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Queensland Co-operatives
The co-operative sector in Queensland consists of about 165 co-operatives (excluding financial mutuals), comprising 11% of the Australian total. 1

It is believed the first retail co-operative store in Australia was formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1859. Other co-operatives began to appear in 1870's. In 1893, the Queensland Parliament passed the Communities Land Act 1893, which resulted in the development of a number of rural settlement co-operatives in the state. Agricultural co-operatives emerged in the 1890's in the dairy and sugar industries. 2

In 1924, Queensland agricultural co-operatives were brought under the administration of the state's Primary Producers' Co-operative Associations Act 1923. In 1967, the Queensland Government enacted the Co-operatives and Other Societies Act to administer other types of co-operatives.

In 1996, the government signed up to the Co-operatives Laws Agreement, and in 1997 replaced its earlier acts with the Co-operatives Act 1997. Under the 2010 Australian Uniform Co-operative Laws Agreement, co-operatives in Queensland are now regulated under the state's Co-operatives National Law Act 2020.

Today, co-operatives in Queensland are involved in a wide range of economic and social activities. The majority are non distributing co-operatives in the accommodation and hospitality, arts and recreation, education and training, health care, housing and social services industries. The balance are distributing co-operatives in the agricultural, fishing, retail, transport, water and wholesale trade industries,

The following are links to Queensland co-operatives with websites. Some co-operatives are listed more than once due to their activities covering more than one industry.

LINKS INDEX

  Accommodation and Food Services   Manufacturing
  Administrative and Support Services   Professional and Technical Services
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing   Real Estate Services
  Arts and Recreation Services   Retail Trade
  Education and Training   Wholesale Trade
  Electricity, Water and Waste Services   Other Services
  Health Care and Social Assistance

ACCOMMODATION and FOOD SERVICES

Hotels

Hotel Theodore Co-operative Association Ltd

ADMINISTRATIVE and SUPPORT SERVICES

Employment Services

BTC Co-operative Ltd
Caboolture Community Work Co-operative Ltd
Professional Services Collective Co-op Ltd

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY and FISHING

Commodity Marketing

  Agriculture Products and Seafood Wholesaling

Inputs Supplies

  Hardware, Building and Rural Supplies

Forestry Support Services

Mahogany Processors Co-op Ltd

Fishing Support Services

Gold Coast Fishermen's Co-operative Ltd

ARTS and RECREATION SERVICES

Aboriginal Culture

Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre Co-operative Society Ltd

Art and Craft Support

  See Art Gallaries and Craft Outlets

Creative and Performing Arts Activities

Big Fork Theatre Co-op Ltd
Maleny Film Co-operative Ltd
Starlight Theatre Co-operative Ltd
West End Music and Dance Teachers' Co-operative Ltd

Sport and Recreation Activities

Northern Brisbane Rollers Co-operative Ltd
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway Co-operative Ltd

EDUCATION and TRAINING

Adult, Community and Other Education

Minessence International Cooperative Ltd
Raba Urban Farm Co-operative Ltd

ELECTRICITY, WATER and WASTE SERVICES

Water Supply

Eton Irrigation Cooperative Limited
Pioneer Valley Water Co-operative Ltd

Waste Collection and Disposal Services

Reverse Garbage Queensland Co-operative Ltd

HEALTH CARE and SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Aboriginal Services

Girudala Community Co-operative Society Ltd
Ngoonbi Co-operative Society Ltd
North Stradbroke Island Aboriginal and Islanders Housing Co-operative Society Ltd

Hospitals

Clifton Hospital Co-operative Ltd

Social Support

Brisbane Welfare Co-operative Ltd
Nundah Community Enterprises Co-operative Ltd
Spiral Community Hub Co-op Ltd
Warrina Community Co-operative Ltd

MANUFACTURING

Food Product Manufacturing

Lockyer Fruit and Veggie Co-operative Ltd

PROFESSIONAL and TECHNICAL SERVICES

Management Advice and Related Consultancy Services

Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Co-operative Ltd
Community Praxis Co-operative Ltd

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

Residential Property Operators (Housing co-operatives)

Bynoe Community Advancement Co-operative Society Ltd
Girudala Community Co-operative Society Ltd
Ngoonbi Co-operative Society Ltd
North Stradbroke Island Aboriginal and Islanders Housing Co-operative Society Ltd

Land Share Co-operatives

Crystal Waters Community Co-operative Ltd
Kanjini Co-op Ltd

Venue Hire

South Brisbane Masonic Hall Co-operative Society Ltd

RETAIL TRADE

Art Gallaries and Craft Outlets

Babinda District Arts and Craft Co-operative Ltd
Kuranda Arts Co-operative Ltd
Sarina Community Art and Craft Co-operative Ltd
Upatree Arts Co-operative Ltd

Food Retailing (except Supermarket and Grocery Stores)

Community Foods Co-operative Ltd
Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd
Tablelands Biodynamic and Organic Farmers Co-operative Ltd (Atherton Food Co-op)
The Gap Local Organic Co-operative Ltd

Fuel Retailing

Coochin Creek Fruitgrowers' Co-operative Association Ltd
Killarney Co-operative Society Ltd

Hardware, Building and Rural Supplies

Coochin Creek Fruitgrowers' Co-operative Association Ltd
Esk District Co-operative Ltd
Killarney Co-operative Ltd
N.Q. Co-op Ltd
Wamuran Co-operative Ltd

Supermarket and Grocery Stores

Esk District Co-operative Ltd
Killarney Co-operative Society Ltd
Western Downs Co-operative Trading Society Ltd

WHOLESALE TRADE

Agriculture Products Wholesaling

Australian Beekeepers Co-operative Ltd
Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Co-operative Ltd
Coochin Creek Fruitgrowers' Co-operative Association Ltd
Three Rivers Co-operative Ltd

Seafood Wholesaling

Gold Coast Fishermen's Co-operative Ltd

OTHER SERVICES

Business and Professional Association Services

Proserpine District Canegrowers Co-operative Ltd
Queensland Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries Co-operative (Union of Employers) Ltd
Resource Industry Network Co-operative Ltd

Interest Groups

Campfire Co-op Ltd
Friends of the Earth-Brisbane Co-operative Ltd
Tuljun Boolaroo Co-operative Ltd
Union Co-operative Society Ltd

Personal and Other Services

Anytime Fitness Brisbane Marketing Co-operative Ltd


1. Queensland Office of Fair Trading 2019-2020 Annual Report.
2. Gary Lewis, The Democracy Principle: Farmer Co-operatives in Twentieth Century Australia, 2006.
Top 20 Australian
Co-operatives

CO-OPS by INDUSTRY
Accommodation & Food Services
Administrative & Support Services
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Arts and Recreation Services
Education and Training
Electricity, Water & Waste Services
Financial Services
Health Care & Social Assistance
Information and Media
Manufacturing
Professional & Technical Services
Real Estate Services
Retail Trade
Transport and Postal Services
Wholesale Trade
Other Services
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