A record number of finalists from across Gippsland will be competing for the 2026 Gippsland Business Awards.
This year, judges have selected 52 finalists for the 12 industry and specialist categories with Chair of the Gippsland Business Awards committee, Graeme Sennett, highlighting the “incredibly strong entries” across the board.
“The standard of entries is extraordinary and our finalists stand out as shining examples of what can be achieved through vision, hard work and a relentless drive for improvement,” Mr Sennett said.
“The competition is incredibly strong with entries from all corners of Gippsland, demonstrating that our small to medium-sized businesses continue to establish themselves as industry leaders.”
Categories being recognised in 2026 are: Accommodation and Tourism; Retail; New Business; Business and Professional Services; Microbusiness; Food, Wine and Hospitality; Environmental, Horticulture and Agribusiness; Trade, Transport and Technical Services; Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction; Wellness and Personal Care Services; Hair, Beauty and Cosmetic Services; and Healthcare Services.
The category winners will be revealed at the grand gala presentation event on Friday, August 28 at Federation University’s Gippsland campus in Churchill. The Gippsland Business of the Year, the top honour, will be selected from the category winners and announced at the ceremony.
Mr Sennett paid tribute to the many excellent entrants who did not make it to the finals.
“They embody a robust and expanding business community in Gippsland, and while they may be disappointed this time, we strongly encourage them to participate again in the future,” he said.
Mr Sennett noted that this year marks the 28th year of the awards.
“We take pride in having been able to acknowledge the efforts and hard work of so many, as we have celebrated business excellence in Gippsland for over a quarter of a century. We look forward to recognising and honouring all our finalists at our awards evening, Gippsland’s premier business event.”
FINALISTS
Accommodation & Tourism
Gippsland Lakes Escapes (Paynesville)
Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling Centre (Cowes)
Ross Farm (Meeniyan)
Stadium34 (Moe)
The Berry Dairy (Maffra)
Business and Professional Services
HNDY Socials (Traralgon)
Pristine Images Photography (Traralgon)
The Collective. Cospace (Traralgon)
Yellow Brick Road – Leongatha (Leongatha)
Engineering/Manufacturing
Construction
Base Cabin (Korumburra)
Carter Marine Group (Bairnsdale)
Deery Consulting Engineers (Inverloch)
Hotondo Homes Warragul (Warragul)
Scarlet & Grace (Sale)
ZCG Scalar (Lindenow)
Environmental/Horticulture/Agribusiness
Gippsland Bulk Spreaders (Drouin)
Rowe’s Nursery (Warragul)
Ten-Rose International Simmental Fleckvieh (Longwarry)
Food/Wine/Hospitality
Harman Wines (Wattle Bank)
The Leaf Restaurant and Bar (Traralgon)
Trulli (Meeniyan)
Welshpool Hotel (Welshpool)
Loch & Key Restaurant & Bar (Loch)
Hair/Beauty/Cosmetic Services
Confidence Lashes and Beauty (Traralgon)
Hello Curl (Traralgon)
Refined Skin & Aesthetics (Warragul)
Skin & Tonic Gippsland (Moe)
Healthcare Services
Blossom Flourish Grow (Warragul)
Clarity Services and Support (Newborough)
Fortified Physiotherapy/CrossFit 3850 (Sale)
Progressive Physiotherapy Group (Warragul)
Revitalise Health & Rehab (Traralgon)
Summit Health & Performance Centre (Sale)
Microbusiness
3 Little Birds Marketing (Yinnar)
Kellie Eddy Celebrant (Traralgon)
Mac&Ernie (Warragul)
New Business
Bronzed Traralgon (Traralgon) Gippsland
Musical Theatre Company (Traralgon)
High Country Hooch Distilling Co (Glenaladale)
Retail
Aussie Disposals Warragul (Warragul)
Paws & Ponies (Leongatha)
Pettits Jewellers (Warragul)
The Panton Store (Toora)
Trade/Transport/Technical Services
All Done Plumbing and Drainage (Inverloch)
ESI Solutions (Morwell)
Flash.It (Toongabbie)
Mixalis Machinez Automotive (Trafalgar)
Rural Fibre Co (Morwell)
Wellness and Personal Care Services
CCS&Home Maintenance (Morwell)
My Support Australia (Newborough)
South Gippsland Services (Port Welshpool)
Yallambee Traralgon Village for the
Aged – Margery Cole (Traralgon)
