discover Bulloo Shire
Bulloo Shire is a predominantly rural area with the main focus of activity and population in the town of Thargomindah, and further towns of Hungerford and Noccundra.
The agricultural output in Bulloo Shire is sheep, wool, beef and honey, while the mining industry focuses on oil, natural gas and opals.
A hub of energy and resources activity, Bulloo Shire is home to camps for the oil and gas industry.
Construction starts soon on a “spagazing” centre, with an aspiration to expand further into a wellness centre and a range of complementary services. This catalytic new development is located near to another game- changer for its time, the oldest artesian hydro power station in Australia.
Right at the edge of the cornerstone of SWQ, Bulloo Shire borders New South Wales and South Australia, and is a major stopping point for tourists including “grey nomads” as they explore the many attractions the region has to offer, including the Burke and Wills Dig Tree, Cameron Corner and Currawinya National Park.
Ready for growth, the primary school has recently been expanded.
Bulloo Shire Council has solar panels installed on 100% of its Thargomindah buildings making it the “greenest little town in the west”.
An injection of $1.78m Federal Government funds into an expanded Independent Living Centre means the social fabric of Bulloo Shire continues to be strengthened.
Bulloo Shire sits at the forefront of ethical and organic sheep and cattle production, with some of the world’s best organic beef at OBEOrganic farms, and productive fertile ewes at Picarilli Merinos. Kidman, one of Australia’s largest beef producers, has three locations within Bulloo Shire, totalling over 16,000km2, and a head capacity of 33,000.
Discover our Accessibility
Thargomindah airport is integrated within the regional air network with flights to Brisbane, Toowoomba and St George.
Well-maintained roads provide convenient access across the region to Quilpie and Cunnamulla, and interstate to NSW and SA.
Digital connectivity rivals SEQ, and with recent investment in the latest infrastructure, fast and reliable internet is built-in to Bulloo Shire.
Water availability through artesian sources means there is greater flexibility to location choice.
Discover our Affordability
House prices are very affordable as is the price of land.
Land is available and affordable.
Lower cost of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Recreation options abound with walking trails, swimming, fishing and two National Parks.
Bursting at the seams with events, including the annual Shearers Shindig and Annual Channel Country Music Muster with 3 days of entertainment.
Bulloo Shire is alive with history, from the original inhabitants, through to European settlement, and the more recent discovery of resources in the ground.
Setting New Standards
Established in 2014 as a multi- disciplinary energy construction company, Ago Vires employs 25 staff across multiple worksites and now serves three states (Qld, NT and SA), continuing to grow from its base in Thargomindah. Tailored to meet the needs of regional clients, the company provides services to oil, gas, government and energy companies in remote and isolated regions of Australia. Ago Vires has evolved client credibility through their employees and delivery of quality, health and safety and project cost savings.
Ago Vires has worked with a range of industry-leading clients, including Senex, Bridgeport, Strike, Central Petroleum, Santos and Icon Energy. Illustrating their innovative approach to service delivery, Ago Vires also hold two Australian Post mail contracts and are distributors for BOC, Riverina, and Plasson
“South West Queensland offers the perfect location for our business, and with its high degree of connectivity both intra and interstate we can easily manage the movement of staff across our project portfolio”
Boundless Opportunities for Investment
Housing
Opportunities to coordinate housing construction across the region and develop ready-to-build lots.
Energy
Prospect to franchise with a successful energy construction company with wholesale agreements in place with major clients.
Feasibility to apply microgrid to Thargomindah with land incentives.
Small business
New planned retail and small business space within Thargomindah, where small businesses could thrive and take advantage of the town’s expanding tourist season.
Opportunity to provide daycare or home daycare provision, with the potential to partner to explore building new facilities.
Various opportunities for artisan businesses including oil distilling, native plants, beekeeping.
Sub-regional demand for bakery. Premises could be in Thargomindah with regional distribution.
Horticulture
Modular or containerised food production could be brought to Bulloo Shire, with the potential to use existing (empty) return flights to Adelaide, as well as selling to the local energy industry camps. Land and primary treated water is available to service the use.
Tourism
With a “spagazing” centre coming soon, and a range of established tourism product within the region, there is opportunity to further capitalise on the visitor economy:
Providing temporary accommodation for events, in the form of a “tent city” or similar presents an excellent opportunity.
With Bulloo Shire’s broad range of tourism attractions, there is a gap for a package tour operator, that could stitch together the stories that interweave through the region.
In Bulloo Shire and across the sub-region, there is an opening for a 4WD car hire company, with possible support from council to make this happen.
Packaging and organising Station Stays to meet growing demand
Technology
In the wide-open spaces of Bulloo Shire there’s plenty of room to think big, from aerospace, aviation, and drone trials to agtech.
Cutting Edge Technology in the Regions
Imagine using the latest technology to promote your brand or place in an immersive way using smarts that most people have available in the palm of their hand. LiveOrbis allows organisations such as major tourism agencies to let consumers step right into their world wherever they happen to be. Using Augmented Reality technology, experiencing the immense beauty of the Whitsundays for example is as easy as stepping through a virtual doorway appearing on their smartphone camera screen.
Serial entrepreneur Geoff Pike founded Live Orbis in 2016 after a conversation with his son about how amazing it would be to bring faraway places closer. A few years conducting research, developing software and implementing innovative ideas, and LiveOrbis was born. Enabled by great digital connectivity, much of LiveOrbis’s technical work is done in India and Belgium but driven through Geoff’s entrepreneurial flair from his home in Thargomindah, proving that geography presents no barrier to starting and growing small business in South West Queensland.
Boundless Opportunities in South West Queensland
South West Queensland, a place of immense natural resource, talent and enterprise, a place that people and businesses are proud to call home. A place of boundless opportunity
Discover our Accessibility
Unrivalled access to regional Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory.
Discover our Affordability
Lower costs of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Infinite possibilities to explore the expansive landscape, and thrive in a unique and supportive environment.
“The LiveOrbis web platform was created with widespread utilisation in mind, a comprehensive one-stop-shop for AR development that places the business in control of connecting dynamically with their customer, completely independent and conducive. The ability to use
a platform with nil programming skills means that it’s possible for every business (regional, remote or metropolitan) to have a stake in the AR commercial opportunity.”
Contact for More Information
Bulloo Shire Council
68 Dowling Street
Thargomindah QLD 4492
Tel: (07) 4621 8000
Email: Council@bulloo.qld.gov.au
Web: bulloo.qld.gov.au
South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
Simone Talbot, Executive Officer
Tel: 0427 990 201
Email: simone.talbot@swqroc.com.au
Web: www.swqroc.com.au
Hear from our locals how they have found boundless opportunity in SWQ.
Discover the Maranoa
Maranoa is a key regional centre for agriculture, energy and resources, with the thriving and vibrant town of Roma truly at the heart of the region’s livestock industry
Packed with a wealth of immense natural resource, and with mature allied industries to complement and add value to extraction and logistics.
Located in the heart of Maranoa, Roma offers a wealth of cosmopolitan facilities and lifestyle, including boutique retailers, cafes and eateries.
Roma Saleyards - Australia’s largest such facility – sells over 275,000 cattle annually, serving the Maranoa region and beyond. The saleyards are more than just a transactional venue, with recent investment of $8.61m transforming the facility into a place of education, learning and community amenities.
As gateway to the outback, Roma has a strong and diverse tourism sector themed around discovery of natural resources and natural wonder. Recently $4.68m was invested to expand The Big Rig Visitor Centre, improving its facilities and broadening the tourism offer in Roma.
The Maranoa offers everything from fishing and farm stays to bird watching and bush walking. Steeped in history from the wool industry boom time, Surat is a haven for fishing, the water front camping sites are perfect, and the billy is boiling. Injune is an artists’ haven as well as an ideal launch pad for outdoor pursuits. Mitchell is home to fishing and a proud cultural heritage, while Wallumbilla and Yuleba are renowned for their proactive communities and country welcome.
Every town in Maranoa has access to NBN high speed internet, with Surat soon to have Fibre To The Premise (FTTP).
The region boasts national parks and touristattractions including the outstanding natural beauty of the Carnarvon Gorge, on our doorstep.
Discover our Accessibility
Key position within the region, only six-hour drive time from Brisbane.
Regular public transport flights to Brisbane with a travel time of just over an hour.
Prime location within the preferred heavy transport corridor from Southern States to Northern Australia.
Excellent freight logistics options.
Easy access to international markets.
Roma is the key agricultural services centre for the region, and mining industry base for Surat basin Gas and Moomba oil fields.
High speed data networks, including recent upgrades to boost regional connectivity.
Discover our Affordability
Median house price in Maranoa is $225,000.
Industrial land is available and attractively priced.
Lower cost of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Roma is a regional tourist hub and gateway to the outback, with a dedicated visitor centre that focuses on the discovery of oil and gas and its importance to the region.
There’s something for everyone at Surat, a leading country lifestyle town.
Mitchell offers visitors a soak in the Great Artesian Spa and access to the stunning Mount Moffatt section of the Carnarvon National Park.
Family-oriented, and with comprehensive health services, high quality education and sport, recreation and cultural facilities together with affordable and desirable lifestyle residential lots throughout the region.
From Paddock to Plate
In a few short years Maranoa Beef grew from local producer to a regional supplier of high-quality meats. Selling hampers of high providence product and growing through word-of-mouth, they tripled their business size in just eighteen months. Also partnering with select corporate to provide slow-cooked cuts, they are still looking to grow.
Founded on five generations of family farming experience, the company is run by husband-and-wife team Craig and Bec Beissel, who value the family-oriented lifestyle that the region offers in spadefuls.
The highest quality food, artisan products and customer experience are at the heart of Maranoa Beef’s offering. Processing to order and utilising every single cut, ensures that the life of the animal is fully respected. Serving a growing domestic market that seeks produce of the highest welfare standards, Maranoa Beef sees plenty of reason to be optimistic about the region’s future.
“In South West Queensland, you can make your business whatever you want to make it, supported by a community that values trust and hard work.”
Boundless Opportunities for Investment
Agriculture
Agtech and application of innovative processes and systems, amongst the 1,600 farm enterprises in the Maranoa region. Opportunities in the biotechnologies sector.
Industrial space
Available and affordable industrial land in strategic locations.
Manufacturing
Meat processing facilities for beef, including additional opportunities for higher value butchery and packaging.
Growing sheep production industry generating opportunities for meat processing.
Small business
Outstanding opportunities to establish businesses in the service sector, catering to a cosmopolitan local population and visitor economy.
Market opportunity for establishing an auctioneer training hub for livestock andhousing sectors.
Renewable energy
Opportunities abound for sustainable energy production including solar farms, biofuel and geothermal, as well as hydrogen and other energy storage technologies.
Mining
Consistently growing sector that supports a $1.82bn GRP, with opportunities to expand and add value to supply chain.
Health
With excellent FTTP NBN connectivity, there is opportunity to explore a regional health hub, bringing together allied health and potential for consulting rooms and training amenities.
Tourism
Opportunities around access to the Carnarvon Gorge.
Potential for greater use of Roma airport as tourism aviation hub.
Engineering Excellence
Established 25 years ago with a bank loan, Sharpe Engineering has matured into one of Australia’s leading specialist engineering and manufacturing firms. Producing, servicing and repairing drilling related tools and equipment, Sharpe’s clients include operators, contractors and service providers across the resource and energy sectors such as Santos, Origin, Senex, Anglo American and Beach.
Headquartered in Roma and with two further Queensland sites, the family-run business is firmly rooted in the local community, with well- established links to local schools, providing a steady stream of the next generation of apprentices.
Sharpe’s success is built on a firm commitment to the highest industry standards, continual investment in staff, and wide diversity of over 100 clients.
Boundless Opportunities in South West Queensland
South West Queensland, a place of immense natural resource, talent and enterprise, a place that people and businesses are proud to call home. A place of boundless opportunity.
Discover our Accessibility
Unrivalled access to regional Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory.
Discover our Affordability
Lower costs of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Infinite possibilities to explore the expansive landscape, and thrive in a unique and supportive environment.
“The booming resources industry means we thrive in South-West Queensland, enhanced by Roma’s strategic location, our ability to retain staff and the region’s magnetic liveability.”
Contact for More Information
Maranoa Regional Council
Tel: 1300 007 662
Email: council@maranoa.qld.gov.au
Web: www.maranoa.qld.gov.au
South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
Simone Talbot, Executive Officer
Tel: 0427 990 201
Email: simone.talbot@swqroc.com.au
Web: www.swqroc.com.au
Hear from our locals how they have found boundless opportunity in SWQ.
Discover Murweh
Morven Freight Hub – $5m facility providing cattle weighing and transfer, with up to 1,000 head per train direct to a choice of processors.
The tourism precinct, including Charleville Cosmos Centre, WW2 Secret Base, and Royal Flying Doctor Service museum.
Recently completed $3m Charleville Industrial Precinct, including 21 lots ready for occupancy.
Parks, playgrounds and family recreation spaces.
Westlander rail services to Toowoomba and Brisbane.
Outstanding internet connectivity, with recent regional investment of $7m to improve reliability and speed of telecommunications infrastructure.
Supportive, business friendly environment.
Discover our Accessibility
Road network node – At the junction of the Warrego and Mitchell Highways, providing excellent north-south and east-west connectivity.
Major recent investment in the Morven Freight Hub, with capacity to support movement of goods and livestock.
Charleville Industrial Precinct offers an exceptional business location in strategically placed and ready-to-occupy, fully serviced sites.
Charleville airport, with 2h30m flight time to Brisbane (Qantus and REX airlines).
Discover our Affordability
Highly competitive packages available to locate in occupier-ready industrial sites.
Lower cost of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Strategic location within the region to explore and take advantage of outback lifestyle.
Busy social, recreation and sports calendar, including show jumping, racing, music, arts and culinary shows.
World-class tourism experiences, including Charleville Cosmos Centre, WW2 Secret Base and outback tours.
Principal town with high amenity – butcher, baker, general stores, hotels – all within a heritage setting – and close to the range of lifestyle attractions the region has to offer.
Firing up the Region
Some of the best charcoal in the world is produced in Murweh, from the highly sought-after Gidgee tree. Chef’s Choice Charcoal was established by local expert producer Leanne Dierke in partnership with Toowoomba restaurateurs and entrepreneurs Albab and Adnun Khan.
The first tenants in Charleville’s new $3m industrial precinct, Chef’s Choice has developed their own bespoke process that produces the highest quality charcoal with a range of value-add products for distribution across Australia and expanding to South East Asia.
“SWQ is the ideal place to grow our business, where we have the space to innovate in affordable premises and instant access to our distribution networks”
Boundless Opportunities for Investment
Industrial space
Purpose-built lots for wide range of industrial use. Ready to ‘plug and play’ for new business to slot in. Electricity, water, data and sewage are all provided. Suitable uses are endless.
Livestock movement
The Morven Freight Hub unlocks new possibilities for the movement of livestock from the region and beyond, via state-of-the-art facilities including weighing station, to onward supply chain points.
Freight movement
Opportunities for the movement of freight from east to west and north, via the Morven Freight Hub.
Small business
Assistance given in identifying opportunities and locations for new business.
Tourism
Adding value to the wealth of tourism product including package tours and high-end regional tourism.
Opening up New Freight Opportunities
Bringing the Morven Freight Hub to life, Watco East West operates freight trains through the recently opened facility.
Handling livestock, bulk and break-bulk freight, the facility allows cattle to be spelled, rested and weighed, with up to 1000 head railed direct to processors.
Located at the junction of the Landsborough and Warrego Highways, the hub presents a new opportunity for both produces and processors to relook at the logistics of moving cattle not only in the south west also from the central and north west.
The facility also opens up opportunities for movement of goods to the region and beyond, for example servicing the energy industry.
Boundless Opportunities in South West Queensland
South West Queensland, a place of immense natural resource, talent and enterprise, a place that people and businesses are proud to call home. A place of boundless opportunity.
Discover our Accessibility
Unrivalled access to regional Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory.
Discover our Affordability
Lower costs of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Infinite possibilities to explore the expansive landscape, and thrive in a unique and supportive environment.
“The hub is a game-changer for the region, opening up a whole new range of logistics options in and out of the South West.”
Contact for More Information
Murweh Shire Council
95-101 Alfred Street,
Charleville QLD 4470
Tel: 07 4656 8355
Email: mail@murweh.qld.gov.au
Web: www.murweh.qld.gov.au
South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
Simone Talbot, Executive Officer
Tel: 0427 990 201
Email: simone.talbot@swqroc.com.au
Web: www.swqroc.com.au
Hear from our locals how they have found boundless opportunity in SWQ.
Discover Paroo
Sitting on the banks of the Warrego River, Cunnamulla is home to a thriving tourism sector that sees significant seasonal visitors explore the outback. Spa and Spring Tourism - A new hot springs and riverwalk attraction in Cunnamulla, which is expected to incorporate a sun terrace and massage rooms.
Digital Readiness – Nearly $2.4m of digital communication infrastructure, bringing reliable high-speed internet to Paroo Shire, right out to some of the furthermost communities.
The Great Artesian Basin provides water security for agriculture, particularly livestock. While $1.34m recently invested in water bores ensures water access for the residents and small businesses of Eulo, Wyandra and Yowah.
With recent investment of $15 million in public infrastructure, including a new civic centre and sewage treatment plant, Paroo is open for business and visitation alike.
Pristine rivers, potential for irrigation development and diversification into niche crops marks Paroo out as a place of significant agricultural opportunity.
Paroo Shire is ideal country for wool and meat sheep, cattle and goats. Mulga provides a reliable, drought resistant fodder, while the rapidly expanding network of exclusion fencing increases the possibility of further intensive agriculture.
At the crossroads of highways linking the channel country and the state capital, and Sydney to Darwin, the shire enjoys excellent transport links. This enables easy access to regional meat exporters at Charleville and cattle sale yards at Roma.
This is mulga country. High in protein and quick to sprout again after lopping, the acacia plays an important role in maintaining Queensland’s cattle breeding herd in good seasons and in drought.
Marvel at the fire in our stone. Every year buyers for Europe’s leading jewellers and tourists beat a path to the opal fields of Yowah and Koroit. Located among a major opal field, the southernmost mining centre in the region, Yowah offers convenient facilities, a permanent water bore and easy access.
Encompassing the ancient lands of seven Aboriginal tribes, the shire has a rich indigenous history.
Discover our Accessibility
Solid regional connectivity at the junction of the Mitchell and Balonne Highways, enabling easy north-south and east-west access on sealed roads.
Digital connectivity rivals SEQ, and with recent investment in the latest infrastructure, fast and reliable internet is now available in Paroo.
There are twice-weekly flights from Cunnamulla airport to Brisbane, Toowoomba, St.George, and Thargomindah. Coach services to Toowoomba operate three times a week.
Discover our Affordability
Median house price in Paroo makes it one of the most affordable places for buying a house.
Ease of establishing new businesses and developing land.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Land of giant wombats and kangaroos. Palaeontologists have begun probing one of Australia’s best sites for prehistoric fossils near Eulo.
Pristine rivers, natural flora and fauna, bird watching, boating, fishing and camping, combined with magnificent sunsets and night skies make Paroo a truly special place.
Major drawcard events such as the annual Music in the Mulga outback music festival, Yowah Opal Festival, Cunnamulla Fella Roundup and Open Tournament golf.
The artesian baths at Charlotte Plains, east of Cunnamulla, featured recently on the TV series “Farmer Wants a Wife”.
A Place in the Sun
Doug and Fiona have come from an amazing background spanning 20 years of film editing and television production for the likes of the BBC while working in locations around the world. While continuing their love of media, they then went into hospitality and have owned and operated numerous hotels across NSW and Queensland before “finding their place in the sun” where they bought the beautiful, historic Hotel Cunnamulla in 2016.
Doug and Fiona saw potential in restoring it to its former glory as they recognised the uptick in regional migration and tourism
“Our goal is to enjoy the work life balance the Paroo Shire offers as opposed to the daily rat race of city life.”
Boundless Opportunities for Investment
Agriculture
Significant opportunities to locate and expand livestock operations, with good proximity to supporting services including abattoirs and logistics.
Industrial space
A diverse range of available land, particularly in Cunnamulla.
Logistics
Crossroads location, proximity to NSW border and strategic sites to locate facilities for transport and other facilities such as a biosecurity truck wash.
Small business
Population growth in Cunnamulla brings many opportunities for new small businesses to service increased demand, including tradespeople, veterinary services, and accountants, along with arts, crafts and business start-ups.
Premises are available in a choice of prime locations.
Mining
A mature opal mining industry at Yowah and other fields provides opportunities for further exploration.
Housing
There is a strong rental market and demand for a range of housing in the Shire.
Horticulture
Paroo’s fertile soil is suited to many plant species such as table grapes, chick peas, barley and wheat, and presents ideal conditions for organic small crops too.
Tourism
Paroo has a strong foundation of natural beauty, wide open spaces, tourism product, visitation numbers and drawcard events (including the renowned Music in the Mulga). There are opportunities for accommodation development (including higher-end), experience-driven product and events that will catch the imagination and interest of the many visitors to South West Queensland.
Rising tourism demand presents an opportunity for investment in short-term accommodation units, such as a motel.
Warrego Riverside Park
Drawn to the untapped potential of an idyllic spot by the water, Warrego Riverside Tourist Park was established by Judy Roberts nearly ten years ago. Covering an area of 32 acres, the park caters for caravaners and campers with 30 powered sites and endless space by the side of the river.
A typical season sees the park welcoming 3,500 vans with many returning year on year. The favoured spot is now a destination in its own right with scores of loyal visitors making it their end point on epic trips from either the east or the west.
Boundless Opportunities in South West Queensland
South West Queensland, a place of immense natural resource, talent and enterprise, a place that people and businesses are proud to call home. A place of boundless opportunity.
Discover our Accessibility
Unrivalled access to regional Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory.
Discover our Affordability
Lower costs of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Infinite possibilities to explore the expansive landscape, and thrive in a unique and supportive environment.
“There’s endless opportunity here for the tourism industry, with unmet demand for larger tour groups and great potential for more product that taps into health and wellness.”
Contact for More Information
Paroo Shire Council
Economic Development
Tel: 07 4655 8400
Address: 49 Stockyard Street, Cunnamulla 4490
Email: council@paroo.qld.gov.au
Web: www.paroo.qld.gov.au
South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
Simone Talbot, Executive Officer
Tel: 0427 990 201
Email: simone.talbot@swqroc.com.au
Web: www.swqroc.com.au
Hear from our locals how they have found boundless opportunity in SWQ.
Discover Quilpie Shire
Occupying a total area of 67,415km2, Quilpie Shire is used mainly for grazing, with opal, oil and gas mining also being important industries.
Quilpie is a transit route for oil and gas to SA and a key logistics hub for the livestock industry.
Tourism is a major drawcard for Quilpie with a recently significantly expanded and enhanced Eromanga Natural History Museum.
Water is plentiful in Quilpie, with bore holes providing access to the artesian basin.
There is a thriving, supportive and positive local business network.
Agriculture continues to play a major role in Quilpie for livestock rearing, and logistics, with the town of Quilpie acting as a key freight hub, supporting a number of haulage companies. Wool is beginning to make a comeback across the region too.
Opal fields are worked in the Shire, with the area having one of the largest deposits of boulder opal in the world. There are also extensive deposits of gas and oil.
There are many free amenities in Quilpie Shire for residents, including swimming pool, library, sports ground and museum.
Other towns in the Shire are Eromanga, Adavale, Toompine and Cheepie.
Discover our Accessibility
Quilpie airport is Integrated within the regional air network with flights to Brisbane, Toowoomba and Mt Isa.
Good quality sealed roads provide easy access across the region to Thargomindah, Birdsville and Charleville, and interstate to NSW and SA.
Digital connectivity rivals SEQ, and with recent investment in the latest infrastructure, fast and reliable internet is a feature of Quilpie.
Water is readily available through artesian sources.
Discover our Affordability
Median house price is $95,000, lower than Queensland.
Industrial land is available and affordable, with 7 lots currently available in Quilpie town.
Lower cost of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Home to Australia’s largest dinosaur at the Eromanga Natural History Museum.
Idyllic and expansive flat water at Lake Houdraman, enjoy the surrounds or partake in something more active such as water skiing, right on the doorstep of Quilpie.
Small Business Success
Moving to the region from Byron Bay, in 2018 Cristina Zito started takeaway items from her Adavale premises near Quilpie. By 2020, Elegant Emu was established as a café, specialising in high tea, offering a luxury experience to visitors, and complemented by an online fair-trade handbag business.
Elegant Emu shows that remoteness is no barrier to running a boutique business.
“2021 is kicking off with bookings already made from March to August, and plans for extending to weekend evenings with woodfired pizza and tapas for 2022.”
Boundless Opportunities for Investment
Housing
Opportunities to coordinate housing construction across the region and develop ready-to-build lots, supported by Council initiatives.
Industrial space
Affordable and available industrial space in Quilpie, which would ideally suit engineering or metal working to support agriculture and mining.
Logistics
A key location for regional distribution and within the livestock logistics industry, Quilpie is ideally suited for development of a formal truck stop including wash facilities.
Small business
Opportunity to develop a health hub with support from Quilpie Shire Council for premises. With Quilpie’s role as a logistics hub, there is enough demand for an auto- mechanic small business. Shopfronts are available on Quilpie’s main street, where small businesses could complement the existing offer of cafes, hotels and the post office.
There is strong demand to service long-term daycare or homeday care provision, with the opportunity to partner to explore building new facilities.
Mining
Ample opportunities to explore, potentially for uranium, lithium and potassium.
Film and TV location
Quilpie is the ideal location for film and TV production, offering authentic outback locations and ability to service visiting crews.
Horticulture
Aquaponics opportunities, as part of a transformational micro-precinct. Capacity to link to supply chains and export from the region. The region is very suitable for charcoal production with excellent timber such as Gidgee available.
Tourism
Opportunities to think big with the space available, such as an outback resort, venue for weddings, thrill-seeking experiences or camel trekking. Also, strong potential for developing education-based tourism and school camps, which could benefit from links to major attractions such as the Eromanga Natural History Museum.
Committed to Quality
Offering quality accommodation to service the tourist and business traveller markets, Quilpie Motor Inn is an established feature of Quilpie’s unique landscape. Located a stone’s throw from the local pub, shops and post office, the motel is ideally placed to introduce visitors to local hospitality.
While meeting the needs of business and tourist travellers for many years, Quilpie Motor Inn continues to diversify and take advantage of emerging opportunities. Recently, package tours have been launched that bundle together accommodation, a sunset grazier station tour and a trip to the Eromanga Natural History Museum.
Boundless Opportunities in South West Queensland
South West Queensland, a place of immense natural resource, talent and enterprise, a place that people and businesses are proud to call home. A place of boundless opportunity.
Discover our Accessibility
Unrivalled access to regional Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory.
Discover our Affordability
Lower costs of living and doing business.
Discover our Amazing Lifestyle
Infinite possibilities to explore the expansive landscape, and thrive in a unique and supportive environment.
“Quilpie and the region has a lot going for it, and with the recent re-focus on Aussies discovering their own backyard, we know there’s lots to offer. Looking ahead, we see many opportunities in catering for an increasingly mixed visitor market.”
Contact for More Information
Quilpie Shire Council
Karen Grimm
Tel: 07 4656 0540
Email: kareng@quilpie.qld.gov.au
Web: www.quilpie.qld.gov.au
South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
Simone Talbot, Executive Officer
Tel: 0427 990 201
Email: simone.talbot@swqroc.com.au
Web: www.swqroc.com.au