CENTRAL HIGHLANDS BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

2025 Awards are now complete!

The Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards are a biennial initiative that CHDC started in 2013 to celebrate the region’s diverse and dedicated business community.

Scroll down this page to see the full list of winners and finalists for 2025, or find out more about the Awards process here.

The Awards culminated in the sold-out Gala Dinner on 6 September.

Thank you for your support in 2025 – the response was incredible!

Congratulations!

Category Winners and Finalists

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Serenity Dental CQ

AGRIBUSINESS proudly supported by NBN

  • Bar H Grazing
  • Marathon Wagyu – WINNER

BEAUTY, HEALTH & LIFESTYLE proudly supported by Local Buying Foundation

  • Align Strength and Wellness
  • Emerald Radiology
  • Highlands Nutrition
  • La Bella Aesthetics
  • Serenity Dental CQ – WINNER
  • SMS Wellness & Beauty
  • TEMPLE Wellness and Yoga

EMERGING BUSINESS proudly supported by H.E.M.E.

  • AHA Digital
  • Emerald Natural Health
  • La Bella Aesthetics – WINNER
  • Wonderland Hair Art

MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION & TRADES proudly supported by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Rural Development

  • Country Allure
  • CQ Blast and Paint – WINNER
  • Dynamic Crane Hire
  • VIPR Industries

MINING EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES proudly supported by Kestrel Coal Resources

  • CQ Blast and Paint
  • Dynamic Crane Hire – WINNER
  • Mine Fleet Industries

NOT-FOR-PROFIT proudly supported by Yumba Bimbi Support Services

  • Capella Country Music Festival
  • Central Highlands Community Services
  • Emerald Show Society – WINNER

PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES proudly supported by CQUniversity

  • Dynamic Crane Hire
  • Serenity Dental CQ
  • SwarmFarm Robotics – WINNER

REGIONAL CORPORATE proudly supported by Whitehaven Coal

  • Anglicare Central Queensland | headspace Emerald  – WINNER
  • Direct Chemist Outlet Central Highlands
  • Goodstart Early Learning Emerald

RETAIL proudly supported by Fair Dinkum Fresh

  • Country Allure – WINNER
  • CQ Rural Traders
  • Emerald Natural Health
  • Fresh Gemz

SOLE TRADER proudly supported by CQ Inland Port

  • CH Performing Arts – WINNER
  • Little Gem Yoga
  • TEMPLE Wellness and Yoga

TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY proudly supported by Queensland Country Tourism 

  • Capella Country Music Festival
  • Emerald Tourist Park – WINNER
  • Route 66 Motor Inn
  • Sandstone Park Carnarvon Gorge

HALL OF FAME Country Allure and SwarmFarm Robotics

JUDGES DISTINCTION AWARD Bar H Wagyu’s Jessie Macqueen, Emerald Radiology’s Tim Ovens, and Anglicare CQ – headspace Emerald’s Hayley Finger.

People's Choice Winner and Nominees

Country Allure is the winner of the 2025 People’s Choice Award!

Congratulations to Genesis Hair Design and Rubyvale Miners Cottage for also making the top 3.

The full list of nominees is:

Adaptive Mobility Equipment ● Align Strength and Wellness ● Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash ● Blush Artistry ● Brewstar Coffee CQ ● Brophys Lawn Maintenance ● Cameo Cleaning & Co ● Chases Chops ● Country Allure ● CQ Kebabs and Burgers ● CQ Rural Traders ● CQ Signs Plus ● Cracked Pepper Canteen and Catering ● Crawford Podiatry ● Decadence Gifts and Homewares ● Dragons Lair Martial Arts ● Emerald Cut Loose ● Emerald Martial Arts Alliance ● Emerald Neighbourhood Centre ● Emerald State High School P&C and Bites Tuckshop/​Catering ● Emmie’s Pet Sitting ● Fresh Gemz ● Genesis Hair Design ● Hair By Kate ● Highlands Cosmetics ● Highlands Nutrition ● Hops and Vine Tapas Bar ● In 4 Training ● Innate Kids Chiro ● Jebs Gems Tag A Long Tours ● Johnny Roser’s Hoses ● Jungle Angel Nursery ● Keato’s Signs ● Like Mum Used to Make ● Madison’s Hair Suite ● Mana Mane Hair ● Maraboon Vet Surgery ● MP Security ● Mr Snowcones and Coffee on Wheels ● Mrs Mack’s Jams ● Nice Brows ● Remedial by Damian ● Revamp Studio ● Roses & Beans ● Rubyvale Miners Cottage ● Saltbush Restaurant ● Seed & Flour ● Shelfield Coffee Brewers ● Springsure Convenience and Takeaway ● Stadium Premier Fitness ● Streamline Swimming Centre ● Sushi House Emerald ● Tash Grimshaw Makeup Artist ● The Mayfair Emerald ● The Online Lolly Shop ● The Sensory Emerald ● The Social Hub ● Tieri Pharmacy ● TMF Cake Designs ● Tracy Taylor Physiotherapy ● VIPR Industries ● Wonderland Hair Art ● You Move Health & Rehab ● ZDC Construction