Briefcase: Business snippets from top awards to major manufacturing project
In this week’s Briefcase, a housing project receives a multimillion-dollar boost and an international company lands in regional SA.
- Top SA businesses revealed
- Major defence and medical manufacturing project announced
- New multimillion-dollar regional housing investment
- SA records lowest unemployment rate
- Murray Cod to be released in Barmera
- SA cycling projects receive new funding
- International company expands across regional SA
- Multimillion-dollar property sale
Top SA businesses revealed
The state’s top businesses have been honoured at the 2026 South Australian Premier’s Business and Export Awards.
Structural steel manufacturing company Bowhill Engineering has won the SA Business of the Year while software development company MyVenue was named Exporter of the Year.
The awards ceremony was hosted by the SA Business Chamber at an Adelaide Convention Centre gala dinner, where the state’s most outstanding businesses were awarded across 25 categories.
“Once again, the quality of submissions fills us with confidence. We continue to see businesses innovate and prosper, showing that there is nothing that cannot be achieved from a South Australian base,” SA Business Chamber CEO Andrew Kay said.
Full list:
2026 Major Award Winners
- SA Business of the Year – Bowhill Engineering
- SA Exporter of the Year – MyVenue
2026 Business Award Winners
- Indigenous Business of the Year Award – Yaran Business Services
- Small Business of the Year Award – MAXM Skate
- Medium Business of the Year – Bowhill Engineering
- Large Business of the Year – Enerven Energy Infrastructure
- Regional Business of the Year Award – Berri Riverside Holiday Park
- Innovative Business of the Year Award – 28th Street Agency
- Beyond Borders Business of the Year Award – Foil Drive
- ESG Business of the Year Award – Tindo
- Emerging Business of the Year Award – Barossa Palms
- Social Impact Business of the Year Award – Australian Dental Foundation
- Family Business of the Year Award – Burnside Village
- Workplace Culture and Wellbeing Award – Santos
- The Governor’s Award for Business Achievement in Gender Equity – Credit Union SA
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2026 Export Award Winners
- First Nations Exporter Award – Seven Seasons Spirits
- Agribusiness, Food and Beverage Export Award – Balco Australia
- Creative, Lifestyle & Design Export Award – Adelaide Fringe
- Sustainability and Green Economy Export Award – Blue Lake Milling
- Emerging Exporter Award – Consunet
- Small Business Export Award – Apxium Technologies
- International Health Export Award – Mayne Pharma
- Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Export Award – ICSION
- Professional Services Export Award – RDI Partners
- Regional Exporter Award – Dinko Tuna Farmers
- Resources & Energy Export Award – Wilco Technologies
- Digital & Smart Technologies Export Award – MyVenue
Major defence and medical manufacturing project announced
A $2.7 million, four-year project led by Stärke-AMG and Flinders University will develop Australia’s capacity to manufacture certified metal components for defence, maritime and medical applications.
In collaboration with Adelaide University and Metal Powder Works, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between 3D-printed prototypes and reliable, fully qualified components ready for industrial production.
The initiative is intended to reduce Australia’s reliance on imported components, strengthen sovereign manufacturing capability and help Stärke-AMG expand into high-value defence, maritime, space and healthcare markets.
“This project will help establish that capability in Australia, opening new opportunities for local industry while strengthening sovereign supply chains for critical components,” Stärke-AMG CEO Al Jawhari said.
New multimillion-dollar regional housing investment
The state government has invested $5 million into a second round of Renewal SA’s Regional Housing Initiatives Program.
The program, which has provided 200 homes in regional SA through $5.6 million in funding, aims to bring forward “new housing projects by partnering with developers, councils, and industry groups”.
Six projects are being delivered in partnership with local councils, supporting new housing in Bordertown, Cleve, Cowell, Cummins, Kimba and Port Broughton.
Evergreen Build will deliver residential allotments and disability housing in Mount Gambier, while Cornerstone Housing will build 15 long-term rentals for key workers in Loxton.
SA records lowest unemployment rate
SA has recorded the country’s equal-lowest unemployment rate, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The latest ABS data shows the state’s unemployment rate fell to 4.2 per cent in September, down from 4.7 per cent in August, and is now on par with Western Australia.
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More than 991,000 South Australians were employed in September, an increase of 2,100 from the previous month.
“This is great news for SA workers and great news for SA business, and continues our recent run of economic accolades for South Australia,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
Murray Cod to be released in Barmera
The state government has launched a $6.6 million recreational fishing package, with Australian Murray Cod up to a metre long to be released into Lake Bonney in Barmera.
The release has been organised by the new Recreational Fishing Authority, which has been tasked with opening up more freshwater fishing sites, fast-tracking freshwater fish stocking programs and supporting RecFish SA’s $1.75 million tagging and translocation program.
Murray Cod fishing is currently closed to the public to protect the species during peak spawning periods, with the catch-and-release season beginning in January.
“The new Recreational Fishing Authority will help to provide more opportunities to fish in South Australia and provide input into programs and policies impacting the recreational fishing sector”, Recreation, Sport and Racing Minister Rhiannon Pierce said.
SA cycling projects receive new funding
Sixteen projects from Streaky Bay to Middleton will receive State Government financial support for new and existing cycling infrastructure.
Nine councils in Adelaide and a further five regional councils will receive up to $200,000 in funding to construct and expand upon new paths, while addressing concerns from locals around infrastructure safety.
A busy CBD intersection will receive safety improvements and a new push-button crossing, while the Barossa Council will be provided funding to expand a bikeway between Birdwood and Mount Pleasant by 3 kilometres.
“More than two-thirds of respondents to BikeSA’s recent advocacy survey identified a lack of safe infrastructure as a barrier to cycling. These projects will help address that concern for people riding to work or enjoying a ride with their families”, BikeSA CEO Nathan Petrus said.
International company expands across regional SA
Major food delivery company DoorDash has announced its expansion into Port Lincoln, Victor Harbor-Goolwa, Port Pirie and Port Augusta.
DoorDash expects to create about 266 new delivery driver opportunities and onboard around 50 local merchants across the 16 new markets across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania.
DoorDash vice president Simon Rossihe said the expansion is one of the company’s largest regional growth initiatives in Australia, and “is about supporting local communities by helping merchants grow, creating flexible earning opportunities for Dashers, and making everyday life a little easier for residents”.
Multimillion-dollar property sale
An industrial property in Dry Creek, about 12 km north of the CBD, has sold for $3.1 million.
Dry Creek is one of Adelaide’s most sought-after industrial precincts with its proximity to major transport infrastructure including the Northern Connector, Port River Expressway and Adelaide’s broader freight network.
The property consists of a 3,634sq m site with 831sq m of improvements in the form of an office and warehouse facility.
“The level of enquiry and competitive bidding demonstrated the depth of demand for well-located industrial sites across Adelaide’s tightly-held inner north, especially assets that are underutilised and offer multiple pathways to create value over time,” Knight Frank agent Harrison Grice said.
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