When you think of the Kimberley, cotton probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But around Kununurra, cotton is becoming an increasingly important part of the agricultural landscape. The Ord Valley has been growing cotton for several years, but the industry reached a major milestone with the opening of the Kimberley Cotton Gin in Kununurra in 2025. The $60 million facility is the first major cotton processing facility in Western Australia. Previously, cotton grown in the Ord Valley had to be transported interstate for processing.
The new gin can process up to 100,000 bales of cotton a year, keeping more of the processing and economic activity in the Kimberley.
A strong first season
The gin completed its first season in early 2026, processing more than 81,000 bales. Cotton production in the Ord Valley has expanded rapidly, with around 10,000 hectares planted in 2025, compared with approximately 2,200 hectares the previous year. For growers, processing cotton locally removes a significant transport challenge. Kununurra is a long way from Australia’s traditional cotton-growing regions, so having a gin on the doorstep makes a considerable difference.
Why grow cotton in Kununurra?
The Ord Valley has two important ingredients for cotton: plenty of sunshine and reliable irrigation water. The Ord River Irrigation Scheme has transformed the area around Kununurra, allowing a range of crops to be grown in the tropical Kimberley. Cotton now sits alongside horticultural crops and other agricultural industries in the region. The Kimberley Cotton Gin also has access to renewable hydroelectricity from the Ord River system.
From Kununurra to the world
Once cotton has been processed at the Kununurra gin, it still needs to make its way to international markets. The Port of Wyndham, about 100 kilometres from Kununurra, is an important part of this supply chain. In October 2025, the first shipment of Kimberley-grown cotton was exported from Wyndham, with around 60 containers leaving the port. This local connection between the farms, the gin and the port is helping create a new agricultural supply chain in the East Kimberley.
A new sight in Kununurra
The East Kimberley is famous for its red cliffs, waterways and rugged wilderness, but the Ord Valley tells another story – one of irrigated agriculture and experimentation with tropical crops. During the growing season, green cotton plants topped with bright white bolls create a striking contrast against the Kimberley’s red earth. Cotton is still a relatively young industry in the region, but with local processing now established, it is becoming an increasingly visible part of the Kununurra and Ord Valley landscape.
