About Wattle Byhome

I grew up in a house where nothing got thrown out and nothing got bought new if you could fix the old one. My dad came out from Croatia in 1978 and spent thirty years doing maintenance work across the Latrobe Valley. He kept every spanner he ever bought in a green toolbox under the stairs. When he passed in 2019 I inherited the box and most of his habits. I'd been doing residential renos around Castlemaine for about six years by then, picking up jobs through word of mouth, driving maybe 400 kilometres a week between sites. It was decent work but the margins were thin and the schedule was someone else's.

Before the reno work I'd done a stint in logistics out of the Somerton depot in Melbourne's north, and before that a few years in a steel fabrication yard near Bendigo. I know what a supply chain looks like from the inside and I know what it costs when the right tool isn't on site when it needs to be. Tradespeople around here were driving to Bendigo or waiting four days for online orders. A hardware store in Castlemaine's main street closed in 2017 and nothing replaced it. That gap sat in the back of my mind for a couple of years while I was still doing the reno work. I kept a note in my phone of every time a subcontractor or a neighbour asked me where to source something locally.

— Good tools, straight answers, no fuss. — Robert, Robert Pincevic

Our team

• Dariusz Kowalski — Warehouse and Dispatch Coordinator: Dariusz came on board in early 2022 after spending seven years running the receiving dock at a building supplies wholesaler in Bendigo. He handles all inbound freight from our Dandenong distributor, manages the pick-and-pack process and keeps the shed organised to a standard that makes Robert look messy. On a busy week he'll move around 200 outbound parcels through Australia Post and Sendle, and he knows the cut-off times for every postcode we regularly ship to.
• Thanh Nguyen — Customer Service and Online Orders: Thanh joined in August 2022 after relocating from Melbourne's western suburbs to Castlemaine with her family. She handles all customer enquiries across email and the website chat, processes returns and manages the order queue during peak periods. Before this she'd spent four years in customer operations at a Melbourne-based trade supplies company, which means she can usually answer a product question without having to ask Robert first.
• Mirela Stanić — Buying and Supplier Coordination: Mirela started helping Robert part-time in late 2023 to manage the growing supplier relationships and forecast stock needs across the 140-SKU range. She came from a procurement role at a hardware distribution company based in Tullamarine, where she worked for nearly a decade. She handles reorder schedules, tracks lead times from our Dandenong and interstate suppliers, and has cut our average stockout rate from roughly 12 percent down to under 4 percent since she came on.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard delivery takes 3–8 business days depending on your location. Metro areas in VIC, NSW, and QLD are usually at the faster end; WA, NT, and remote postcodes can take closer to 8 days. Express options are available at checkout if you need it sooner.

Do you ship to PO boxes or parcel lockers?

Yes, we ship to PO boxes and Australia Post parcel lockers via standard Australia Post. StarTrack express cannot deliver to PO boxes, so if you choose express, please use a street address.

Can I return a product if I change my mind?

Yes, we accept change-of-mind returns within 30 days of delivery, provided the item is unused, in original packaging, and in resaleable condition. Return shipping costs are on you for change-of-mind returns. If the product is faulty, we cover all costs.

Do you offer gift wrapping?

We do offer a basic gift wrap option for $6.95, which you can add at checkout. It includes a kraft paper wrap and a small card where you can write a personal message. We keep it simple — no oversized bows or excessive packaging.

Are any of your products suitable for people with allergies or sensitivities?

The tools and hardware we stock don't typically involve allergens, but some items include rubber grips, latex components, or nickel-plated finishes. If you have a specific sensitivity, email us at hello@wattlebyhome.com and we'll check the product specs before you order.

Do you do custom or bulk orders for trade customers?

We can accommodate bulk orders for tradies, builders, and businesses. Contact us at hello@wattlebyhome.com with what you need and your ABN, and we'll work out pricing and lead times. We don't have a formal wholesale portal yet, but we're happy to deal directly.

Are prices on the site inclusive of GST?

Yes, all prices displayed on the Wattle Byhome website include GST. Your tax invoice, which is emailed automatically after purchase, will show the GST component separately.

How do I know which drill bit set or accessory fits my tool?

Check the chuck size and drive type listed in the product specs on each page. If you're unsure whether an accessory is compatible with a tool you already own, send us the model number at hello@wattlebyhome.com and we'll give you a straight answer.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Exactly what I needed, no fuss” Ordered the DeWalt 20V Compact Drill-Driver Kit on a Tuesday afternoon and it was on my doorstep Thursday morning — didn't expect that. The kit came well packed with both batteries secured properly, nothing rattling around. Good value for a reliable drill and I'd buy from Wattle Byhome again without hesitation.
• 4/5 “Solid saw, slight packaging scuff” The Makita 18V Circular Saw arrived in good shape overall, though the outer box had a corner dent — the saw itself was fine. Laser guide works well and the cut accuracy is noticeably better than my old saw. Emailed the team about the packaging and they responded the next morning, which I appreciated.
• 5/5 “Tool apron is built tough” Bought the Stanley FatMax 24-Pocket Tool Apron after going through two cheaper ones in a year. The canvas is noticeably heavier and the stitching on the pockets looks like it'll last. I've been using it daily on site for two months now and it's holding up exactly as you'd hope.
• 4/5 “Good spanner set, delivery was fine” The Bahco 12-Piece Combination Spanner Set arrived well within the estimated window, packaged securely in a foam-lined roll. The spanners feel solid and the sizing markings are clear. One of the smaller spanners had a minor burr on the edge — not a dealbreaker, but worth noting for a set at this price point.
• 5/5 “Rotary laser is the real deal” Was a bit nervous ordering something like the Bosch GRL 300 HV online without seeing it in person, but it arrived in perfect condition and self-levelled correctly straight out of the box. Used it to set out a deck and it saved me a good hour of fiddling. Shipping to Fremantle took six business days, which is reasonable.
• 5/5 “Bought as a gift, went down well” Ordered the DeWalt drill kit as a birthday gift for my partner and added the gift wrap at checkout. The presentation was clean and understated, which suited him perfectly. It arrived two days after ordering and he's already used it to mount shelves throughout the house.

From the journal

• How rent pressure pushed me into selling tools — I did not plan to run a hardware business; I planned to not fall behind on rent, and this is what happened.
• Finding a reliable tool supplier took longer than expected — My third supplier contact in six months, and the first one who did not disappear after two invoices.
• Using a compact drill for the first time, practically speaking — Most first-time buyers ask the same three questions, so I wrote down the answers in one place.
• Running dispatch during the January school holidays — Two kids at home, a full order queue, and one kitchen table doing three jobs at once.
• The case for a canvas tool apron on small home jobs — I resisted stocking aprons for months, then I started using one myself and changed my mind.
• Winter in Castlemaine and what breaks first — The Central Goldfields winter is cold enough that small maintenance jobs you ignored in autumn become urgent by July.