“With all the recent media coverage that we received as a result of Bernard Salt’s publicity with the launch of his book The Big Shift: Welcome to the Third Australian Culture, no mention was made of the fact that the Demographic Centre of Australia is experiencing boom times,” said James Roncon, General Manager at Carrathool Shire Council.
Surrounding the New South Wales City of Griffith, Carrathool Shire covers nearly 19,000 square kilometres, which includes the Demographic Centre of Australia near Hillston. The Shire has experienced considerable development and growth in horticulture and viticulture production.
Diversification of traditional farming pursuits includes olives, beans, lupins, sunflower, maize, canola, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, pork and beef.
An $18 million Namoi Cotton gin just north of Hillston, completed in May 2000, has led the way for other processing activity, such as a cotton seed handling area being constructed at Hillston. Around 80,000 bales of cotton will be produced by the Namoi gin this year, with a Development Application for a second cotton gin to be approved shortly.
Rural Funds Management through Lachlan Farming, operates three large properties in the Shire, producing cotton and cereal crops. The company employs 50 full time staff and 300 to 400 seasonal workers.
The Nugan Group is now one of the largest citrus orchards in the southern hemisphere. Projected production of citrus and viticulture for 2005 is 12,000 tons and 4,000 tons respectively.
Australian Meat Holdings has development consent for a 60,000 head cattle feedlot and 600 head per day abattoir at Tabbita, south west of Goolgowi. The feedlot has a current capacity of 35,000 head.
Production of traditional crops saw 150,000 tons of wheat and barley stored at Goolgowi after the last harvest.
With some 1,383 people living in Hillston in 2000, Council anticipates growth to over 3,000 by 2005.
“Hillston has a substantial range of businesses servicing primary producers, as well as a supermarket, two motels, two hotels and a caravan park,” James Roncon said. “Tourism is also experiencing a boom from the Kidman Way, a newly sealed road that runs north south through the Shire from Jerilderie to join the Matilda Highway at the Queensland border.
“For people visiting our region, a visit to off the beaten track Willandra National Park is very worthwhile, with extensive refurbishment of the old Willandra homestead, accommodating 17 people in comfort, completed in August.”
For further information contact Council’s Tourism and Economic Development Officer, Hank van Apeldoorn on (02) 6965 1306 or email hvanapeldoorn@carrathool.nsw.gov.au
