Wattyl
Wattyl is an Australian paint and coatings brand serving architectural, decorative, protective, and special-purpose applications in Australia and New Zealand.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Wattyl is an Australian paint and coatings brand whose range covers architectural and decorative paints, protective coatings, special-purpose products, and finishes for domestic and commercial use. The brand is sold primarily in Australia and New Zealand and is described as the second-largest brand in Australia's architectural and decorative paints market, behind Dulux. The business has a long history in the Australian coatings industry and was publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange from 1959. It remained listed until 22 September 2010, when the entire company was acquired by Valspar and subsequently delisted. Sherwin-Williams acquired Valspar in 2016, bringing Wattyl into the Sherwin-Williams portfolio for a period. In 2021, the Wattyl business was sold to the Hempel Group, which is its current owner. Wattyl's portfolio includes the Granosite, Solagard, Estapol, and Killrust brands. Its product positioning spans everyday architectural and decorative painting, exterior protection, timber finishing, texture coatings, and anti-corrosion applications. Estapol is particularly associated with clear polyurethane finishes for domestic timber surfaces. Wattyl was the first Australian manufacturer of two-pot polyurethanes for the do-it-yourself market, and marketing activity in the 1960s and 1970s helped make “Estapol” a commonly used Australian term for DIY clear finishing of timber with one- or two-pot polyurethane products. The brand also has a community and event-marketing presence. Wattyl is identified as the principal sponsor of New Zealand's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge and as the sleeve sponsor of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. These sponsorships complement its consumer-facing position in home improvement and decorative coatings while extending visibility into New Zealand and Australian sporting audiences. As of May 2010, before the Valspar acquisition, the company employed more than 1,500 people across Australia and New Zealand. Current ownership, product distribution, and sponsorship arrangements place Wattyl within Hempel's broader global coatings group, while the brand continues to operate with a distinct Australian and New Zealand market identity.
History
Wattyl developed as an Australian coatings business serving architectural, decorative, protective, and special-purpose applications. Its market footprint expanded across Australia and New Zealand, where the brand became associated with both household painting and more technical coating needs. The available reference material does not specify the original founding year or founder, but it records a substantial operating history and an important role in the Australian coatings market. A significant part of Wattyl's identity came from its consumer and do-it-yourself product development. The company was the first Australian manufacturer of two-pot polyurethanes for the DIY market. Its Estapol range became especially influential in timber finishing. Marketing during the 1960s and 1970s was sufficiently successful that Estapol became a widely used Australian term for the DIY clear finishing of domestic timber surfaces with one- or two-pot polyurethane finishes. This association gave the brand recognition beyond ordinary wall paint and linked it to home renovation and woodworking. Wattyl was publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange from 1959. The company remained an independent listed business for decades before being acquired by Valspar. The transaction resulted in Wattyl's delisting on 22 September 2010, ending its period as an ASX-listed company. By May 2010, the business employed more than 1,500 people across Australia and New Zealand, indicating the scale of its regional manufacturing, distribution, and commercial operations at that stage. Ownership changed again when Sherwin-Williams acquired Valspar in 2016. Wattyl consequently became part of the enlarged Sherwin-Williams group. In 2021, Sherwin-Williams sold the Wattyl business to Hempel Group. Under Hempel ownership, Wattyl remains a distinct brand focused on the Australian and New Zealand markets rather than being treated solely as a global corporate label. The brand portfolio includes Granosite, Solagard, Estapol, and Killrust. These names represent different parts of the coatings market, including textured finishes, exterior products, timber clear finishes, and rust or corrosion-related applications. Wattyl's overall proposition therefore combines decorative painting with protection and maintenance of buildings, surfaces, and household materials. Wattyl has also used sponsorship to maintain public visibility. It is described as the main sponsor of New Zealand's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge and as a sleeve sponsor of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. These activities support awareness in both of its principal markets. The supplied reference material does not provide enough information to establish a complete chronology of factories, product launches, leadership, financial performance, or current market share beyond the stated position as Australia's second-largest architectural and decorative paint brand after Dulux.
- 2021
Hempel Group becomes owner
[1]Hempel Group acquired the Wattyl business from Sherwin-Williams.
- 2016
Wattyl enters Sherwin-Williams portfolio
[1]Sherwin-Williams acquired Valspar, indirectly bringing Wattyl under Sherwin-Williams ownership.
- 2010
Delisting following Valspar acquisition
[1]Wattyl was fully acquired by Valspar and delisted from the ASX on 22 September 2010.
- 1960
Estapol gains broad DIY recognition
[1]During the 1960s and 1970s, marketing for Estapol helped make the name a widely used Australian term for DIY clear timber finishing.
- 1959
Wattyl begins ASX listing
[1]Wattyl was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange from 1959.
Products and positioning
An established Australia and New Zealand paint and coatings brand combining mainstream architectural and decorative products with protective, timber-finishing, and special-purpose coatings.
Texture coatings
Granosite
Granosite is a Wattyl portfolio brand associated with textured architectural and decorative surface coatings. It represents the part of the range used to create textured finishes and add surface character or coverage in building and renovation applications.
Exterior architectural coatings
Solagard
Solagard is a Wattyl brand in the exterior architectural coatings segment. It is positioned within the broader range of products used for exterior building surfaces and decorative outdoor painting in the Australia and New Zealand markets.
Timber finishes and polyurethane coatings
Estapol
Estapol is Wattyl's best-known timber-finishing brand in the supplied reference material. It covers clear polyurethane finishes for domestic timber surfaces. Wattyl was the first Australian manufacturer of two-pot polyurethanes for the DIY market, and Estapol's historical marketing helped make its name part of Australian DIY vocabulary for clear timber finishing.
Protective and anti-corrosion coatings
Killrust
Killrust is a Wattyl portfolio brand associated with protective coatings for rust and corrosion-related applications. It extends the brand's offer beyond decorative paint into maintenance and surface-protection use cases.
Marketing campaigns
- Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge sponsorship
New Zealand
Wattyl is identified as the current main sponsor of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, a New Zealand cycling event.
Outcome. The sponsorship provides continued brand visibility in New Zealand; the available reference does not quantify campaign results.
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs sleeve sponsorship
Australia
Wattyl is identified as the sleeve sponsor of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Outcome. The partnership gives Wattyl sports-brand exposure in Australia; no performance metrics are provided in the reference material.
- Estapol DIY timber-finishing marketing
Australia
Wattyl conducted highly successful marketing for Estapol during the 1960s and 1970s, promoting DIY clear polyurethane finishing for domestic timber.
Outcome. The brand name became a commonly used Australian term for this type of DIY timber-finishing activity.
Brand decisions
2021
Sale of Wattyl to Hempel GroupM&ABackground
Following Sherwin-Williams' ownership of Valspar, the Wattyl business was sold to Hempel Group.
Action taken
Hempel Group acquired the Wattyl business and became its current owner.
Aftermath
Wattyl continued as a regional brand within Hempel's coatings portfolio.
2016
Transfer to Sherwin-Williams through Valspar acquisitionM&ABackground
Sherwin-Williams acquired Valspar, whose portfolio included Wattyl.
Action taken
Wattyl became part of the Sherwin-Williams group through the parent-company transaction.
Aftermath
The brand remained associated with the Australian and New Zealand coatings markets under new ultimate ownership.
2010
Accept acquisition by ValsparM&ABackground
Wattyl had been an ASX-listed company since 1959 before the entire business was acquired by Valspar.
Action taken
The acquisition was completed and Wattyl was removed from the ASX on 22 September 2010.
Aftermath
Wattyl continued as a brand within Valspar rather than as an independently listed company.
Recent events
- 2021
Hempel Group acquired the Wattyl business[1]
M&A
Hempel Group purchased the Wattyl business from Sherwin-Williams, becoming the brand's current owner.
- 2016
Sherwin-Williams acquired Valspar[1]
M&A
Sherwin-Williams acquired Valspar, placing the Wattyl business within the Sherwin-Williams corporate portfolio.
- 2010
Wattyl delisted after acquisition by Valspar[1]
M&A
Wattyl ceased to be listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 22 September 2010 after Valspar acquired the entire company.
Wattyl sponsors Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge[1]
Campaign
Wattyl is identified as the current main sponsor of New Zealand's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.
Wattyl becomes sleeve sponsor of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs[1]
Campaign
Wattyl is identified as the sleeve sponsor of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Sources2 sources
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