You’ll find future focused investment already being unlocked in Greater Whitsunday solving some of the world’s most complex problems.

Gilmour Space

Take off in 3-2-1! Gilmour Space Technologies is Australia’s leading launch services company and is backed by some of the country’s biggest investors.

Gilmour Space is focused on providing affordable space launch services to the world’s fast-growing small satellite market. In November 2024, Gilmour Space was granted their final launch permit, to head into space from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport.

Gilmour Space is developing new capabilities for launching satellites to space, lowering the cost, and enhancing reliability for commercial and defence customers. Location and access to world-class technical capability drew Gilmour Space to establish the Bowen to develop and launch small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This next chapter of space exploration will transform the region’s economy as a burgeoning aerospace industry emerges.

Aerospace Possibilities

Cauldron Ferm

Mackay set to be home to our region’s first precision fermentation facility.

Australian start-up Cauldron Ferm is building Asia-Pacific’s largest network of precision fermentation facilities. Cauldon plans to use a “revolutionary hyper-fermentation platform that will unlock the production of new forms of food, feed and fibre, and unlock a $700 billion global industry opportunity.

The Greater Whitsunday region, with diverse and abundant feedstocks, supporting infrastructure and precincts, access to renewable energy and a dynamic workforce, holds all the unique advantages and natural resources to become a world leader in the age of bio-based manufacturing.

In October 2024 it was announced Cauldron Ferm will build the region’s first precision fermentation facility, with support from the Queensland Government Industry Partnership Program.

The Cauldron Bio-Fab is projected to have 1,000 tonnes of bioproducts annually for sectors like food, nutrition, beauty, biofuels, and chemicals.

This project will be part of the Greater Whitsunday’s broader vision to make Mackay a global hub for biomanufacturing by 2030, driving innovation, sustainability and diversification in the region.

Biomanufacturing Possibilities

Tassal Group

Tassal’s impressive Proserpine Prawn Farm on the Gregory River in the Whitsundays, already produces about 80 per cent of the company’s prawns and is set to expand its 270ha of ponds to 455ha. A $240M expansion and development of Proserpine Prawn Farm will add 12,500 tonnes to regional production of king prawns.

Tassal Group has a number of ambitious goals for the Greater Whitsunday region, looking to grow from producing 5,000 tonnes of prawns per year to 20,000 tonnes by 2030. During the 20,000 tonnes operating phase, Tassal’s direct employment is projected to peak at 680 employees across Queensland, with the vast proportion of these headquartered in the Whitsundays.

Operational activities at the Proserpine Prawn Farm heavily rely on digital technologies and cover the entire prawn life cycle, from breeding through to pond cultivation and harvest, with king prawns grown for both a domestic market as well as customers in Asia, the US and Europe. As Australia’s Blue AgTech leader and largest vertically integrated seafood producer, Tassal’s purpose is to contribute to a prosperous, healthy planet for future generations and Greater Whitsunday plays a key role in achieving this.

Aquaculture Possibilities

Agriculture

From 5% of Queensland’s land mass, the Greater Whitsunday region delivers around 10% of the state’s agricultural production, positioning the region as a key industry contributor in Queensland and Australia.

Agriculture Possibilities

Emerging Possibilities

As one of the world’s richest economic eco-systems, you’ll find a unique combination of climate, land, people, power, water, infrastructure, innovation, and entrepreneurship to resource almost any ambitious organization or industry.

We’re ready to unlock even Greater Possibilities

Greater Whitsunday is home to Australia’s largest steel making coal reserves and the possibility to power new decarbonised industries and the road to net zero.