Hinchinbrook Shire - Explore the Possibilities

The scenic Hinchinbrook Shire lies nestled in the Herbert River Valley, roughly 110km drive north of Townsville.

Hinchinbrook has a colourful history, with a rich diversity of cultures from the early settlement and establishment of the sugar industry. More than half of the town’s population is of Italian descent and this strong Italian influence is the basis for one of the district’s largest annual festivals – The Australian Italian Festival. 

The Hinchinbrook Shire’s unique physical and cultural features, together with its relaxed lifestyle, are increasingly attracting new business operators and innovators from beyond the region. While the shire is one of Australia’s largest sugar growing areas, new industries are rapidly emerging, particularly in renewable energy.

The region is contained within the lower catchment of the Herbert River and is home to a diverse range of ecologies including wet tropics rainforests, flood plains and extensive marine and freshwater wetlands. It also boasts Australia’s highest sheer drop waterfall – Wallaman Falls and is adjacent to the world’s largest island national park – Hinchinbrook Island. Its unique position means the region is a place of great environmental diversity.

The shire covers an area in excess of 2,882 square kilometres and is home to an estimated 12,000 people. The main commercial centre of the region is the town of Ingham.