Regional City of Wangaratta

A hub for manufacturing and textile innovation at the base of the alpine region and on the Melbourne Sydney transport corridor

Wangaratta is a key regional city located on the Ovens River in North East Victoria. Part of the Ovens Murray region, the municipality encompasses the Alpine Valleys of the King and lower Ovens Rivers and is a gateway to the Victorian high country and alpine regions.

Situated on the Hume Freeway, and the Melbourne to Sydney rail line, Wangaratta is a regional centre that services the surrounding agricultural area and provides strong recreational, commercial, educational, tourism and health facilities.

Wangaratta and the surrounding area are a popular food and wine destination.

Culture and lifestyle

Wangaratta is surrounded by rich agricultural land, which produces high quality produce and world-class wines. Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buffalo are all in close proximity offering excellent skiing in winter and bush walking, fishing, cycling or four wheel driving in summer.

Wangaratta is Australia’s home of jazz with the ‘Wangaratta Festival of Jazz’ held annually. Since its inception in 1990, the festival has grown to include 90 events and over 350 national and international artists performing each year. The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz also hosts the National Jazz Awards, Youth Jazz Workshops, master classes and events throughout Wangaratta and surrounding regions.

Employment, industry and infrastructure

Wangaratta’s regional economy is very diverse. Home to major manufacturing industries, transport and distribution activities, and is the regional headquarters for several Victorian Government agencies. Wangaratta has around 3,063 businesses and a workforce of approximately 13,200 people. The region is also one of the most valuable and versatile agricultural growing areas of Australia with reliable rainfall and fertile soil.

Health Care and Social Assistance is the primary employment industry in Wangaratta (RC), followed by Retail Trade, Manufacturing and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing. In the five-year period 2014-2019, there was strong employment growth in Grand Total, Construction, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Health Care and Social Assistance and Education and Training.

In terms of Gross Value Added activity, Manufacturing is the largest performing sector in Wangaratta, generating $213 million in 2019. Health Care and Social Assistance, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing and Construction are also key industry sectors.

The city relies heavily on imports of professional services and equipment to support the manufacturing sector.

Due to Wangaratta’s location, its tourism sector is growing with increased visitation rates and levels of trade. Public administration and safety, accommodation and food services and health care and social assistance are also key industry sectors.

Wangaratta is strategically located on the Hume Corridor between Melbourne and Sydney. It is one of the main gateways between Victoria and New South Wales and a key access point to north eastern and central Victoria.

Wangaratta is on the state rail network with both V/Line passenger and freight services connecting the city to Melbourne and Sydney. The Wangaratta Aerodrome is used for emergency, charter and flight training services.

The RDV information portal page has more detailed data and statistics on the Wangaratta region and regional Victoria more broadly.