Australian macadamia industry announces continued national growth and celebrates its champions on National Agriculture Day

The Australian macadamia industry is celebrating National Agriculture Day with new national growth figures showing the industry has expanded more than 5 percent in the past year, according to updated tree-crop mapping data provided by the University of New England (UNE). Australia’s mapped macadamia footprint now covers 46,487 hectares, highlighting continued confidence and strategic investment across multiple regions.

Bundaberg remains the nation’s largest growing region at 19,656 hectares, adding 937 hectares in the past year. Tropical Queensland recorded the strongest rate of expansion, growing 57 percent (915 ha), and becoming Australia’s fourth-largest producing region. Maryborough also expanded significantly, up 26 percent, making it the third largest growing region behind Bundaberg and the NSW Northern Rivers.

AMS CEO Clare Hamilton-Bate said the mapping update strengthens the industry’s long-term planning and forecasting.

“UNE and the Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre (AARSC) team play a crucial role in giving our industry a clear national view of where macadamias are planted and how the landscape is changing,” she said. “Their work underpins so much of our planning and forecasting. Having accurate, current mapping helps us understand regional growth, identify future opportunities and support meaningful conversations with growers, researchers and government.”

She said National Agriculture Day was also the ideal moment to recognise growers who are driving excellence across the sector.

“Our award recipients show what can be achieved when skill, science, adaptability and long-term thinking come together. They are deeply committed to orchard health and productivity, and they embody everything that makes Australian agriculture resilient and world-leading.”

Australia’s top macadamia growers announced

This year’s Grower of the Year (large farm) is CL Macs, recognised for the exceptional performance of their Benworth orchard at Ainsworth, Gympie. With a 2024 result of 1.89 t/ha SK and a five-year average of 1.49 t/ha SK, Benworth is known for its disciplined management, natural-systems approach and depth of technical skill. The orchard contains 46-year-old trees and is managed using biological amendments, precision nutrition, and a philosophy of “working with nature, not against it”, supported by a highly skilled team and strong agronomy input. 

The Grower of the Year (small farm) is awarded to Steve and Brooke McLean of Macadamia Allsorts in the NSW Northern Rivers. Their Alstonville property achieved 2.2 t/ha SK in 2024 and a five-year average of 1.76 t/ha SK. Steve brings more than three decades of industry experience, including his role as a respected consultant, grower liaison and past recipient of the prestigious Norm Greber Award. Their farm is admired for its meticulously designed orchard layout, disciplined orchard-floor management, precise canopy control and data-driven irrigation and soil monitoring. 

The AMS also announced regional winners across Central Queensland, Gympie, the Glass House Mountains, Northern Rivers and the Mid North Coast, recognising outstanding results in productivity and quality based on 2024 season benchmarking data.