The Iona story began with a conversation about the region's future. Central Queensland is one of the country's great cattle-producing areas, yet for decades it has lacked significant local processing capacity — meaning cattle raised in the Central Highlands are often trucked long distances to be processed elsewhere, with the value that comes from processing flowing to other regions and states.

In November 2018, the Central Highlands Regional Council hosted a community forum to ask whether that could change. The forum brought together producers, business people and community members to examine the case for a beef processing facility built in the region, for the region. The level of interest that emerged made it clear the idea was worth pursuing seriously.

Out of that momentum, a steering committee was formed. Its task was to move beyond aspiration and into evidence — exploring the commercial case for investment, testing the concept against the realities of the industry, and laying the early groundwork for what would eventually become the Iona Project. It was the first formal step on a journey that would span the better part of a decade.