July 2026
On 7 July 2026, Greensteel Australia announced it had secured a 70,000 square metre site at 51 Industrial Drive, Mayfield North, and will invest $500 million to build a new steel mill. The site was home to the BHP Newcastle Steelworks for most of the twentieth century.
The mill will run entirely on electricity, with no gas used in the process. It is expected to produce up to 600,000 tonnes of finished steel a year for housing, transport and energy projects, and employ around 200 full-time staff.
Rather than starting from scratch, Greensteel plans to refurbish existing buildings on the site and fit them out with equipment imported from Europe. The first stage will process steel slabs through a rolling mill, with longer-term plans that include iron ore processing and electric arc furnace steelmaking.
Early works are expected to start by the end of 2026, subject to approvals, with the mill targeted to be operating by January 2028.
The project is a strong example of what existing industrial sites in the Hunter can become. Reusing and upgrading established buildings shortens timelines and puts heavy industrial land back to productive use.