Central Highlands Economic Profile 2022 The Central Highlands is a robust and diverse region that sits at the heart of Australia’s resource and agricultural sectors. Spanning almost 60,000km2, the region includes a significant portion of the Bowen Basin, Australia’s largest coal reserve. The Central Highlands is home to eight metallurgical and four thermal mines, with a further nine projects in the pipeline. Boasting the largest cattle inventory in Australia, the Central Highlands is a beef powerhouse. It is also characterised by
thriving broadacre cropping and horticultural industries, sustained by irrigation sourced from water storage on the Nogoa and Comet Rivers. Strong demand for the region’s coal and agricultural products, and an emerging visitor economy, fuels the Central Highlands’ $6.87 billion gross regional product. This is underpinned by 3,300 local businesses and an 18,000-strong skilled workforce.
Population 27,836
Land area 59,830km2
Median age 34 years
Gross Regional Product $6.87 billion
Business count 3,300+
Unemployment rate 3.6%
Annual coal production 60 million + tonnes
Agribusiness output $729 million1
Domestic visitors 587,000