A legacy of innovation nearly 140 years in the making has been honoured at the 2025 Hunter Manufacturing Awards, with Varley Group inducted into the Hunter Manufacturing Awards Hall of Fame for its contribution to the region’s industrial and manufacturing landscape.
Founded in 1886, Varley is one of the Hunter’s oldest and most respected companies, a major regional employer, skills developer, and national leader across defence, emergency services, marine, health, cyber and mining sectors.
The board-appointed induction recognises Varley’s ability to continually evolve, diversify and innovate while maintaining its headquarters and heart firmly in the Hunter.
HMA Chair Jacqui Daley said Varley’s recognition reflected the company’s enduring impact and its role in shaping both the region’s history and its future.
“Varley symbolises everything that’s great about manufacturing in this region, ingenuity, adaptability, and pride in building things that matter,” Ms Daley said.
“This is a business that has been operating through the 1800s, 1900s and now the 2000s - they’ve helped define what it means to make things in the Hunter, creating local jobs, developing skilled tradespeople, and delivering world-class capability across industries that are essential to Australia’s future.”
“From emergency response vehicles and naval systems to advanced defence, cyber and energy, Varley continues to prove that a company proudly based in the Hunter can lead on the national and global stage.”
Varley’s continued investment in apprenticeships, veterans’ employment, and STEM education was also commended, including partnerships with local schools, TAFE NSW and the University of Newcastle that support the next generation of manufacturing talent.
Still proudly headquartered in Newcastle after nearly 140 years, Varley employs more than 1,200 people across 12 facilities and supports hundreds of local suppliers. The company’s influence extends well beyond contracts and projects, it represents the ingenuity, loyalty and future focus that define manufacturing in the Hunter.
The 2025 Hall of Fame induction celebrates Varley’s enduring impact on the Hunter economy and its continued leadership in forging Australia’s manufacturing future.
