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Exam Hall with folding exam desks and postura chairs
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About us

Australian-made furniture since 1951.

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Our history

It’s been over 75 years since we first began making chairs. A lot has happened, but some things remain the same.

You might not know us. But your bottom sure does.

We’ve supported Australians since 1951 with our innovative chairs and furniture designs. We don’t like to brag, but our chairs are so famous they put them in museums like the Powerhouse in Sydney. But it’s ok if you don’t know us.

Once you do, you’ll see us everywhere.

The legend starts in ‘51

1951 – today

1950’s

The legend began in 1951, when Harry Sebel left England and landed in Australia.

28 May 1951

Soon after his arrival he was producing the well-known Mobo toys, and a new furniture range based around the innovative Stak-a-Bye chair. Within a few short years Harry made his mark in his newly adopted country.

1953

The first chair produced in the Sebel factory. Made from pressed metal, a great example of early industrial design. The Stak-A-Bye chair is now in the permanent collection of Australia’s National Powerhouse Museum.

1960’s

He was so successful, that in the late 60s, the decision was made to drop the toy side of the business and focus on the ever-evolving furniture range.

1962

In the 1960s, Harry Sebel focused on designing and manufacturing furniture that could meet the demands of Australia’s rapidly changing needs – introducing lighter materials, stackable designs and scalable production methods that reshaped modern furniture.

1966

Designed for space, efficiency and comfort, the Furey Chair featured a versatile one-piece injection moulded seat shell. It later informed the design of the Slim’n’comfy Chair that is still in production today.

1970s

Sebel transformed seating by becoming the first manufacturer in the world to produce a monobloc plastic moulded chair known as the Integra.

1976

Designed by Charles Furey & Associates for Sebel, the Integra chair is a truly iconic design. On exhibit at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum today, it won the Australian Design Award in 1977 and has been hugely popular ever since due to its classic design, strength, and durability. This Australian classic has never been out of production.

The Hobnob Chair

Initially designed for use in clubs and hotels the low maintenance the ‘Hobnob’ chair was engineered to withstand constant commercial use.

Sebel expanded into creating furniture for the entire home – from couches to the iconic Hobnob Tulip dining table and chairs (pictured).

1980s

1986

The Program Chair was developed and launched in 1986. It eventually evolved into the much-loved Progress Chair – a top selling chair for venues and community seating that continues to be manufactured today in our Sydney factory.

1987

A crowd favourite – the Sebel Sun-lounge. Designed in 1987, it won the Australian Design Award the same year and went on to be a popular choice for hotels and community aquatic centres for nearly 40 years. The Sun lounge was retired in 2025.

1990s

Enter Postura. Today, the Postura Max® chair, is one of the best-selling classroom chairs in the world. With millions of students sitting on them every day, it’s the most popular and most copied school chair on the market.

1996

The original, and the best. Ergonomically designed and engineered for the classroom, the science and manufacturing quality behind the Postura chair is unparalleled (although they try). These days, it’s loved by over 12,000 schools and 6 million students worldwide.

By the 90s, Sebel furniture was a staple in classrooms across Australia.

00s

Sebel developed the Podium fixed seating range – purpose built for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Stadium. We took out an Australian Design Award for that one too.

2000

Since 2000, Podium seating has featured in stadiums and auditoriums around Australia, and across the globe (Accor Stadium, Sydney Cricket Ground and Suncorp Stadium to name a few).

2020’s

Clever design, solid engineering and quality materials all the way. Harry Sebel kept it simple but made it smart. And that’s exactly what we do today.

2023

In 2023 we launched the Recycled Postura Max® – made from 97.5% post-consumer recycled plastic. Since then, we’ve expanded our recycled options and our entire Postura range is sold with recycled plastic.

2025

Sebel launches RePlay. RePlay is our furniture recycling program. It’s our commitment to reducing plastic waste, by taking back well-loved Sebel chairs and giving them a second life as newly recycled chairs. The launch of recycled products like the Ned™ Stool, LUMBA and RePlay are all steps along the way in our mission to reduce plastic waste.

Today

In 2026 we celebrate 75 years of Sebel. A lot has happened, but some things remain the same.

Made in Australia. Innovative Design. Durable Quality.

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