Howzat! Moreton Bay is bowling over sports fans across the globe
Published 20 November 2025
- Since teaming up with Kookaburra more than 15 years ago, City of Moreton Bay based manufacturer Packer Leather has provided the materials used to make 10 million cricket balls
- The family-run business has been part of Queensland’s manufacturing landscape for over 130 years, calling Narangba home since 1972
- City of Moreton Bay is proud to support local businesses to drive innovation and shape the City’s future
Just as good line and length are critical for a good bowler, so too is the right leather to make a match-ready cricket ball.
But did you know the leather for the iconic Kookaburra cricket ball - a centrepiece of cricket matches played across the world – is made in City of Moreton Bay?
Packer Leather, a family-owned business, first took the pitch in 1891 and is one of the suppliers helping bring Kookaburra cricket balls to Aussies and cricket enthusiasts nationally and abroad.
Since teaming up with Kookaburra more than 15 years ago, Packer Leather has provided the leather used to make a whopping 10 million cricket balls for games, from backyard contests to international test matches.
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery is proud to see a local business leading the way as an innovator in their industry.
“Packer Leather has been a Queensland business for more than 130 years, and they’ve had a significant impact on Aussie sport. Without the opportunity to move their business to Narangba in 1972, cricket wouldn't exist how we know it,” Mayor Flannery said.
"While cricket is known for the traditional red ball, Packer Leather were instrumental assisting Kookaburra with the bright pink ball that has revolutionised the game. Day-night test matches are now possible because the pink ball stays clearly visible both in daylight and under floodlights.
“City of Moreton Bay is proving to be a destination of choice for manufacturers due to our population growth, proximity to Brisbane Airport and various shipping ports, productive industrial precincts, and collaborative business ecosystem.
“We're innovators and makers at scale, producing countless items which Australians use every day, like the high-tech electronics that cook your supermarket roast chooks or the equipment keeping you safe on our roads.
“Our newly announced TAFE Centre of Excellence will create more opportunities for locals to study and build careers in construction, engineering and advanced manufacturing, growing our economy and keeping talent and opportunity in City of Moreton Bay.
“We’re committed to building a bigger, bolder and brighter future for our City by supporting our local manufacturers. Packer Leather is one of the businesses leading the way by boosting jobs and strengthening our local economy, and that’s a win for everyone in City of Moreton Bay.”
Lindsay Packer, Director and Chairman of Packer Leather, highlights the business’ role in supporting both Australian sport and the Moreton Bay community.
“It is rewarding knowing our leather ends up in Kookaburra balls that Australians use to bowl, bat, and field across the country. Our team’s hard work goes into every bit of leather we work with, and it’s exciting to know it’s making its way into someone’s favourite cricket match or backyard game,” Mr Packer said.
A keen sportsman himself, Lindsay represented Queensland in AFL as a schoolboy, just as his son Dave did 30 years later - a connection that’s come full circle through the company’s partnership with Sherrin.
“We’ve been providing leather for Sherrin footballs for more than 15 years now and were excited to bring another sporting code into our ‘team’. We’re known to push the boundaries for leather production, and working with Sherrin has allowed us to do that,” Lindsay Packer said.
“Our process combines generations of craftsmanship mixed with modern innovation, and it’s what gives each Kookaburra and Sherrin ball its distinctive feel and performance.”
Andrew Luke, General Manager and Technical Director at Packer Leather, is leading the charge in innovation and quality across the company’s diverse product range.
“Our role is to make sure every piece of leather meets the highest standards, whether it’s destined for an elite sporting field or one of the many other industries we supply. That means we’re constantly testing, refining and innovating to not just meet expectations, but to set new benchmarks for leather products,” Mr Luke said.
“When we see a Sherrin soaring through the air or a Kookaburra spinning down the pitch, it’s a reminder that a piece of Moreton Bay is right there in the action.”