The Swan Hill Region has always had strong retail and service sectors because of its location in relation to other regional centres. Recent strong economic growth in the region has enhanced this strength, making prospects for further retail and service development bright. Many businesses have already realised these opportunities either by moving to the region or re-developing and expanding their existing businesses.
Economic Catchment
Swan Hill has an economic catchment of 40,000 people that shop and do business in Swan Hill at least once a fortnight (within one hour’s drive time of Swan Hill). Of these 20,000 people live within commuting distance (up to 40 kilometres) and use Swan Hill for regular shopping experiences.
Swan Hill
Significant investment has been undertaken in the city over the past three years in the areas of retail, agricultural service, manufacturing, entertainment, health and education services, further enhancing Swan Hill’s status as a prominent and growing regional centre.
Land
Swan Hill provides a variety of land choices for retail and commercial purposes. Sites exist in the Central Business District (CBD) and on main arterial roads. A number of private sites and existing premises are also available for sale or lease throughout the region.
Swan Hill Rural City Council is willing to facilitate developments to ensure the developer’s preferred site is zoned appropriately and to co-ordinate the provision of infrastructure to the site with local authorities
Recent Developments
As a reflection of the optimism displayed in Swan Hill as a regional retail and service centre, the following developments have occurred in recent years:
- Establishment of the Coles complex and major upgrade of the Safeway Supermarket
- Establishment of a new Aldi Supermarket and speciality store – construction during 2007.
- Construction of a McDonalds Family restaurant, relocation and expansion of the KFC outlet, and introduction of Subway and Pinkies Pizza
- Refurbishment of most hotels and clubs
- New brand stores and franchises including Bakers Delight, Lenard’s, Priceline, Go Lo, The Warehouse, Wendy’s and Battery World
- Construction of over ten new retail shops on vacant land since early 2000
- Target (Coles/Myer) Department Store – 2500 square metres of floor space plus underground carparking – opened November 2002
- Best & Less Store Development – opened October 2005
- Development of a large-scale Harvey Norman store on a new site and introduction of a new Warehouse store
- $2.5 million new Swan Hill Region Information Centre – Opened July 2005
- Re-design and refits of a number of stores, coupled with improved traffic flow management by Council, which has improved the appearance of the CBD and recent announcement of the redesign of the Swan Hill Shopping Arcade
- Establishment of a number of new indoor and outdoor restaurants offering a range of Australian and International cuisine (Italian, South East Asian, Japanese and Chinese)
- Construction of new State and Federal Government offices
- Pivot Ltd - a new regional fertiliser distribution centre
- Elders Ltd - consolidation of its activities in the region into a larger purpose built facility and expansion into horticultural services
- William Adams (Caterpillar Machinery) - has returned to Swan Hill and established new premises and facilities
- Emmett Motors (John Deere Machinery) – established in Swan Hill early 2000 and moved into purpose built premises in 2005
- Redevelopment of the Dunoon Centre, in the heart of the CBD, offering modern office space for expanding businesses
- Redevelopment of the Post Office site into a new Post Office and retail complex (construction during 2006 and 2007)
- Development of the southern approach to Swan Hill with the new Swan Hill Toyota showroom and construction of a new homemaker centre (due for completion in 2007).
Economic Development Unit
Swan Hill Region Information Centre
Cnr McCrae & Curlewis Streets
Swan Hill VIC 3585
Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm
Saturday & Sunday 9am – 5pm
Telephone: +61 3 5032 3033
Facsimile: +61 3 5032 3032
Freecall (in Australia): 1800 625 373
Email: ecodev@swanhill.vic.gov.au
