NSW regions

Southern Inland

Population: 207,165
Area: 53,618 sq km

Major cities and towns

• Bowral / Mittagong / Moss Vale
• Cooma
• Goulburn
• Queanbeyan
• Tumut
• Yass
• Young

Region overview

• the region is one of Australia’s most economically powerful
• home to some of the most visited tourist sites in Australia. More than 3.3 million tourists visited the region in 2009-10
• a growing high technology manufacturing sector
• fast becoming the windfarm capital of Australia

Major sectors

• public administration
• manufacturing
• agriculture
• education
• tourism
• information technology

The Southern Inland Region is located in the south east of the State. It contains a diversity of land forms, from mountains and snowfields, interior tablelands to cropping and grazing lands to the west.

The region’s climate ranges from temperate to cool on the Southern Tablelands and Southwest Slopes. 

Alpine climates dominate on the Monaro and the Snowy Mountains.

While the ACT is not part of the Southern Inland Region it does have a significant influence on the surrounding region.

The Southern Inland region is one of the most powerful regional economies in Australia.

Major competitive advantages

The Southern Inland Region:

• is strategically located between Sydney and Melbourne
• is extensive inter-regional transport and trade connections
• has a skilled tertiary workforce
• has access to a curfew free national and international airport at Canberra
• has the second fastest population growth rate, at 1.5% per annum over the last four years, of all NSW regions (including Sydney).

Industries

Industry employment

Retail is the largest employing industry in the region, accounting for 13% of its workforce, followed by health care and social assistance (10%), agriculture (10%), tourism-related accommodation and food services (10%), and manufacturing (10%).

In terms of manufacturing, wood product manufacturing accounts for 16% of the region’s total manufacturing workforce (mainly log sawmilling and wooden structural fitting and component manufacturing), followed by machinery and equipment manufacturing (15%, mainly mining and construction machinery and domestic appliances and electrical equipment), food product manufacturing (15%, mainly meat processing).

Agriculture

Sheep and beef cattle farming is by far the most dominant activity.
Forestry is becoming increasingly important as the region capitalises on its large areas of conifer plantations and native forests.

Wine

The cooler temperatures of the region help to produce award winning top quality cool-climate wines. Boutique wineries are popular with visitors.

Tourism

In 2009-10, there were more than 3.3 million total visitors to the Southern Tablelands, with strong growth experienced in the international market.

The region is also home to rugged coastal ranges, beautiful towns and villages, popular wineries and Kosciusko National Park with Australia’s largest ski fields. Special events are held all year round including the National Cherry Festival at Young and Thredbo’s Blues and Jazz Festival.

Infrastructure

Transport

The region is located along key rail and road routes between Sydney and Melbourne, and its extensive inter-regional links include transport and trade connections to Wollongong and Port Kembla, Wagga Wagga, Sydney and Melbourne.
The region has the longest continuous four lane and 110kmh road lengths of any region in NSW (Hume & Federal highways).
Canberra Airport is expanding with 10 new domestic and 2 new international terminals under construction.

Major educational facilities

• The NSW Police College
• Expansion of NSW TAFE with hospitality training at Cooma and establishment of a trade school at Queanbeyan High School.
• Extensive ongoing industry support from State Training Services
• 3 universities plus the Australian Defence Force Academy are located in the neighbouring ACT

Labour

The skills base of the region’s labour force provides considerable opportunities in:

• public administration
• defence
• education
• community services
• information technology
• hospitality
• health care and social assistance
  

For more information contact:

NSW Department of Trade and Investment
39 Goldsmith Street
Goulburn NSW 2580
Tel:  (02) 4821 8000
Fax: (02) 4821 8650

Regional Development Australia - Southern Inland
Tel: (02) 6297 0922
www.rdasi.org.au.

Related Documents

• Regional Profile - Southern Inland [PDF File - 274.7 KB]