Australian manufacturer Whiteley has officially unveiled its new $25 million Human Therapeutics Plant in Tomago, New South Wales, marking a significant step for sovereign manufacturing and healthcare innovation in Australia.
The facility, the first of its kind in the state, was officially opened in June 2025 by Whiteley executive chairman Dr Greg Whiteley and the Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington MP, with more than 100 guests and staff in attendance. This week, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns toured the site to acknowledge its role in boosting local industry, creating new jobs and delivering vital healthcare products across the region.
Boosting jobs and healthcare capability
Purpose-built to manufacture alcohol-based hand rubs and over-the-counter medicines for hospitals and healthcare providers, the Tomago plant will support healthcare systems across Australia and New Zealand. Once fully operational, the site will create more than 30 new jobs spanning research, manufacturing, compliance and operations, strengthening Whiteley’s position as a leading employer in Port Stephens.
Dr Greg Whiteley described the project as a strategic investment in science, jobs and local capability. “This sector has long been dominated by multinational corporations,” he said. “This plant levels the playing field and puts the Hunter region at the centre of therapeutic manufacturing in Australia.”
An established leader with global reach
Whiteley is already Australia’s largest manufacturer of liquid medical devices, including sterilants, hospital-grade disinfectants and infection-prevention products. Founded more than 90 years ago, the family-owned business has operated from Tomago since 1995 and continues to grow its national and international footprint.
Today, Whiteley exports to more than 35 markets and has achieved Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) certification, enabling sales of medical devices to the US and Canada. Its global success has been recognised with multiple awards, including NSW Business of the Year and Hunter Business of the Year in 2024, as well as the Hunter Business Presidents Award in 2025.
Innovation and sustainability at the core
Built to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, the new facility is the only therapeutic plant in New South Wales meeting modern fire safety and engineering compliance benchmarks. It will also operate as a hub for collaborative research with leading universities, focusing on antimicrobial resistance and chronic biofilm infections.
Alongside its scientific mission, the plant reflects Whiteley’s commitment to sustainability. Features include no on-site discharge, advanced containment systems and a 50-year design life, ensuring resilience and environmental responsibility.
“This is more than a factory,” Dr Whiteley said. “It’s a platform for scientific innovation and global competitiveness. We’re proud to be turning Australian research into real-world therapeutic products, made in the Hunter to support healthcare for decades to come.”
Pictured: Whiteley managing director Darran Leyden, The Hon. Kate Washington MP, Bryony Munro, The Hon. Chris Minns MP, New South Wales and Whiteley executive chairman Dr Greg Whiteley.
