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The Glen Innes Highlands community comprises of both rural and urban residents, including the villages of Glencoe, Red range, Deepwater and Emmaville and the hamlets of Wellingrove, Wytaliba, Dundee and Glen Elgin.

Whilst there is great diversity in the Highlands community, there is also great unity and community spirit.

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Glen Innes Highlands Glen Innes Highlands

Glen Innes Highlands is a terrific place to raise a family, semi-retire or retire, and make that change to your lifestyle that brings you closer to community, culture and nature.

Culture &
Community

Our community is made up of a diverse mix of traditional, established and new families.

The traditional Ngoorabul people called their home Gindaaydjin, meaning ‘plenty of big round stones on clear plains’. Large granite boulders are a common feature of the local landscape, none more famous than Balancing Rock. Many Ngoorabul people continue to live in the Glen Innes Highlands area and still celebrate their historic ties to the region, practicing many aspects of their traditional way of life and sharing their culture with visitors.

The early settlers in the area were mostly Scots. The first to settle here was a Cambridge-educated barrister from Selkirkshire named Archibald Boyd. In 1838, he established what is now known as Stonehenge Station. Glen Innes Highlands is now home to a strong population with both Celtic and traditional backgrounds.

Some farms in the area have been in the same family for over 150 years. Such strong roots within the community create a wonderful foundation and solidity that many places in this day and age do not enjoy.

Population: 8,922 people

Employment: 3,060 jobs

Wages & Salaries: $202.461 million

Top 3 Employment by industry: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing; Health Care & Social Assistance; Retail Trade

Families: 58.11% two-person families, 17.89% three-person families, 13.6% four-person families

Housing Dwelling Type: 94.57% Occupied Private Dwellings

Community Profile

For more information on our community, we subscribe to REMPLAN, where you can access deeper information about population, migration, families, education, work, housing, wellbeing and trends.

REMPLAN community profile

Climate - One of the big drawcards for everyone who’s made the move to Glen Innes Highlands is the cool climate and the four distinct seasons with perpetually changing landscapes.

Convenience - Many locals walk to work, and for those who drive, the average commute is a relaxed 7 minutes. There are no road tolls and parking is free. Considering the sought-after tranquillity of a country lifestyle that Glen Innes Highlands affords, nothing’s far away. It’s only 2 hours to a beach and 2 hours to Moree’s hot springs. Toowoomba, Brisbane and the Gold Coast are a half-day’s drive. And Sydney is only a short flight away from nearby Armidale.

A Rich Rural Lifestyle

After economic outlook, local skills gaps and opportunities, a key consideration for people thinking about relocating is what kind of lifestyle they and their families will enjoy.

The best way to find out what it’s like to live in Glen Innes Highlands is to ask the locals. We did just that and here’s what they love about their lives in Glen Innes Highlands:

Sense of community - Locals talk about the many opportunities to get involved in their community – the surprising number of events throughout the year, the numerous social and special interest clubs and organisations.

Affordability - Dollars go further in Glen Innes Highlands. Properties (commercial, agricultural and residential) are cheaper.

Physical Beauty - Our beautifully preserved and restored town centre, the extensive and tranquil Anzac Park, and the World Heritage national parks on our doorstep.

Rural Lifestyle - Glen Innes Highlands has everything you need, and nothing you don’t. The pace of life is one of the biggest drawcards for people relocating from cities. It’s being able to combine the best of a rural lifestyle and the best of a country town. The air is fresh, there are so many options for outdoor activities, and children have the freedom to run around and play safely.

Leveraging the
Digital Economy

The digital economy is already transforming life in regional Australia, from the way we access services, such as health, education and government, to the way we work and live.

There are significant competitive advantages for regional businesses that participate in the digital economy that can be achieved through generating efficiencies in business operations, increased productivity and the ability to access new markets.

With NBN and mobile network coverage, businesses that operate in Glen Innes Highlands can benefit from reduced rents, less commuting times for workers and a more stable workforce.

Microbusiness in our region can also benefit by accessing a much greater market through digital platforms.

This local economic recovery project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the NSW Government under Disaster Funding Arrangements.

Highlands HUB was launched to assist in bridging local jobs and skills gaps, provide a consolidated online view of local job vacancies, and provide a central one-stop-shop for our community members to connect and communicate with each other.

Highlands HUB
Community

Where we connect, create, innovate & grow.

Highlands HUB offers the following benefits for community members:

Community directory for community members and groups
Sharing of community news
Local jobs/careers portal
Profile builder for job seekers, employers & job service providers
Career pathways content publishing
Information about local industries
Events calendar

Located at 167 Grey Street, Glen Innes, The HUB is also a co-working facility offering a variety of bookable spaces, where business and community can come together with a common purpose of creating a thriving local economy and socially prosperous community. The HUB will also offer subsidised programs, training and workshops in its first year of operation. Join our online community to stay up to date with what's happening at The HUB. Enquiries can be emailed to [email protected]

Join our online community