Taking pride of place at 44 Orchard Road in Brookvale is a small business doing big things. Colormaker Industries is known to tradies and architects, artists and designers across the Beaches and around the world, celebrated for its eco-friendly paints and inks and for proving that a local manufacturer can lead in sustainability, community spirit and creative impact.

Step inside the factory and you will find something rare in manufacturing: everything runs on sunshine. Six years ago the team installed a 100 kW rooftop solar array, enough to power the entire operation, then added an EV delivery fleet. They went one step further, commissioning a world-first ReVolve solar storage battery built around second-life EV batteries. The result is near energy self-sufficiency and a paint range powered by 100% renewable energy. "There's a little bit of sunshine in every drop we make," says Managing Director David Stuart.

Colormaker has also rethought what goes into paint itself. Most products are now water-based and low in VOCs, giving tradies, renovators, artists and DIYers cleaner options. Plastic microbeads have been removed from all formulations, scrap materials are repurposed on site, and wastewater is treated to exacting standards.

There is value in it too. Colormaker House Paints are a premium-quality product and around 20% less expensive than the major brands. Better for your walls, better for your budget and better for the environment.

Despite its modest size, Colormaker ships to stores, tradies, designers and educators across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, the USA, the UK, Europe and Asia. But its heart remains firmly local. The company donates paint to Northern Beaches schools, supports the Manly and Mosman Art Prizes and supplies materials for local mural projects, and further afield provides free paint to regional galleries, Indigenous art programs and art therapy initiatives.

Every dollar spent at Colormaker stays here on the Beaches, supporting local employment and a business invested in the future of this place. In July 2026, Colormaker will celebrate having saved over 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions since installing its solar array in 2019, an extraordinary milestone for a boutique suburban manufacturer. Small business, mighty impact. If you are considering a fresh coat of paint this season, you know where to go. Call (02) 9939 7977 or visit colormaker.com.au.