Explore our industry

Agriculture

Dairy has been a mainstay of the local economy for many years and has endured drought, low water allocations and low farm gate prices over the years. Prior to the drought of 2005 the Gannawarra Shire produced around 350M litres of milk per annum. Current production has fallen to around 200M litres per annum.

Viticulture is limited to plantings around Kangaroo Lake and Lake Charm with around 500ha of wine grapes planted. Brown Brothers Vineyards are the main growers at these locations.

Tomatoes are grown on the rich self-mulching clay soils at Dingwall, south-west of Kerang. Modern growing technology has seen the area produce some of the best crops in the country.

Livestock is produced across the municipality with prime lambs, beef cattle and pigs being the most common. There are also buffalo, goats and ostrich.

Grain is predominantly grown in the broad acre areas of the Mallee around Quambatook and Lalbert, and the area to the south-west of Kerang around Lake Meran.

Horticulture in Gannawarra consists of walnuts at Koondrook, citrus at Murrabit, organic apples in Kerang, stonefruit at Kangaroo Lake, olives at Cohuna and a massive 100ha cherry orchard near Kerang

Irrigation is a key to agriculture in Gannawarra supplied by a modern channel system, along with natural carriers providing water from the Murray and Goulburn systems. Irrigation water is used for dairy farming, horticulture and viticulture.

Manufacturing

The Gannawarra Shire is home to some of Victoria’s most renowned manufacturing businesses that have endured many years of industry success in competitive environments.
Industrial Estate development in the Gannawarra Shire has been a major source of investment and employment over the last 15 years. Council has developed and sold around 110 industrial estate lots, all of which have been developed specifically for business in Cohuna, Kerang and Koondrook.

AWMA design, manufacture and install water control infrastructure incorporating water control gates and penstocks.
AWMA has the most comprehensive facilities in Australia for the design and manufacture of water control structures for the water industry, with over 5,000 square meters
of manufacturing facility based in Cohuna.

Ellwaste is one of the largest privately owned waste management companies in rural Victoria and services the northern half of the state and southern NSW. The company is committed to the waste and recycling industry.

Archards Irrigation is a leader in the irrigation and water supply industry. Archards was formed as a small family business in the mid 1970’s and since that time has grown to employ over 45 people throughout northern Victoria and southern NSW.

Mawsons is an iconic Cohuna company and one of the largest quarrying and construction businesses operating in Victoria. Mawsons is a family owned business founded in 1912 by Mr EB Mawson. Today, Mawsons operate quarries and pre-mix concrete plants in Victoria and southern NSW.

Arbuthnot Sawmills Pty Ltd is a family company established on its present site in Koondrook by Alexander (Sandy) Arbuthnot in 1889.
Arbuthnot Sawmills established a tourist walkway through the mill in 1998. This was purposefully built for school groups, community organisations and tourists. The walkway allows for safe access
and the opportunity of viewing the red gum logs through the milling process and on to become a magnificent piece of red gum furniture.

Border Packers are a citrus packing shed operating out of Koondrook. Fresh citrus is packed for both local and domestic markets whilst fresh juice is sent to processors in bulk.

Dunstan Farmers Engineering specialise in the design and manufacture of the well-known mobile field bins, chaser bins and grain bins.
With over thirty years’ experience, Dunstan Farmers has developed a strong friendship with farmers, valued their opinion and manufactured to their needs.

Mac’s Shortbread Company is located in the Kerang Industrial Estate. Mac’s distribute tasty shortbread all over Australia. For the collector they also have beautiful collector tins.

Kerfab manufactures and repairs agricultural and earth moving machinery such as front-end loaders for tractors and hay handling equipment.

Faucet Australia designs and builds high quality tapware, mixers and accessories in their manufacturing facilities in Kerang. This family-owned business has been in operation since 1999 and has become established Australia- wide with the trusted Faucet brand, which is a valued supplier to many retailers, and has established an export market for specialised products to the UK.

Amacron Technologies is an Australian family business that grew from involvement with monofilament extrusion, which led to the development and invention of Border Line, which is now known and sold worldwide.
They supply a vast range of equine products as well as a massive range of accessories and replacement parts for the golf course industry and also Vinitex foliage wire, supplied to the grape growing industry.

River Red Gum Furniture was established in Koondrook in 1991. Dean and Wayne of River Red Gum Furniture have 50 years experience in the timber furniture industry between them.
They have established themselves as one of the specialists in the field of manufacturing kiln-dried solid red gum furniture in Australia.

Northern Herd Development (NHD) was established at Cohuna, northern Victoria, in 1974. Thirty six years later, NHD has successfully and sustainably grown to service the herd improvement needs of dairy and beef farmers right across Northern Victoria, in the Riverina and southern NSW, as well as throughout South Australia. NHD’s Cohuna-based laboratory now analyses well over one million milk samples for dairy farmers throughout these regions annually.