Northern Territory

trading in Big Rivers

We have the space to grow and the determination to do it sustainably

 

Our industries are ready to scale up and big business is moving in.

While we may only be 8 per cent of the Northern Territory’s total population, at over 25 percent of its land mass, we’re ready to grow.

Our climate and coordinates are amongst our greatest comparative advantages. From our natural resources, sub-tropical climate and proximity to 50 per cent of the world’s population, Northern Australia is fast becoming recognised as one of the remaining untapped markets, globally.

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“It’s a particularly easy place to fall into a good business. You still have to work hard at it, but you’ve got people wanting to back you. It’s that sort of place”
— Jeff, Owner, Custom Cabinets
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sustainability and land management

Caring for country

 

We don’t just care about our environment, our livelihoods depend on it.

Our Indigenous land management practices draw on knowledge gained over tens of thousands of years and have fast become recognised across Australia as leading the way in protecting, maintaining, healing and enhancing healthy ecosystems and productive environments.

Tourism

It’s the ultimate nature-based adventure here. People come from all across the globe to feel that sense of openness across our rugged landscapes and ancient gorges. To have the space to disconnect in our secret waterholes and crystal-clear natural springs. To feel absorbed in 65,000 years of living culture, and to be reminded what it’s like to reconnect with the things that really matter.

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Agribusiness

From food to fibre, the Big Rivers is the most productive agricultural region in the Northern Territory.

Over 20 per cent of Australia’s mango supply and 40 per cent of the Northern Territory’s live beef exports are produced in the region.

From our sub-tropical seasons to our semi-arid environment, we’ve had to master the art of sustainable land management practices to build resilience in our farming and pastoral systems.

They chose us for AgriTourism & Conservation

The Landsmith Collection’s ‘Bullo River Station’

Bullo River Station is a 400,000-acre working cattle station in the region’s north west. Since 2018, the station has partnered with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to balance sustainable farming methods with best-practice land management. The partnership, which is the first of its kind in Australia, focuses on scientific monitoring of habitats and fire, feral animals and weed management to deliver world-class conservation in harmony with Bullo River Station’s pastoral heritage. 

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Creative Industries

Everything we create here is born of our environment. It’s never one size fits all, always one of a kind, and some of it tells stories over 65,000 years old.

Our art centres and galleries throughout the region are the heart of our communities, keeping the transference of culture alive and strong through art and textiles.

Renewables

With a vast, undeveloped land mass and amongst the highest rates of solar irradiance and daily sunshine hours in Australia, the Big Rivers is already pursuing large-scale solar and renewable hydrogen for a greener future.

They chose us for Renewables

Eni

Eni is a global integrated energy company who signalled its confidence in the region’s solar resource through the development of the 34 MWp Katherine Photovoltaic Station. This was the first large-scale solar operation in the Northern Territory.

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Defence & Defence Support

Our wide open spaces, limited air traffic and geostrategic location makes the region the ideal base for ensuring Australia’s defence capability in the north. We’re home to some of Australia's most strategic defence training sites and the major operational air force base in Northern Australia.

Our supporting trades, services and supply capacity have long developed capabilities that meet the needs of the defence estate.

Resources & Exploration

Resources are a significant driver of economic growth in the Big Rivers. The region is rich in high grade minerals and globally competitive deposits of zinc, lead & gold, with some of the world’s most productive basins and vast areas remaining underexplored.

Collaborations across industry, researchers and government are driving a new era of geo science research and innovation to pursue new areas of sustainable exploration across our large, undeveloped land mass.

They chose us for resources

Glencore

Glencore is a global natural resource company producing a diverse range of commodities across Australia. Glencore’s McArthur River Mine in the region’s north east is one of Australia’s most remote mining operations, exporting lead and zinc concentrates from its port loading facility all across the world.

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