Mandarin Growing Regions
Mandarin Growing Regions explained for Australian readers, with local season, shopping, growing, recipe, nutrition, or industry context.
Australian mandarins are grown in five main regions: Queensland’s Central Burnett, South Australia’s Riverland, the Sunraysia district on the Victorian and NSW border, the Riverina in NSW, and Carnarvon in Western Australia. Queensland produces the largest volume and supplies the first fruit of the season each year.
Where Australian mandarins are grown
Mandarin production is spread across subtropical and temperate Australia, with each region contributing at a different point in the harvest calendar. The spread matters to consumers because it extends domestic availability from April through to October and reduces dependence on any single climate zone.
According to Citrus Australia, Queensland has approximately 5,703 hectares of combined citrus planted, accounting for around 20 per cent of Australia’s total citrus industry by area. Queensland is Australia’s largest producer of mandarins, with most fruit grown in the Central Burnett region.
Planted area nationally expanded from around 5,310 hectares in 2014 to 6,199 hectares in 2016, with further growth since as new seedless varieties came into production. Mandarin production reached a record 225,000 metric tonnes in the 2024/25 marketing year, driven partly by a 64 per cent increase in planted areas nationally over recent years (USDA Citrus Annual Australia, 2024/25).
Central Burnett, Queensland (Gayndah, Mundubbera): largest region
The Central Burnett district, centred on the towns of Gayndah and Mundubbera in southern Queensland, is Australia’s biggest mandarin-producing area. The region requires around 2,000 workers during peak harvest. The citrus industry is worth more than $100 million to the local economy each year.
Major growers in the region include Ironbark Citrus (established 1990 in Mundubbera, producing over 8,000 tonnes per year), Quebec Citrus (established 1988, 230 hectares across three farms, approximately 10,000 tonnes per year packed), and Blue Cow Citrus (growing since 1977). Marketing group Favco holds a 40 per cent-plus stake in citrus produced in the Gayndah and Mundubbera area.
Queensland’s warmer winters allow early harvest. Imperial mandarins from this region typically reach shops from April, earlier than southern districts. The region also produces Hickson, Murcott, and low-seeded Murcott varieties.
See the dedicated page: Gayndah and Mundubbera.
Riverland, South Australia
The Riverland, centred on Berri, Renmark, and Loxton along the Murray River in South Australia, is one of Australia’s most important citrus districts. It grows oranges, mandarins, lemons, and grapefruit, with access to Murray River irrigation water underpinning production.
Imperial mandarins from the Riverland are harvested from June into August, later than Queensland. The region’s cooler nights in June and July improve colour development and eating quality. South Australian citrus accounted for 32 per cent of Australia’s total citrus exports by volume in a recent Citrus Australia export count.
Sunraysia (Vic/NSW border)
Sunraysia spans Mildura and Wentworth on the Victorian and New South Wales side of the Murray River. The district grows table grapes, dried vine fruit, and citrus, sharing irrigation infrastructure. Citrus harvests from Sunraysia typically run from June through August for mandarins.
Victoria led Australian citrus exports by state at 38 per cent of total export volume in a recent season, and Sunraysia’s citrus production contributes a significant portion of that figure.
Riverina, NSW
The Riverina, based around Griffith and Leeton, produces mandarins alongside its larger orange, wine grape, and stone fruit industries. The district relies on Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area water. NSW mandarin export volumes have grown in recent years, with a 16 per cent increase recorded in one season according to Citrus Australia market data.
The NSW DPI Mandarin Production Manual, produced in partnership with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, was developed specifically to support Riverina, Murray Valley, Central Burnett, and other Australian growers target premium export markets.
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Carnarvon, roughly 900 kilometres north of Perth on Western Australia’s mid-coast, is Australia’s main winter citrus district in the west. The Gascoyne River floodplain provides the irrigation base. Carnarvon’s tropical location produces some of Australia’s earliest citrus, but the district is smaller than the eastern states regions.
Western Australian citrus exports have grown off a low base: exports from the state increased 43 per cent in one recent season to reach 2,040 tonnes. The WA industry faces pressure from import competition, with growers citing wholesale prices that do not cover production costs.
Other small districts
Mandarin production also occurs in Emerald and Bundaberg in Queensland, and in Narromine and Bourke in NSW. These smaller areas contribute to total supply and are often associated with specific varieties or grower operations rather than large district production.
The Northern Territory’s Katherine region produces some citrus, with Nutrano Produce Group operating farms there alongside Gin Gin in Queensland and the Sunraysia. Far north Queensland’s Mareeba is predominantly a lime district.
Why these regions: climate, water, history
All major mandarin-growing areas share access to reliable irrigation water, mild to warm winters, and low humidity during fruit development. Queensland’s subtropical winters allow earlier fruit maturity. The southern regions’ cooler temperatures produce slower-ripening fruit with better colour and, in some varieties, higher sugar concentration.
Water access is the binding constraint in most districts. Murray River allocations shape production decisions across the Riverland, Sunraysia, and Riverina. Queensland’s Burnett River system and its tributaries supply the Central Burnett. Carnarvon depends on the Gascoyne River and bore water.
Most major mandarin districts developed in the mid-twentieth century as irrigation infrastructure expanded. The shift from Valencia oranges (primarily for juice) to fresh mandarins has accelerated since the 2010s as export demand grew and mandarin plantings returned higher margins.
Harvest timing by region
| Region | Main harvest window |
|---|---|
| Central Burnett, Qld | April to July (early season) |
| Carnarvon, WA | May to August |
| Riverland, SA | June to August |
| Sunraysia, Vic/NSW | June to September |
| Riverina, NSW | June to September |
The season runs roughly April to October for domestic supply, with Queensland fruit leading and southern regions carrying supply into spring. Varieties also affect timing: Imperial mandarin runs April to July across most regions, while Honey Murcott and Afourer extend the season into August and September.