POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

Arriving in Sydney in 1951 from England, Harry Sebel (1915-2008) promptly set up a business initially manufacturing chairs such as the ‘Stak-a-Bye’ pressed metal stackable chair and toys, notably the ‘Mobo Bronco’ ride-on horse, but from the 1960s concentrated wholly on furniture production. The company rapidly became highly successful with a range of cheap but durable furniture. Sebel invested in plastic moulding machines and produced chairs for offices, public buildings and schools - in fact anywhere that mass seating was required. In 1974 Sebel started manufacture of the ‘Integra’ stackable chair designed by Charles Furey. It was the world's first single piece moulded polypropylene chair and is still being made today. A focus for the company was supplying school furniture and their ‘Postura’ chair is the world’s biggest selling classroom chair. In 1982 Harry Sebel sold the company which continues to carry his name, although it is now owned by a company called Resero whose manufacturing base is still in Sydney. Sebel supplies products for educational facilities and hospitality as well as entertainment and outdoor sporting venues. Their ‘Podium’ seating was installed in the main stadium for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. After Harry Sebel sold the furniture business he moved into property and in 1963 built the Sebel Townhouse Hotel, which became the go to destination for visiting overseas celebrities including movie stars and rock ‘n roll musicians. In 1999 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to design. The chair design was the winner of the Australian Design Award 1977 and finalist in the 1978 Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design.