The Burdekin is located just 70km south of Townsville, where unspoilt natural beauty meets a thriving rural community right on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. The Shire is in excess of 5,000 square kilometres and home to an estimated 17,077 people. (ref: Queensland Regional Profiles: Resident Profile: Burdekin (S) LGA).

Famous for its abundant sunshine and rich agriculture, the shire’s most important asset is water.  The Burdekin River, combined with a massive underground aquifer and the Burdekin Falls Dam, make the district drought resistant.

Whilst the Burdekin is one of Australia’s richest agricultural regions, the area also boasts strong horticultural, aquaculture and manufacturing industries and is recognised as having high levels of solar irradiation with two solar farms located in the district.  

Council continues to expand its support and focus in developing tourism opportunities to attract extra visitor stays and expenditure and sees tourism as a key driver for job creation as part of the economic diversification of the Shire.  From pristine beaches to exhilarating adventure sports, world-class fishing and unique cultural attractions, there is so much to discover.   The Burdekin is home to over 30km of unspoilt beaches perfect for walking, swimming, picnics, kitesurfing, fishing and more.

Boat ramps and landings situated around the district provide access to creeks, rivers and estuaries as well as shoals and reefs situated off the coast.  For experienced divers or those wanting to take up sport, the SS Yongala is located just 22km from Alva Beach. Rated one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, it is one of the only places along the east coast of Australia where reef and estuary fish can be seen together.

The towns of Ayr and Home Hill feature great boutique shopping with a variety of specialty stores offering fashion, homewares, giftware and more. The quaint or funky cafés offer delicious coffees and the many restaurants and eateries offer a range of cuisines.

The potential of the Burdekin is enormous and by working collaboratively with State and Federal Governments, industry, business and other key stakeholders to support our diverse range of industries and being proactive in pursuing sustainable economic development, Burdekin Shire Council will continue to develop and grow this wonderful part of North Queensland.

Our Council is proactively pursuing opportunities to bring new and value-added industries to the area, increasing employment opportunities and enhancing the lifestyle of our residents and visitors.

Regional Profile Reports

Economic Profile

Burdekin Shire Council has engaged the services of Economy.id to present our Shire’s economic profile.

Burdekin Shire Council’s economic profile provides economic statistics in a clear and concise manner through tables and charts with associated factual commentary. The economic profile provides information on industry sectors, employment, business, journey to work, workers, economic value, worker qualifications as well as many more.

The information presented is derived from official sources of information (Australian Bureau of Statistics) as well as Australia's leading economic modellers, NIEIR. The economic profile is extremely useful for making business and investment decisions.

Click here to view the Burdekin Shire Economic Profile

Burdekin Investment Film and Investment Prospectus

The Burdekin Investment Film and Investment Prospectus showcase the local economy and provide an overview of the diverse range of industries and opportunities that exist in the Burdekin.  Statistical information presented is derived from a number of industry sources. 

Click here to view the Burdekin Investment Film.  Please see related documents below to download a copy of the Investment Prospectus. 

Regional Profile

Generate an up to date regional profile on the Burdekin by visiting the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office website.  Click here to view the Burdekin Shire Regional Profile