As you drive through the rolling landscapes of Central and East Gippsland, the engine driving the region is immediately obvious. It is a land dominated by livestock- dairy, sheep, and beef – and pockets of vibrant horticulture.
It is, quite simply, bountiful.
However, a recent road trip around Bairnsdale by one of our Gippsland News Weekend reporters revealed that there is much more to this region than just green paddocks:
Our journey began at the Bairnsdale Stockyards, arriving just as the auctioneers were hammering down the final offerings.
Cattle had been gathered for delivery, destined for new farms or abattoirs, signalling the constant movement of the region’s economic lifeblood.
We finished the day at a thriving family farm, witnessing the next generation already stepping up.
Two poised young women, aged just nine and 13, showed they were deeply embedded in farm life, with the youngest already starting and managing her own stud.
Between the saleyards and the farm gate, the diversity of the landscape shines.
We passed establishments generating seedlings and travelled roads above fertile river plains producing vast amounts of vegetables for consumption both locally and further afield.
But the land tells an ancient story, too.
Evidence of limestone cliffs reveals fossilised seashells, remnants of a time when the Gippsland Basin was submerged under a shallow sea.
These marine fossils, compacted and cemented over geological time, are now visible in the cliffs formed after the sea receded and tectonic uplift changed the face of the region.
Delving into more recent history, we visited a site showcasing impressive stone works left by Chinese gold miners – men who travelled and worked cooperatively to successfully unearth the region’s mineral wealth.
According to REMPLAN data, the “Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing” sector generated an output of $794.796 million in East Gippsland.
The growth has been steady and significant.
Between 2010 and 2016 alone, the total value of agricultural production (excluding timber) jumped from $150 million to $240 million.
While livestock remains the major contributor, horticulture is a vital and growing sector.
Innovation is also taking root.
Precision agriculture techniques, such as the use of drone data, are helping farmers improve efficiency and reduce costs through the targeted application of water, fertilisers and pesticides.
This agricultural success spills over into a thriving tourism industry.
Visitors love eating in Gippsland, knowing their plate is likely blessed with produce
grown nearby.
Fishing and aquaculture remain pillars of the coastal economy, boasting a large fishing fleet in Lakes Entrance and a significant abalone industry in Mallacoota.
In 2021, agriculture, forestry, and fishing generated $59.374 million in regional exports.
From the high country to the lakes, East Gippsland continues to tick, powered by the land, its history and the families who work it.
East Gippsland covers an area of approximately 3.2 million hectares, of which about 30 per cent is used for agriculture.
The remaining area is allocated to state or national parks, while other crown land forms part of the Gippsland Lakes.
Farming is found anywhere from just above sea level to more than 800m in the Victorian Alps.
Soil types are variable, ranging from sandy flats with low fertility to highly fertile
river flats, clay loams and gravelly soils in the hills.
Land use is determined by rainfall, access to water, topography, and soil fertility.
Small pockets of irrigated agriculture (horticulture and dairy) exist around Orbost, Genoa, Cann River, Maffra, Yarram and Bairnsdale.
Regional breakdown
The High Country: Mostly used for beef and sheep production. Beef production has historically focused on autumn calving to produce weaners for March sales (Omeo, Ensay, Benambra), though some are shifting to late winter/early spring calving. Sheep numbers have seen a steep decline due to wild dogs, drought recovery, and labour shortages.
Foothills and Red Gum Plains: Predominantly sheep (Merino systems for wool and prime lambs) and beef, with some cropping enterprises.
River Flats: The fertile flats around Orbost, Cann River, Maffra and Lindenow are the hub for horticulture.
The majority of the Macalister Irrigation District around Maffra is dedicated to
dairy production.
