The acquisition of Dunbier Marine and Mackay Trailer Products, two of Australia’s most iconic and trusted names in marine manufacturing, will unlock new opportunities for customers and dealers across Australia, while ensuring uninterrupted service, delivery and quality.
Dunbier was founded by Russell Dunbier in 1969, and custom boat trailers were added to the range with the acquisition of Mackay Multi Link in 2015. Dunbier and Mackay have manufactured hundreds of thousands of trailers for dealer networks and Russell Dunbier continued to work in the business until his passing in 2025.
Dunbier Marine Products Owners Tracey and Michelle Reid with founder of 2nd Summit Capital Jonathan Cutting. Picture : Penny Stephens.
The acquisition will expand strategic support to invest in new product development, manufacturing expertise and operational capability across Australia and New Zealand.
The existing senior management and operational team will remain in place, ensuring that support for dealers, customers and supply chain partners continues uninterrupted.
Managing Director Michelle Reid, who will retire following the acquisition, said that finding a partner who shared an appreciation for the deep industry expertise and brand heritage of both companies was critical.
“For our family, ensuring the future of Dunbier and Mackay remains strong, secure, and true to its values was our highest priority.
I want to acknowledge my parents Russell and Kay Dunbier, whose vision and tireless work laid the foundation of this incredible business over 50 years ago, and Tracy and Matt Jackson for their dedication and immense contribution to making Dunbier and Mackay the successes that they are today.
Passing the torch to Jonathan and the team at 2nd Summit Capital allows us to preserve that proud family legacy while ensuring the customers who have relied on us for decades will benefit from an expanded support network and a dedicated team of existing individuals who will carry the brands into the next decade.”
- Michelle ReidGeneral Manager Andrew Murphy, who joined Dunbier in 2019, will continue the Dunbier legacy by assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer following Michelle Reid’s retirement. Andrew Murphy said his role was to ensure customers can expect the same service they have grown to know and love from Dunbier and Mackay.
“Importantly, our entire senior management and operational management team remains in place. Our dealers, customers, and supply chain partners can expect complete continuity in day-to-day operations, backed by the same dedicated team they have trusted for years,” said Andrew Murphy.
It has been a privilege to work alongside Russell, Kay, Michelle, Tracy and Matt over the past eight years. Their passion and focus on the business is extraordinary, matched only by their determination to succeed and focus on delivering the best outcomes for customers.”
L-R Andrew Murphy, Jonathan Cutting at their Braeside Factory in Melbourne’s South East. Picture : Penny Stephens.
Founder of 2nd Summit Capital, Jonathan Cutting, said success would be measured by preserving the brand’s reputation for quality and reliability, while driving the next phase of growth.
“For over five decades, the Dunbier family has been building these brands into industry leaders known for quality, reliability, and continuous innovation,” said Jonathan Cutting.
“We are pleased to bring Dunbier and Mackay into 2nd Summit Capital’s growing portfolio of Australian specialist manufacturing businesses.
“Australian manufacturing has a storied past, and a strong future. 2nd Summit Capital is committed to protecting the legacy and investing the future of incredible Australian businesses,” concluded Jonathan Cutting.
L-R Michelle Reid, Andrew Murphy, Tracy Jackson, Jonathan Cutting. Picture : Penny Stephens.
Marine Business News spoke to the team. This is what they had to say.
To Michelle Reid: Beyond the commercial terms, what gave your family confidence that 2nd Summit Capital was the right custodian of the Dunbier and Mackay businesses?
“Keeping the brands in Australian hands was very important to our family. We wanted someone who understood manufacturing and appreciated the legacy we had built. Jonathan’s Melbourne background, his enthusiasm for Australian manufacturing and his commitment to the business gave us confidence that he was the right fit to take Dunbier and Mackay forward.”
“The decision to sell had been carefully considered. The business’s stability and established management team were central to its value and provided a strong foundation for the ownership transition.”
To Michelle Reid: As you prepare to retire, what aspects of the business your parents built are you most proud of, and what do you most want to see preserved?
“One of the things I am most proud of is taking Dunbier from a Victorian business to a national brand. In the late 1980s, people told Dad that expanding interstate would not work, but he was determined to give it a go. We started with a tiny warehouse in Queensland, supplying perhaps 200 trailers a year in those early years, and built from there.
“When we acquired Mackay in 2015, we had the opportunity to take another respected brand with a predominantly Victorian and South Australian presence and grow it nationally. Our dealer relationships and distribution network are an enormous part of what we have built, and something we are very proud of.”
To Jonathan Cutting: What attracted you to Dunbier and Mackay, and what does 2nd Summit Capital bring that will help both businesses take their next step?
“Our approach is about traditional investing: backing real businesses with quality products, strong brands and good manufacturing processes. Dunbier and Mackay have all those qualities, together with a tremendous Australian heritage.
“What appealed to us was the combination of the brands, the products and the legacy behind them. Hearing people across the industry speak so highly of the business reinforced what we had seen through our own due diligence.”
To Andrew Murphy: For dealers and boat manufacturers reading this announcement, what will remain the same from day one, and what improvements can they look forward to?
“For our dealers and customers, the same people will be in the same places, answering the same phone numbers. Our senior management and operational teams remain in place.
“I have spent seven years working alongside Russell, Kay, Michelle and the family, and their passion for the business drives me every day. Taking on this role is an opportunity to carry that forward, supported by people who share our determination to keep improving.”
“The family has built an incredible business. We now have an opportunity to build on that foundation with fresh ideas, additional expertise and access to resources across the wider group.
“I have seen previously how a family manufacturing business can benefit from access to engineering expertise and resources it did not have before. That is what excites me about this next chapter: the opportunity to support our people, develop our products and create more opportunities for our dealers.”
To Andrew Murphy: The announcement refers to investment in product development and manufacturing capability. What are your initial priorities, and when might customers begin to see the benefits?
“Innovation has always been part of this business, and our new alloy and alloy sports ranges are examples of how we continue to move forward. With access to additional resources and expertise across the group, we have an opportunity to accelerate that development.
“Our dealers are everything to us. When we introduce a product that benefits the boat owner, it also creates an opportunity for the dealer and supports activity and employment on our factory floor.”
To Jonathan Cutting: What does the acquisition mean for Australian manufacturing, particularly the existing workforce, production locations and relationships with local suppliers?
“This is a business that already works very well. We see opportunities to build on that strength by investing in equipment and helping the team manufacture more efficiently.
“We are considering capital investment in areas such as laser cutting and other production equipment. We also want to grow, and growth requires people. Supporting skilled employment is part of that ambition.”
To Andrew Murphy: How do you see the Dunbier and Mackay brands developing alongside one another, and where are the strongest opportunities across Australia and New Zealand?
“Dunbier and Mackay will continue to develop in their own spaces. Dunbier serves a broad boating market, while Mackay has a strong position with customers looking for premium and specialist products, including our off-road range.
“We also have to evolve with the boats our customers are buying. Boats are carrying larger engines and more equipment, which changes what is required of the trailer. Our product development needs to keep pace with those demands.”
“There is also a significant opportunity in looking after people who already own a boat. Just as owners repower their boats, they also need to replace their trailers over time.
“Our re-trailer centres have been a real benefit to the dealer network, giving boat owners somewhere to go for that support. Alongside opportunities to expand our marine accessories range, it is another way we can help dealers look after their customers.”
To Jonathan Cutting: Three years from now, what would success look like for the business, and how would dealers and customers recognise that success in their own dealings with you?
“Success means building on the strategy already in place: strengthening our Australian manufacturing capability, continuing to innovate and bringing new products to market.
“We want our dealers to be able to point to practical improvements that make their lives easier, while ensuring the brands remain synonymous with quality and excellence.”
About Dunbier Marine Products and Mackay Boat Trailers
Headquartered in Braeside, Victoria and founded in 1969 by the Dunbier family, Dunbier Marine Products has built a rich, 55-plus-year legacy of engineering excellence, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the Australian boating community. Along with Mackay Boat Trailers, another household name with deep roots in Australian marine manufacturing, the businesses have proudly supported generations of boaters across the country.
Built to withstand tough Australian conditions, both brands supply custom and standard trailer solutions across boat dealers, commercial fleets, and retail marine channels nation-wide.
For more information about their products, visit their websites here: dunbier.com / mackaytrailers.com
About 2nd Summit Capital
2nd Summit Capital (2NDSC) is an Australian private investment firm specialising in scaling established market leaders overlooked by traditional private equity. Alongside existing management teams, 2NDSC takes a consistent, hands-on approach to drive growth and resilience in its portfolio companies.
For more information, visit their website here: 2ndsummitcapital.com
