Winners 2023
Congratulations to all Finalists and Winners of the 28th Sunshine Coast Business Awards. Whether you were crowned a category winner or not, you now sit amongst the very best of the best businesses on the Sunshine Coast. We are incredibly proud of who you are and what you do for this great region. Read more about our winners below.
Accommodation
Large: MERCURE SUNSHINE COAST KAWANA WATERS
Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters, an 81 Room 4 and a 1/2 Star full-service hotel nestled on picturesque Lake Kawana; strategically located within Birtinya’s vibrant Health, Sporting and Entertainment precinct on the Sunshine Coast.
Small: NARROW ESCAPE RAINFOREST RETREAT
Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat is a five-star accredited hosted accommodation property with eight luxury boutique villas.
Sponsored by: Sunshine Coast Airport
Advanced Technology
Large: GREASEBOSS
GreaseBoss’ team of problem solvers developed a highly innovative Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled technology and hardware grease management system, through hard work, regional support and industry collaboration.
Small: DR APP
Dr App is a technology business that partners with businesses to help them achieve their goals. They specialize in crafting custom software and mobile applications to simplify their clients operations.
Sponsored by: LPE
Building & Construction
Large: ADVANCED AQUARIUM TECHNOLOGIES
Advanced Aquarium Technologies is a pioneering force in the design, construction, and operations of awe-inspiring public aquariums around the globe.
Sponsored by: Walker Corporation
Business Services
Large: HENZELLS AGENCY
Henzells Agency is the longest-operating and largest full-service independent real estate agency on the Sunshine Coast. They are passionate about doing the simple things well and providing old fashioned service backed by cutting edge technology and innovation.
Small: KAIZEN MARKETING
Kaizen Marketing create confident business owners by teaching them how to turn on and control their revenue tap and how to turn it up and down to meet their staff and business capability. Kaizen’s main business goal is to help as many local business owners as possible learn how to turn on their marketing, and how to do it in an affordable manner, so that they can confidently run their business and make as much money as possible without increasing their overheads.
Sponsored by: Clifford Gouldson Lawyers
Clean Technology
Large: AUSSIE TINY HOUSES
Aussie Tiny Houses provides a unique alternative housing solution that ensures a sustainable outcome for the owner, the land where they live and for Aussie Tiny Houses themselves.
Small: MINERAL FOX
Mineral Fox is a supplier of inspirational decorative coatings that are good for people and the planet. They provide beautiful, natural alternatives to conventional plasters and renders and cater mostly to the high end residential and commercial markets Australia-wide. They make their innovative Mineral Fox plasters and renders locally using Australian minerals, mostly from QLD.
Sponsored by: Noosa Council
Creative Industries
Large: YOUR BRAND CREW
Established in 2015, YBC is a Marketing & Media Production Company that focuses on helping businesses achieve their goals. Specialising in Strategic Thinking and High Quality Media Production, YBC approaches their clients’ challenges in the same way, through deep research & analysis, strategic thinking & business, optimisation, bespoke design & media production, implementation, analysis and continuous improvement.
Small: IGNITE & WRITE BY ROXANNE MCCARTHY
Ignite & Write by Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane ghostwrites nonfiction books and educates aspiring authors on how to write engaging and inspiring books that connect, inspire and sell.
Sponsored by: COYO
Education & Training
Large: THE EIGHTH MILE CONSULTING
The Eighth Mile Consulting is a proud veteran-owned company founded on the mantra of ‘Good People, Helping Good People.’ Their company is highly selective about the people it supports and aligns with, from incarcerated veterans to corporate executives. Over 90% of their team have a background related to military service—either as veterans themselves or as spouses of veterans.
Small: NIKKI FOGDEN-MOORE THE MOJO MAKER
Global Coach and Author Nikki runs an internationally recognised, fully integrated leadership coaching and training business for individuals and organisations. Nikki works with global brands, distinguished leaders and teams and has been proudly based on the Sunshine Coast since 2009.
Sponsored by: Pacific Ford Sunshine Coast
Experiences
Large: AMAZE WORLD
In the midst of the subtropical Sunshine Coast hinterland, you’ll find a magical land. An enchanted world bursting with wonder and amazement. While you solve the puzzles, riddles, tricks and twists you come across on your adventure, find comfort in knowing if there’s one place in the world you want to get lost, it’s here in the magical Amaze World. Take a step into our world…. As a family owned and operated business, Amaze World has been reborn with vibrancy featuring a huge living hedge maze, timber maze, mini golf, immersive augmented reality experiences, nature playground including water-play and more.
Small: CREATIVE TOURS
Creative Tours create amazing local experiences by providing immersive and authentic local tours and experiences and connecting people to the local produce and stories of the region. They provide a range of local tour experiences that include shared day tours with scheduled departures, small private group tours, luxury and bespoke tour options. Operating tours 7 days a week to visit breweries, wineries, distilleries, farms and foodie destinations on the Sunshine Coast, Noosa & Hinterland. Creative Tours specialise in offering custom and corporate experiences for groups of all sizes.
Presented by: Walker Corporation
Food & Agribusiness
Large: MALENY DAIRIES
Maleny Dairies is an award-winning, family-owned and operated business committed to sustainability for people, place and products. Maleny Dairies consistently produces top-quality, delicious, natural and healthy dairy products for all Australians.
Small: BEACHTREE DISTILLING CO.
Beachtree Distilling Co. is a family-owned artisan distillery located on the Sunshine Coast. Established in 2020, they produce award-winning craft spirits using traditional methods and Australian-sourced ingredients. Their portfolio includes Australian gins, vodka, and soon whisky and rum. Available in select retail outlets and for purchase online, they also offer private tastings and distillery tours.
Sponsored by: Turbine
Health & Wellness
Large: SUNSHINE COAST ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP
Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group is more than a specialist medical practice, they are a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team with a goal to ensure that Sunshine Coast residents experiencing musculoskeletal pain or injuries receive excellent care and can reclaim their high-quality lives. Their services encompass orthopaedic surgery, injectable therapies, lifestyle modification and medication management plans, as well as fracture and acute injury management across the Sunshine Coast, spanning from Gympie to Caloundra.
Small: BODY & MIND BY LEON
As a Warana-based small business, Body and Mind by Leon offer services to transform the body and mind of professional athletes to everyday people. They are especially passionate about working with people on their mental health and in recent years outgrew their facility and launched a brand-new custom-built facility allowing for further expansion. In just six-weeks, 500 youth signed up!
Sponsored by: Maroochydore City Centre
Hospitality
Large: ALEX SURF CLUB
Situated right on Alexandra Headland beach, Alex Surf Club serves world class food, drinks and entertainment with a view that can’t be matched. Established in the early 1980s by Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club, once Alex Supporters Association was formed in 1992, ASC surged forward in development. Now an iconic venue on the Sunshine Coast, they boast 35,263 members and welcome over 500,000 visitors annually.
Small: SUNNY RAYS CATERING
Sunny Rays is a bespoke hospitality-focused catering company dedicated to creating and curating unforgettable, heart-touching and speciality experiences for its’ clientele. From event planning to tailor-made food and liquor services, as well as event hire items, they devote themselves to the success of their customers’ experiences.
Sponsored by: Portable Creations
Manufacturing
Large: THE MATRESS COMPANY
The Mattress Company do exactly what it sounds like they do – manufacture and sell mattresses and bases. With over 40 years of experience, they operate from their Yandina factory, where they produce a wide range of bedding products including mattresses, toppers, electric bed mattresses, ensemble bases, and floating timber slat bases.
Small: FIRST LIGHT FABRICATION
First Light Fabrication is a Marine and Outdoor Fabrication business located in Corbould Park and founded & operated by Angus & Nicole Roberts. The two core components to their business are custom marine & outdoor modifications (think boat and utes), inhouse designed & manufactured marine & fishing products.
Sponsored by: Sunquest Signs
Professional Services
Large: CATTON & TONDELSTRAND LAWYERS
Catton & Tondelstrand Lawyers is a well-respected Sunshine Coast law firm specialising in family and divorce law, providing premium quality legal advice to clients at all stages of relationships including at cohabitation, during the relationship and when couples separate and divorce. Founders Liz Catton and Angela Tondelstrand are both Accredited Family Law Specialists and highly recommended in the prestigious peer reviewed Australia wide Doyle’s Guide.
Small: HABITANCE ARCHITECTS
Habitance is an Architecture and Urban Design Studio born from a desire to provide sustainable design, of and for the Sunshine Coast. Their specialised areas comprise Public Transport Infrastructure, Civic + Community projects, and residential solutions including individual houses, multi-residential buildings, and community living.
Sponsored by: Travis Shultz & Partners
Retail
Large: WHITE’S IGA
White’s IGA is a progressive and innovative, multi-award winning, market leading, community minded and shopper led supermarket group based on the Sunshine Coast offering customers a transformative and captivating shopping experience. Their diverse range of quality, fresh and local goods is emphasised by their unique ‘Locavore’ program supporting hundreds of regional suppliers, growers, and producers.
Small: HOOPER RUFF
Hooper Ruff is a dog boutique based on the Sunshine Coast. As an online business that also runs stalls at the Eumundi Markets & Sunshine Coast Collective, Hooper Ruff design and make all their products locally, are proud to be Australian made and have an eco-conscious recycling element to our products.
Sponsored by: Judo Bank
Social Impact
Large: SUNNYKIDS
SunnyKids believes that ‘it takes a village’ and uses this philosophy to support children and families who are experiencing hardship or domestic and family violence. By focusing their services around children, SunnyKids works to break the cycle of violence and disadvantage in the Sunshine Coast community.
Small: STYMIE
Stymie is a verb that by definition, means to prevent or stop! As a company they seek to challenge the accepted cultural norms of bystanding behaviours, by providing a safe place for young people to anonymously report any kind of harm, igniting the welfare and allied supports embedded in their school’s wellbeing framework.
Sponsored by: ADFX
Trades and Services
Large: LAGUNA PEST CONTROL
Laguna Pest Control is a family-owned business based in Noosaville known as the leading local pest experts on the Sunshine Coast. They drive themselves to deliver high quality service for the best pest solutions in residential homes, commercial businesses, strata management, and more. They provide an Integrated Pest Management service which focuses on prevention and smart solutions to deter pest infestations from occurring by avoiding or using less chemicals.
Small: CHUCK’S ELECTRICAL
Chucks Electrical have consistently delivered exceptional services to their residential and commercial clients with a commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and innovative solutions that sets them apart in the industry.
Sponsored by: Catton Tondelstrand Lawyers
Export
ADVANCED AQUARIUM TECHNOLOGIES
Advanced Aquarium Technologies is a pioneering force in the design, construction, and operations of awe-inspiring public aquariums around the globe.
Sponsored by: Sunshine Coast Council
Hall of Fame
TRAVIS SHULTZ & PARTNERS
Travis Schultz & Partners are compensation lawyers with compassion, offering cutting edge expertise without the price tag. Their team is made up of highly regarded lawyers including six Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialists. Travis Schultz has been working and giving back to the Sunshine Coast community for more than 25 years, since establishing this firm he has cultivated a team that is passionate and driven to make a difference to the lives of their clients and the wider community. TSP services clients across Queensland with their head office, proudly based on the Sunshine Coast.
BECKER CONSTRUCTIONS
As a 2021 National Finalist for Master Builders “Medium Density up to 3 Storeys“, Becker Constructions is a family owned and operated business proud to represent the Sunshine Coast on the national stage. Becker Constructions showcases the qualities of integrity and excellence throughout all areas of their building and construction business and is identified by the industry as a valued contributor and representative.
WILDLINGS FOREST SCHOOL
Wildlings Forest School leads adventurous play experiences for children within the natural, untouched wild spaces of South East Queensland. At Wildlings children have the complete freedom to explore wild bushlands and use “risky” hand tools such as saws, pocket knives, ropes & fire. Children are encouraged to rediscover their interests and lead their own learning at Forest School, where they play and develop social, emotional and survival skills under the watchful eye of Forest School leaders. Wildlings Forest School was co-founded in 2017 by High School Teachers, Homeschooling Mothers & Children’s Play Advocates Nicki Farrell & Vicci Oliver.
WASTE FREE SYSTEMS
At Waste Free Systems we are a social enterprise and have reimagined the way waste is organised in SME’s. We supply businesses with smart bin systems to separate waste before it leaves the premises and Repurpose the waste resources wherever possible, saving 90 % of waste from landfill. Our success is driven by innovation and finding solutions to usage of waste resources, we have created our own Social Circular Economy. We lead by education, world first solutions and linking where possible to our local economy and community, our benefit to the environment and our social impact.
COAST2BAY HOUSING GROUP
Coast2Bay Housing Group is an independent, not-for-profit company committed to providing affordable, safe and appropriate homes to individuals and families throughout the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Moreton Bay, Redcliffe and Gympie regions. Coast2Bay has attained national and international recognition for their work including 5 prestigious awards in 4 years from the Australasian Housing Institute. In the last year Coast2Bay has started 3 new Foundations including RISE 2 which will see 8 new homes built for women and children affected by domestic and family violence 2022 has been a huge year for Coast2Bay with a capital programme of over $60 million launched
Sponsored by: Sunshine Coast Council
Business of the Year
AMAZE WORLD
In the midst of the subtropical Sunshine Coast hinterland, you’ll find a magical land. An enchanted world bursting with wonder and amazement. While you solve the puzzles, riddles, tricks and twists you come across on your adventure, find comfort in knowing if there’s one place in the world you want to get lost, it’s here in the magical Amaze World. Take a step into our world…. As a family owned and operated business, Amaze World has been reborn with vibrancy featuring a huge living hedge maze, timber maze, mini golf, immersive augmented reality experiences, nature playground including water-play and more.
Sponsored by: Sunshine Coast Council