Regional Development Victoria

State Government of Victoria


Regions of interest across Victoria

Regional Victoria has welcoming communities, excellent services and a multitude of lifestyle opportunities making it a place of new opportunities and a better quality of life.

All of Victoria's 48 regional and rural councils will exhibit at the Expo. To find out more about regional and rural Victoria, click on a region on the map.

Goulburn River and Ranges Geelong, Otway, Hinterland and Golden Plains Gippsland North East Victoria Loddon Murray Goulburn Murray Victoria's Goldfields Great South Coast Grampians Pyrenees Wimmera Mallee Mildura Swan Hill Melbourne Metro

Mildura and Swan Hill

The Mildura Swan Hill region forms an oasis in Victoria’s north west. The area has a vibrant history, excellent climate, warm and welcoming communities and a thriving economy .

People are attracted to the region for the wonderful waterways of the Murray River; acclaimed restaurants and wineries; annual arts, wine and food festivals; and the amazing flora and fauna of the region’s national parks. Swan Hill is a lively growing centre with a relaxed lifestyle and community spirit of traditional rural life. Mildura is a vibrant and modern city with a regional flavour, in a unique tri-state location at the borders of New South Wales and South Australia.

 

Council

Phone

Website

Mildura Rural City Council (03) 5018 8100 www.mildura.vic.gov.au
www.milduraregion.com.au
www.liveworkmildura.com
Swan Hill Rural City Council (03) 5032 3033 www.swanhillonline.com
www.swanhill.vic.gov.au

Wimmera Mallee

The Wimmera Mallee region of Western Victoria is internationally renowned for its National Parks , spectacular wilderness, historic wineries and country hospitality. Wimmera Mallee also has 25 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands which is a big drawcard for lifestyle and gives a balance to the diversity of the landscape.

The region is well known for its unique community-based cultural events, impressive art galleries, and annual program of touring musicians. The area offers a multitude of lifestyle choices, from urban inner city living to peaceful rural blocks or affordable homes in the region’s smaller communities. Major retailers operate throughout the region providing variety and excellent customer service.

 

Council

Phone

Website

Buloke Shire (03) 5478 0100 www.buloke.vic.gov.au
West Wimmera Shire (03) 5585 9900 www.westwimmera.com.au
Hindmarsh Shire (03) 5391 1811 www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
Horsham Rural City (03) 5382 9777 www.hrcc.vic.gov.au
Yarriambiack Shire (03) 5398 0100 www.yarriambiack.vic.gov.au

Loddon Murray

The Loddon Murray region offers a wide range of lifestyles – rural, small town or farming environments. It is a fast-growing region with excellent facilities, services and amenities for business, industry and community.

Attractions include pioneering gold towns and heritage towns, the Murray River and a huge range of water sports and nature-based activities centered around the many lakes, rivers and majestic forests. Fishing and camping are also favourite pastimes.

 

Council

Phone

Website

Gannawarra Shire (03) 5450 9333 www.gannawarra.vic.gov.au
Loddon Shire (03) 5494 1200 www.loddon.vic.gov.au

Goulburn Murray

The Goulburn Murray region is known as Victoria's 'inland water playground' the the 'Foodbowl of Australia' - with a rich river heritage of paddlesteamers and houseboats, along with an abundance of fresh produce and local wines.

The region features the Murray and Goulburn Rivers, numerous wine regions, sandy river beaches, beautiful bushland and red gum forrests.

 

Council

Phone

Website

Campaspe Shire (03) 5481 2200 www.campaspe.vic.gov.au
www.gmlifestyle.com.au
Greater Shepparton (03) 5832 9847 www.greatershepparton.com.au
www.gmlifestyle.com.au
Moira Shire (03) 5871 9222 www.moira.vic.gov.au
www.gmlifestyle.com.au

North East Victoria

The North East is one of the fastest growing regions in Victoria. It has natural beauty, offers affordable living and job opportunities. The region is renowned for worldclass wines, gourmet food, award-winning restaurants, great shopping, scenic rail trails and the spectacular views of the Mt Buffalo and Alpine national parks.

The North East boasts an amazing year-round calendar of festivals and events, including the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, Carnivale Wodonga, Bright Autumn Festival, Rutherglen Winery Walkabout and the Man from Snowy River Bush Festival.

Blessed with a climate of four distinct seasons, the North East is a great place for a healthy family life with bushwalking, fishing, horse riding, cycling, sailing and snow skiing on offer. The North East has many historic towns and villages which are well worth seeing, as well as several national parks and more active pursuits for those who enjoy the outdoors.

 

Council

Phone

 Email

Website

Alpine Shire (03) 5755 0555 info@alpineshire.vic.gov.au www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au
Indigo Shire (03) 5728 8000 indigoshire@indigoshire.vic.gov.au www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au
City of Wodonga (02) 6022 9300 info@wodonga.vic.gov.au www.wodonga.vic.gov.au
Towong Shire (02) 6071 5100   www.towong.vic.gov.au
Wangaratta Rural City (03) 5722 0775   www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au

Gippsland

No other part of Victoria offers the sheer variety of natural attractions…unspoilt beaches, pristine rainforests, virgin snowfields, hiking and riding trails, food and wine and clean, fresh air…all within comfortable driving distance, wherever you live in Gippsland. This region is home to most of the State’s rainforests, awe-inspiring high country, spectacular beaches, rivers and lakes, hills, snowfields and wilderness areas. Clean air, clean water and organic food are important attractions. Year-round festivals and celebrations make Gippsland a stimulating and exciting place for all ages. Plus Gippsland is the energy powerhouse of Victoria, housing vast oil, coal and natural gas reserves.

  

Council

Phone

Email

Website

Bass Coast Shire Council 1300 BCOAST (226 278) business@basscoast.vic.gov.au www.basscoast.vic.gov.au
Latrobe City 1300 367 700 busdev@latrobe.vic.gov.au www.latrobe.vic.gov.au
Baw Baw Shire (03) 5624 2523 business@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au
South Gippsland Shire (03) 5662 9200 council@southgippsland.vic.gov.au www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au
East Gippsland Shire 1800 755 456 feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au www.egipps.vic.gov.au
Wellington Shire 1300 366 244 enquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au www.wellington.vic.gov.au

Grampians Pyrenees

In the heart of Western Victoria lies the Grampians Pyrenees, a region of majestic peaks and tranquil villages . Thanks to our gold rush heritage, the Grampians Pyrenees region is a mix of tradition and progress, historic and modern buildings, quiet villages and thriving commercial centres. The combined benefits of lifestyle, affordable housing, proximity to work and excellent job prospects make the Grampians Pyrenees a desirable destination for a “tree change.”

Our natural resources are amongst our greatest assets with the iconic Grampians National Park situated within our region. Then there are the wineries, restaurants, cafes, clean air, state-of-the-art services and relaxed lifestyle. These elements combine to make the Grampians Pyrenees region a great place to live, work, invest and raise a family.

 

Council

Phone

Website

Grampians Pyrenees Regional Development Board (03) 5355 0271 www.grampianspyrenees.com
Ararat Rural City (03) 5355 0200 www.ararat.vic.gov.au
Northern Grampians Shire (03) 5358 8700 www.ngshire.vic.gov.au
Pyrenees Shire (03) 5349 1100 www.pyrenees.vic.gov.au

Victoria's Goldfields

Interested in making our region your home? Then read on for an overview of what life is like. Victoria’s Goldfields region first prospered during the gold rush, and you don’t have to look hard to see the legacy of those heady times. Grand homes and buildings create charming streetscapes throughout the region, which continues to prosper today.

The two main cities – Ballarat and Bendigo – have a cosmopolitan atmosphere with top quality restaurants and cafes. Throughout the region you will find glorious parks and gardens, a thriving arts scene and a full calendar of sports, festivals and events that celebrate local wine, food, history, art and music. You will discover the peace and tranquility of rural life with all the conveniences of city amenities.

 

Council

Phone

Email

Website

City of Ballarat (03) 5320 5672   www.whatsballaratlike.com.au
www.ballarat.vic.gov.au
Hepburn Shire (03) 5348 2306   www.hepburnshire.com.au
City of Greater Bendigo (03) 5434 6000 edu@bendigo.vic.gov.au www.bendigo.vic.gov.au
Moorabool Shire Council (03) 5366 7100 info@moorabool.vic.gov.au www.moorabool.vic.gov.au
www.moorabool.com.au
Central Goldfields (03) 5461 0610   www.centralgoldfields.com.au
Mount Alexander Shire (03) 5471 1700   www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au
Macedon Ranges Shire Council  (03) 5421 9617  mrs@macedon-ranges.vic.gov.au  www.macedon-ranges.vic.gov.au 

Goulburn River Ranges

The Goulburn River and Ranges region is well known for its scenic beauty, characterised by rolling hills, forests, rivers, lakes, rural plains and the mountainous backdrop of the high country - making it a very popular lifestyle destination for many.

The majestic Goulburn River and its major river tributaries are important to the region and its inhabitants for both lifestyle and business. The region is serviced with essential utilities including broadband and excellent transport corridors making the distance to Melbourne an achievable commute from some major centres in the southern region. Escape the pace of city living and experience a stronger sense of community and spend more time with the family.

To the south you’ll find Lake Mountain and further north-east, Mansfield, the gateway to Victoria’s famous High Country and Alpine resorts. The vibrant hubs of Benalla, Mansfield and Seymour capture the north, east and west boundaries of the region.

 

Council Phone Website
Benalla Rural City (03) 5760 2600 www.benalla.vic.gov.au
Mitchell Shire (03) 5734 6200 www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au
Mansfield Shire (03) 5775 8555 www.mansfield.vic.gov.au
Murrindindi Shire (03) 5772 0318 www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au

Great South Coast

An impressive combination of wide open spaces, thriving cities and towns, clean living and a relaxed lifestyle ensures the Great South Coast is one of Australia's most vibrant and exciting regions in which to live and work. People living in the region enjoy excellent education and health services, sporting and recreational facilities, retail shopping, as well as an established arts scene and busy calendar of festivals and events.

From the beauty of the Great Ocean Road to rainforests, lush farming districts and the craggy rocks and mountains of the Grampians National Park, residents can chooose a wide range of lifestyles.

 

Council

Phone

Website

Colac Otway Shire (03) 5232 9400 www.colacotway.vic.gov.au
Moyne Shire (03) 5568 0555 www.moyne.vic.gov.au
Corangamite Shire (03) 5593 7100 www.corangamite.vic.gov.au
Southern Grampians Shire (03) 5573 0492 www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au
Glenelg Shire (03) 5522 2200 www.glenelg.vic.gov.au
Warrnambool City Council (03) 5559 4800 www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au

Geelong, Otway, Hinterland & Golden Plains

The Geelong, Otway and Golden Plains Hinterland region is Victoria’s premier coastal and hinterland destination. The region encompasses the world-famous Great Ocean Road, Victoria’s largest regional city, Geelong, the ever-popular Bellarine Peninsula and the beautiful Otway Ranges. The Geelong, Otway and Golden Plains Hinterland region encompasses a unique, diverse and beautiful setting providing a vibrant environment to live, work and invest.

 

Council

Phone

 Email

Website

City of Greater Geelong (03) 5272 5272 contactus@geelongcity.vic.gov.au www.geelongaustralia.com.au
Colac Otway Shire (03) 5232 9400   www.colacotway.vic.gov.au
Surf Coast Shire (03) 5261 0600   www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au
Borough of Queenscliffe (03) 5258 1377   www.queenscliffe.vic.gov.au
Golden Plains Shire (03) 5220 7111   www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au



Last Updated: 16 February 2012