Fifty years in any business is a remarkable milestone but in a demanding industry like mining and construction, it’s extraordinary. What began in 1975 as a small family venture in Singleton has grown into an award-winning engineering powerhouse with over 120 employees, multiple facilities and a nationwide reputation for excellence.
The Morgan Engineering story begins with Ross and Carole Morgan, who bought a block of land on Maison Dieu Road for just $375 – just six cents a square metre!
From that modest foundation they built not only a workshop but a legacy where their children Troy, Chelsea, Martin and Matthew learned the value of hard work, quality and commitment.
In 2011, Chelsea, Martin and Matthew became Directors and set a bold course for growth. They expanded services, hired new staff and committed to their father’s mantra: quality products, quality workmanship and quality people.
But they also knew that growing into a larger, more modern company required a shift in how the business was led.
Recognising the limits of a traditional family-run model they brought in Jeremy Brett as General Manager. His leadership helped Morgan Engineering transition to a scalable, corporate structure while fiercely protecting the company’s family values and tight-knit culture.
Under Jeremy’s guidance, the company launched a Centre of Excellence, addressing the shortage of skilled tradespeople by building their own in-house training program. With Gimbal Training as a partner, they developed a nationally recognised, tailor-made apprenticeship pathway – especially for line boring, a highly specialised trade with no existing TAFE qualification.
“Our apprentices don’t go to TAFE,” said Jeremy.
“They train right here in facilities purpose-built for them on the exact machinery they’ll use on the job. We’re not just filling jobs. We are creating world-class tradespeople.”
The collaboration has produced tangible results: more than 40 apprentices trained, including 12 women, a significant rise in retention and morale and national recognition for workforce development and innovation.
These apprentices now help power Morgan’s growth, including expansion into Gunnedah, major projects across QLD and WA and state-of-the-art fabrication, machining and mobile services.
And growth hasn’t come at the cost of culture. In fact, Jeremy and the leadership team have put psychological safety at the centre of how Morgan Engineering operates.
Through initiatives like the Culture Commitment Charter, 24/7 Employee Assistance Programs, mental health training and democratic leadership practices the company has built a workplace where people feel heard, valued and safe to speak up.
Supervisors like those in Heavy Fabrication are leading by example by reimagining crib rooms into open forums for conversation, installing visual reminders of company values and turning toolbox talks into opportunities for praise not punishment.
These aren’t just feel-good programs – they’ve reduced turnover, increased trust and helped build teams that care for each other on and off the job.
Morgan Engineering has also continued to push boundaries on the technical side.
In 2023, they secured the Whitehaven Coal attachment overhaul contract, delivering structural upgrades to the EX8000 boom and arm attachments. These projects involved more than 5,000 welder hours, complex repairs, weld upgrades, line boring, confined space work using CCTV and post-weld heat treatments all performed under one roof to the highest standards of safety and precision.
The result? A benchmark project with zero unplanned costs and client praise for quality and communication.
From CNC machining and fabrication to on-site mobile milling and ultrasonic impact technology (UIT), Morgan Engineering’s range of services now spans the entire mining, power generation, civil and construction sectors across the Hunter Valley and Gunnedah Coal Basin.
And yet, for all the machinery, technology and infrastructure, the heart of the business remains its people.
“Family comes first, and we treat everyone like family,” said Chelsea.
“That’s who we are,” added Martin.
“Anyone can buy machines, but you can’t buy people.”
This ethos isn’t lip service. From covering travel costs for a child’s medical treatment to checking in on employees during hard times, the Morgan team shows up for each other. Employees have moved from Perth, Queensland even Glasgow to be part of the team.
As employee Kiera put it, “It’s the little things. If someone’s struggling, management checks in and then checks in again. It feels good to know you’re supported.”
Now with six locations and a growing national footprint Morgan Engineering is ready for whatever comes next. But they’ll never lose sight of where they came from or who got them here.
“This 50-year celebration isn’t about us,” said Matthew.
“It’s about everyone who’s been a part of it – our customers, our employees, our community. We’re proud of what we’ve built, and even more excited for what’s ahead.”
