Regional Economic Profile

Our vision is to deliver for our community: a growing, confident and sustainable Shire. We are committed to strengthening our local economy, supporting business and industry, attracting visitors and investment, enhancing the liveability and profile of the Mareeba Shire, and fostering pride in our communities.

Mareeba Shire is a diverse and strategically located regional economy in Far North Queensland. Covering approximately 53,491 km², the Shire extends west from the Wet Tropics across the northern Atherton Tablelands and towards the base of Cape York Peninsula.

Mareeba is the largest urban centre in the Shire and an important regional hub for agriculture, transport, logistics, aviation, retail and professional and government services. Its location provides an important connection between Cairns and the communities and industries of Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The Shire is strategically positioned close to Cairns and Cairns International Airport and is home to, and in proximity to, internationally significant natural attractions including the Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Areas.

Mareeba Shire had an estimated resident population of 24,205 at 30 June 2025, growing by 1.1% over the preceding year. The population is projected to reach approximately 26,960 by 2046.

The Shire is characterised by a diverse population and network of urban, rural and remote communities. 14.3% of residents identify as First Nations people, while 16.9% of residents were born overseas, reflecting the cultural diversity that has helped shape the region.

Continued public and private investment in transport, water, aviation, industrial land, renewable energy, agriculture and tourism provides a strong foundation for future economic development.

Mareeba Shire has a strong small and family business economy, supported by agriculture, construction, tourism, retail, health and community services, manufacturing, mining, transport and government services.

At 30 June 2025, 2,300 businesses were registered in Mareeba Shire, with 97.4% classified as small businesses employing fewer than 20 people or operating as non-employing businesses.

This strong small-business base reinforces the importance of supporting entrepreneurship, business capability, investment and workforce development as the region continues to grow.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture remains one of Mareeba Shire’s defining industries and a major contributor to employment, investment and regional exports.

The Shire’s tropical climate, diverse soils and access to irrigation water enable an exceptionally broad range of agricultural commodities to be produced. Key industries include avocados, mangoes, citrus, bananas, blueberries and other berries, papaya, lychees, sugar cane, vegetables, broadacre crops, poultry and beef cattle.

The region is supported by an extensive agricultural supply chain encompassing farm inputs, machinery, transport and logistics, packing and processing, agricultural services, research and professional services.

HORTICULTURE

Mareeba Shire is one of Australia’s significant tropical horticultural production regions. Reliable irrigation supplied through the Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme, together with the region’s climate and soils, supports year-round production and a diverse range of high-value crops.

Avocados, mangoes, citrus, blueberries and other berries, bananas, papaya and lychees are among the region’s important horticultural industries, alongside vegetables and emerging crops.

The industry continues to evolve through investment in new varieties, technology, irrigation efficiency, protected cropping, automation, packing and processing infrastructure and access to domestic and export markets.

CATTLE AND POULTRY

Livestock production remains an important component of Mareeba Shire’s agricultural economy.

Mareeba is home to the Mareeba Saleyards, an important livestock selling facility servicing cattle producers across Far North Queensland and the Cape York region.

The Shire also supports a significant poultry industry and associated processing and production activities, adding further diversity to the region’s agricultural sector.

MINING AND RESOURCES

Mareeba Shire has a long history of mining and mineral exploration and contains a diverse range of mineral resources. Mining and resources activity contributes to employment, investment and supply-chain opportunities across the Shire and the wider Far North Queensland region.

The Shire’s strategic location also enables Mareeba businesses to provide goods, transport and professional services to mining and resources operations throughout Cape York Peninsula and North West Queensland.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mareeba Shire has significant renewable energy potential, supported by high levels of solar radiation, established energy infrastructure, available land and proximity to existing and proposed renewable-energy developments across Far North Queensland.

AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION AND VALUE-ADDING

The breadth and scale of Mareeba Shire’s agricultural sector offer further investment opportunities in food processing, value-adding, agricultural technology, logistics, cold storage, renewable energy, water efficiency and advanced farming systems.

Diversification into new crops and production systems continues to strengthen the resilience of the region’s agricultural economy.

AVIATION, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

Mareeba’s strategic position between Cairns, Cape York Peninsula and western and Gulf communities creates opportunities in transport, logistics, aviation and associated service industries.

Council investment in industrial and aviation infrastructure supports the development of Mareeba as an increasingly important regional service and distribution hub.

Mareeba Shire has a diverse workforce with particularly strong representation in agriculture and related industries.

The 2021 Census recorded Labourers as the largest broad occupation group at 16.2% of employed residents, followed by Managers (15.3%), Professionals (14.1%) and Technicians and Trades Workers (14.0%). Other Fruit and Tree Nut Growing was the single largest detailed industry of employment.

The Shire’s workforce profile reflects both the importance of its traditional agricultural base and increasing demand for skills across health care, construction, trades, education, government, tourism, transport and professional services.

MAREEBA INDUSTRIAL PARK

The thriving Mareeba Industrial Park is the region’s largest agricultural services and logistics hub. Land is very competitively priced, and the park has attracted national companies in packaging and logistics, making $20M plus investments.  To keep up with demand, Council is continuing to invest in the expansion of the Park which has some of the most flexible land use opportunities in Queensland.

Attributes include:

• an abundant supply of inexpensive, appropriately zoned land which will see over 180 ha of land being progressively developed over the next thirty years.
• a secure potable water supply.
• able to accommodate all types of industrial activity.
• centrally located with sealed all weather road access.
• close to road transport and fuel depots.
• underground power, water, sewerage, and telephone services provided to each lot.
• business owners can invest and be secure in the knowledge that there are adequate resources to support future growth and expansion opportunities.

MAREEBA AIRPORT PARK

The Mareeba Airport Aviation Park is a unique location near a major international airport, yet outside controlled airspace, with a safe flying area and new infrastructure, which provides a real opportunity to support global growth of the aviation industry and the regional economy in Northern Australia. Located inland away from the coast, it offers a secure development opportunity with limited environmental management risks and an ideal flying climate.

Mareeba Airport is a CASA certified public aerodrome with a Code 3 sealed runway, AFRU, AWIB and PAL. The facility supports approximately 1,000 aircraft movements a month, and training accounts for approximately 50% of all landings. It is currently home to several flight training operators, aircraft maintenance businesses, agricultural aviation operators and recreational aviators. There are strong prospects for further growth in demand, with many existing users proposing to expand their operations over the next decade, particularly in relation to flight training.

Mareeba Shire Council has engaged Economy.id to provide accurate and up to date profiles of the region’s community and economy.  This is recent data that is derived from official sources of information (Australian Bureau of Statistics) as well as Australia’s leading economic modellers, the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR).

Economy.id is an online statistical tool that draws on a variety of economic data sources to profile the characteristics of our local economy, how it compares to other areas and how it is changing. It is extremely useful in making business and investment decisions. It includes information such as Gross Regional Product, local businesses, employment, population, building approvals, industry structure, journey to work and much more.

View the Economy ID Economic Profile

The Mareeba Shire Council community profile provides valuable insights into the local community. It includes information about the region’s population such as age, migration, family types, education, work, housing and relative well-being.

By accessing the community profile, it is possible to better understand the story of the local community, how it is changing over time and how it compares to other areas.

View the Economy ID Community Profile