Australian Showroom Launch
Plumbline makes its Australian debut with a light-filled, design-led showroom in the heart of Melbourne.
New Zealand bathware brand Plumbline has officially arrived on the Australian design scene, opening its first international showroom on a prime corner of Church Street in Richmond. The Melbourne showroom is an exciting next step for the company, founded in 1990 by Geoff Wallace and still proudly family-run. It also gives Australian architects and designers access to the full suite of Plumbline’s bathroom solutions, shaped by three decades of craft, quality materials and purposeful design. As Jonathan Connor, the company’s marketing and brand manager, notes, “Melbourne is a natural progression for us. It is a city with deep architectural roots and a strong appreciation for design.”
The showroom’s soothing, sky-blue facade was chosen as a gentle nod to water. Three large, floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to gleam across the baths, basins, tapware and accessories, while curated feature displays spotlight some of Plumbline’s most significant collaborations – including Greg Natale’s Milazzo baths and basins and the extensive Buddy tapware collection, with its matching heated towel rails and accessories.
The interiors were designed by Nickolas Gurtler of Nickolas Gurtler Office, who has created an immersive, gallery-like space that allows the Plumbline collections to shine. Exposed pipes are painted in a bold red, while the wider material palette references the rugged beauty of New Zealand’s mountainous landscapes. A Murano glass chandelier – rippled and luminous – is a surprising focal point, its form echoing the movement of water.
Plumbline celebrated the showroom launch on 27 November with an event co-hosted with The Local Project, drawing 70 architects, designers and industry guests. The atmosphere was warm and lively, with guests enjoying drinks, canapés and live music. The Local Project editor Virginia Jen welcomed guests, before company managing director Brad Wallace addressed the audience. Natale introduced his Milazzo collection, highlighting its sculptural quality and the collaborative process behind it, before Gurtler spoke about his intention for the products to feel “in situ” – even incorporating plumbing in some tapware displays to add a sense of authenticity.
With thoughtful interiors, meaningful Australian partnerships and a clear design direction, Plumbline’s Melbourne showroom points to a confident new chapter for the brand. As Jonathan Connor noted, “We have created a space that reflects the calibre of the Australian design community and offers a considered environment to explore our products.”
Interior design by Nickolas Gurtler.
