Wide Bay Manufacturing Hub to open in Maryborough with $925k

Queensland will establish a Wide Bay Manufacturing Hub in Maryborough with $925,000 from the 2026-27 state budget, in a move the government says is aimed at helping regional manufacturers lift productivity, strengthen skills and attract workers.

The hub will be based at Manufacturing Skills Queensland’s Centre of Excellence and is being described as the third regional expansion of the state’s manufacturing hub network, following rollouts in Toowoomba and on the Sunshine Coast.

The announcement gives Maryborough a formal role in the government’s manufacturing support program at a time when the Fraser Coast has been pushing for more industry backing and workforce pathways.

What the hub is for

According to the announcement, the Wide Bay hub is intended to give manufacturers across Wide Bay Burnett access to technical expertise, business connections and practical support.

The stated aim is not just to help existing firms solve operational problems, but also to support training, apprenticeships and workforce retention in a region that local advocates say needs more pathways into manufacturing jobs.

Industry figures have argued that the sector can play a bigger role in keeping young people in the region and attracting skilled workers to the area.

Why Maryborough

Maryborough has been the focus of recent campaigning for a manufacturing hub, with local supporters arguing the city should be part of the state’s broader regional industry strategy.

The new site will sit within Manufacturing Skills Queensland’s Centre of Excellence, giving the hub a base connected to the sector’s training and capability network.

The government has framed the investment as part of its wider manufacturing policy rollout in regional Queensland, where it is seeking to combine industry support with workforce development.

Timeline

The announcement follows earlier reporting in June that Maryborough advocates were lobbying for a dedicated manufacturing hub to help keep young people in town and support local industry.

On July 8, 2026 UTC, Queensland reported that the hub would go ahead with $925,000 in funding from the new state budget.

What is still unclear

Several details have not yet been confirmed, including the opening date, staffing model and full service scope for the Maryborough site.

It is also not yet clear whether Manufacturing Skills Queensland has issued a standalone statement outlining the hub’s operating model or whether further budget details will be released.

For now, the confirmed commitment is the state’s backing for a new Wide Bay Manufacturing Hub in Maryborough, alongside the broader push to strengthen regional manufacturing capability across the Wide Bay Burnett.