Queensland is home to many large and influential companies across a variety of industries. In this article, we will take a look at some of the biggest and most well-known corporations based in Queensland.
Mining
The mining industry has a very strong presence in Queensland, with some of Australia’s largest mining companies headquartered in the state. These include:
- BHP – One of the world’s largest miners, BHP is based in Brisbane and is a dual-listed company with assets in Australia and abroad. It has major coal and copper operations in Queensland.
- Rio Tinto – Another global mining giant, Rio Tinto manages significant bauxite, alumina and aluminium assets in Gladstone and Weipa in Queensland, as well as coal mines in the Bowen Basin.
- Glencore – The Baar, Switzerland-based mining and commodities trading company Glencore has a major presence in Queensland through its coal operations in the Bowen Basin and copper, zinc and lead mining in North West Queensland.
- New Hope Group – This Brisbane-based company is one of the largest coal miners in Queensland, operating a number of mines in the West Moreton and Surat Basins.
Other major mining companies with a presence in Queensland include Anglo American, Peabody Energy, Coronado Global Resources and Terracom.
Energy
Queensland has a number of major energy companies involved in electricity generation and oil/gas exploration and production:
- CS Energy – Owned by the Queensland government, CS Energy operates coal-fired power stations at Callide, Kogan Creek and Gladstone.
- Stanwell Corporation – Another state-owned electricity generator, with major coal-fired power stations at Stanwell and Tarong.
- Origin Energy – Headquartered in Brisbane, Origin is one of Australia’s biggest integrated energy companies. It has interests in coal seam gas fields in Queensland’s Surat Basin and operates the Australia Pacific LNG facility on Curtis Island.
- Santos – This South Australia-based oil and gas company has significant operations in Queensland, including coal seam gas fields in the Surat and Bowen Basins, and interests in LNG facilities at Gladstone.
Other players in Queensland’s energy sector include Shell, Arrow Energy, Senex Energy and Westside Corporation.
Banking and Finance
Some of Australia’s major banks and financial services companies are headquartered in Queensland:
- Suncorp Group – This Brisbane-based financial services conglomerate provides insurance, banking and wealth management products. Suncorp Bank and AAMI insurance are part of the group.
- Bank of Queensland – One of Australia’s smaller major banks, BOQ is based in Brisbane and focuses on retail and SME banking in Queensland.
- QSuper – Queensland’s largest superannuation fund with over $125 billion in funds under management. It is based in Brisbane.
- Bendigo & Adelaide Bank – The Queensland-based arm of this large Australian bank has its headquarters in Brisbane.
Other Queensland-based financial companies include P&N Bank, Citigroup Australia and Credit Union Australia (CUA).
Retail and Consumer Business
Major retailers headquartered in Queensland include:
- Woolworths – One of Australia’s two major supermarket chains, Woolworths Limited has its headquarters in Brisbane.
- Coles – The other big Australian supermarket operator also has its corporate base in Brisbane.
- Super Retail Group – Owner of large retail brands like Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BCF and Macpac, Super Retail Group is based on the Gold Coast.
- Dominos Pizza Enterprises – The Australian franchisee for Domino’s Pizza worldwide operates over 700 stores across Australia and New Zealand. Its head office is in Brisbane.
Other major Queensland-based consumer businesses are Sunland Group, a property developer; Blackmores, a vitamins and supplements company; and SeaLink Travel Group, a tourism and transport operator.
Healthcare
Some of the largest healthcare companies in Queensland are:
- Ramsay Health Care – Australia’s largest private hospital operator runs facilities such as Greenslopes Private Hospital and North West Private Hospital in Queensland.
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology – A leading pathology provider based in Brisbane and operating across Queensland.
- Sonic Healthcare – This publicly-listed medical diagnostics company has its Australian headquarters in Brisbane.
- Primary Health Care – Owner of medical centres including The Doctors and Dental Care, Primary Health Care is based on the Gold Coast.
Other major healthcare businesses in Queensland include Healthdirect Australia, GenesisCare, Healthe Care and Greencross Limited.
Construction and Building Materials
Notable construction and building materials companies headquartered in Queensland are:
- Boral Limited – A leading Australian construction materials supplier, Boral has its corporate headquarters in Brisbane.
- Devine Limited – This residential property developer is a major Queensland company based in Brisbane.
- Hutchinson Builders – One of Australia’s biggest privately-owned construction companies, Hutchinson Builders has its head office on the Gold Coast.
- Austral Bricks – A major brick manufacturer for Australian construction, Austral Bricks is based in Brisbane.
Also among the major players in this sector are companies like Civil Mining & Construction, a subsidiary of CIMIC Group, and Mick O’Flynn Constructions.
Agribusiness
As a state with significant agricultural production, some of Australia’s biggest agribusinesses are based in Queensland. These include:
- GrainCorp – This publicly-listed grain storage, handling and marketing company has its corporate headquarters in Brisbane.
- Queensland Cotton – Australia’s largest cotton grower, marketer and gin operator is based in Brisbane.
- Mackay Sugar – The biggest sugar milling business in Australia has its head office in Brisbane.
- Australian Agriculture Company (AACo) – Cattle producer and beef marketer AACo is one of Australia’s oldest companies and is based in Brisbane.
Other major agribusiness companies in Queensland are Nutrano Produce Group, a vegetable grower; Nature’s Way Foods, a poultry producer; and Camperdown Dairy International, a dairy processor.
Aviation
Key aviation companies located in Queensland include:
- Qantas – Although headquartered in Sydney, much of Qantas’s heavy maintenance facilities and pilot training is conducted out of Brisbane.
- Virgin Australia – Most of Virgin Australia’s operations, including corporate headquarters and pilot training, are based out of Brisbane Airport.
- Alliance Airlines – This charter, fly-in fly-out and aircraft leasing business is located in Brisbane.
- Skytrans Airlines – A regional airline flying to destinations in northern and western Queensland with its head office in Cairns.
Other aviation companies such as Jetstar and Rex operate bases and flight hubs at airports in Queensland cities like Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast and Townsville.
Transport and Logistics
Major transport and logistics firms based in Queensland include:
- Toll Group – Australia’s largest logistics company has its headquarters in Brisbane.
- Linfox – A privately-owned logistics conglomerate with operational bases across Queensland.
- Transport and Main Roads Queensland – The state government body responsible for Queensland roads, transport and motoring services.
- Qube – This Sydney-based logistics company has a major presence in Brisbane through operations at the Port of Brisbane and Australia TradeCoast precinct.
Other companies with sizable transport and warehousing operations in Queensland are Aurizon, DP World, Patrick Stevedores and SCT Logistics.
Government-Owned Corporations
Some of the largest companies in Queensland are state government-owned corporations such as:
- Powerlink Queensland – Owns and operates the state’s high voltage electricity transmission network.
- Port of Brisbane – Runs the Brisbane container port andBulk Port terminals at the Port of Brisbane.
- SEQ Water – Provides bulk drinking water supply to South East Queensland.
- Energex – Builds, maintains and operates the electricity distribution network in South East Queensland.
- Gladstone Ports Corporation – Manages the Port of Gladstone, Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port.
Other government bodies like Queensland Rail, Sunwater and CS Energy are also among the biggest companies in Queensland.
Education
Major universities and schools in Queensland include:
- University of Queensland – One of Australia’s leading universities, based in Brisbane.
- Queensland University of Technology – Also located in Brisbane, QUT is a large university focused on practical education.
- Griffith University – This multi-campus university has major locations on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane and Logan.
- James Cook University – Headquartered in Townsville and a leading research university for the tropics.
- University of Southern Queensland – Based in Toowoomba with campuses across southern Queensland.
- University of the Sunshine Coast – A growing regional university north of Brisbane.
- Central Queensland University – Major campuses in Rockhamption, Mackay, Bundaberg and Gladstone.
- Queensland Conservatorium – Part of Griffith University, this prestigious music school is located in Brisbane.
- Queensland Academy of Creative Industries – A state-funded performing arts, film and culture school in Kelvin Grove, Brisbane.
- Brisbane Grammar School and Brisbane Girls Grammar School – Among Australia’s top ranking private schools for boys and girls respectively.
- Queensland Academies – Selective-entry state high schools with campuses across Queensland.
Other notable educational institutions are the Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Law, Aviation Australia, Southbank Institute of Technology, Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts and Queensland Ballet Academy.
Media and Communications
Major media and telecommunications firms based in Queensland include:
- News Corp Australia – Part of News Corp, Australia’s largest media company with news, newspaper and pay TV interests.
- Seven West Media – Operator of the Seven television network and The West Australian newspaper. Has a major Brisbane office.
- Nine Entertainment – Operator of the Nine TV network and publications like The Australian Financial Review. Headquartered in Sydney but with Queensland offices.
- Nova Entertainment – Operates commercial FM radio stations across Queensland, including Nova and smoothfm.
- Triple M – Part of Southern Cross Austereo, Triple M has FM radio stations across Queensland.
- Telstra – Although headquartered in Melbourne, Australia’s largest telecommunications company has a sizable presence in Queensland.
- Optus – The second largest telco also operates offices and infrastructure across Queensland.
Other media, entertainment and telecommunications players with offices in Queensland include Foxtel, ViacomCBS Australia & New Zealand, and radio networks like ARN and Grant Broadcasters.
Tourism
Key tourism operators based in Queensland are:
- Virgin Australia Holidays – Part of the Virgin Australia group, offering travel packages and accommodation across Australia.
- Voyages – Operates resorts, hotels, cruises and tours at key Queensland destinations including Dunk Island and the Ayers Rock Resort.
- Experience Oz – A leading provider of guided tours and travel packages focused on Queensland locations like the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.
- SeaLink Queensland – Provides ferry services to Queensland islands and operates attractions like Australia Zoo.
Other tourism brands in Queensland include RACQ, Club Crocodile, Reef Magic Cruises and Islands of Australia.
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Major food producers based in Queensland include:
- Parmalat – Manufacturer and distributor of Paul’s milk and yoghurt, with factories in Brisbane and Rockhampton.
- Lion Dairy & Drinks – Produces Dairy Farmers, Pura and Masters milk products from its southern Queensland factories.
- Coca-Cola Amatil – Makes soft drinks like Coca-Cola, Sprite and Powerade at facilities in Brisbane and other Queensland cities.
- Carlton & United Breweries – Has major breweries in Yatala and Milton that produce well-known beer brands like XXXX, Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught and Great Northern.
- Golden Circle – Owned by Kraft Heinz, Golden Circle produces canned fruit and vegetables in Northgate, Brisbane.
Other food and beverage manufacturers in Queensland include Taylors Wines, Sauce Brewing Co., Paradise Beverages, Bickford’s Australia and Viterra Malt.
Engineering
Major engineering companies located in Queensland include:
- Aurecon – Global engineering and advisory firm with headquarters for Australia and New Zealand operations based in Brisbane.
- AECOM – Large engineering consultancy firm with significant workforce located in Brisbane.
- GHD – An engineering, architecture and environmental consultancy firm with headquarters in Brisbane.
- Arup – Global design and engineering company with a Brisbane office.
- Downer Group – Provides engineering, construction and maintenance services across industries including transport, mining and utilities.
Other engineering consultancies and services providers with a strong Queensland presence are RPS, WorleyParsons, Fulton Hogan, WT Partnership and UGL Limited.
Biotechnology and Life Sciences
Queensland has a growing biotech and life sciences sector, with companies like:
- Ellume – A diagnostics and digital health company best known for its at-home COVID-19 tests.
- Impedimed – Develops medical device technology for fluid status monitoring, especially in cancer patients.
- Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals – Biotechnology company focused on anti-inflammatory injectable drug therapies.
- Protagonist Therapeutics – Clinical stage biotechnology developer of novel peptide drugs.
- Axis Therapeutics – Early-stage medicinal cannabis startup located at the University of Queensland.
- Buderim Ginger – Major producer of ginger-based pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare products.
Other biotech firms based in Queensland are Vaxxas, Anatara Lifesciences, Microbio, Orion Equities and Blamey Saunders Hears.
Technology and Software
Queensland is attracting a growing number of technology startups and software firms including:
- SafetyCulture – Workplace safety software platform developer founded on the Gold Coast.
- SiteMinder – Provider of cloud-based hotel business software with headquarters in Brisbane.
- Spiky – An AI and Internet of Things startup focused on threat detection for enterprises.
- intelliHR – Brisbane-based HR software platform for small and midsize businesses.
- Just Analytics – Data analytics software provider founded and based in Brisbane.
- Octopus Deploy – Automated software deployment platform developed in Brisbane.
Other tech startups and software vendors based in Queensland are Gilmour Space Technologies, Insight GRC, IoT Stream, Lendi and Brighte.
Conclusion
Queensland hosts a diverse range of large corporations across many industries from mining, energy and heavy industry through to tourism, food production and emerging sectors like technology and biotech. The state provides these companies access to natural resources, infrastructure, skilled workforces, capital and proximity to export markets like Asia. Iconic Queensland brands and employers play a pivotal role across the state and national economies and will continue driving growth into the future.