The Shire of Katanning is in the north of the Great Southern, about 290km south of Perth, and 170km north of Albany. Its economic strengths are in agriculture and associated services. It boasts the largest roofed sheep saleyard in the southern hemisphere.

Katanning’s meat processing facilities have drawn a wide range of migrant workers to the town over the past five decades, and they have helped to create one of the most multicultural communities in regional Western Australia.

The town of Katanning is a regional centre and has access to a range of recreation and leisure facilities, government, health and education services, as well as a diverse retail and business district. Apart from Katanning’s residents, the town’s facilities serve the populations of surrounding Shires. Katanning is on the Great Southern Highway and its main entrance is framed by a picturesque and adventurous All Ages Playground and a pioneer-inspired ‘heart park’.

With a population of 4,057 and a land area of 1,518 sq km, Katanning contributes $334.7 million of the Great Southern’s gross regional product. Healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing and agriculture are the main employers.

Katanning Statistics

4,057

POPULATION

1,518 Sq. Km

LAND AREA

$334.7 Million

GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT

1,818

JOBS
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Katanning

The Shire of Katanning is in the north of the Great Southern, about 290km south of Perth, and 170km north of Albany. Its economic strengths are in agriculture and associated services. Explore Regions
Primary Industries in Katanning

Healthcare and Social Assistance

Health care facilities are provided in Albany and regional towns. Home care, seniors’ services and assisted living provide employment for a significant number of people. We aim to ensure that services provided in the region are comparable to services in the metropolitan area.

Education and Training

Public and independent schools serve families throughout the region. Technical and further education is available in Kinjarling / Albany and by extension elsewhere in the region. University courses are delivered at all levels. Tertiary education is supported by affordable student accommodation.

Construction and Manufacturing

Steady construction activity takes place on domestic and commercial premises and in civil construction. Machinery manufacturers provide many agriculture-related products and a range of other items for industry and consumers.

Primary Production

Broadacre farming and livestock are the backbone of the Great Southern economy. The regional economy also features plantation timber and associated products. Primary production feeds into the rest of the regional economy such as manufacturing and freight services.

Noongar Enterprise

Noongar people continue to engage in commercial and community enterprises in the Great Southern. We encourage a range of initiatives that support growth of Noongar enterprises, thereby strengthening Great Southern communities.

Retail and Hospitality

Major retail stores, general shopping and specialty services provide a significant number of jobs in the region. The hospitality sector has a steady employment base with seasonal peaks.

Tourism

Internationally-recognised ecotourism assets and natural attractions in the Great Southern are unmatched in regional Western Australia for their scale, diversity and accessibility. Noongar cultural experiences, the built heritage of Western Australia’s oldest European settlement and award-winning contemporary facilities complement the attractions of the natural environment.
Katanning Lifestyle
Katanning is warm-hearted, it really is. As a community, we are proud of how multicultural and diverse we are. We are hard-working, always looking to the future, and we know the reason most of our people are happy and our businesses are thriving, is that we work together, and we celebrate what makes us all different.

Katanning Resident, Shire of Katanning.