Like other parts of regional Australia, the Shoalhaven region has experienced quite dramatic changes in its economy, and therefore its community, over the last thirty years or so. This PhD project assesses the impact of globalisation in two of the oldest industries in the Shoalhaven region: dairy and manufacturing. The case studies at the heart of the project comprise: half a dozen family-run dairy farms; a paper manufacturer; and an ethanol manufacturing plant. The case studies demonstrate the outcomes that flow from interactions between governments, business and public policy, and the impacts on local communities.