An oasis to an abundance of businesses, Fyshwick is a great place to seek furniture, services and help from just about anyone! Here are some of Fyshwick’s leading businesses…

Taking its name from former Tasmanian premier Philip Fysh (1877-1878 and 1887-1892), and adopting the Old English suffix of “wick” meaning “dwelling place”, Fyshwick was first developed in the early 1900s, with an area built as a wartime internment camping in early 1918.

An oasis to an abundance of businesses, Fyshwick is a great place to seek furniture, services and help from just about anyone!

A household name with family roots

Family owned and operated with 35 years of experience, Pat Seears, alongside son and daughter, Shane and Melissa, operate a big workwear gear and clothing store in Fyshwick.

Trading in Barrier Street since 2002, Pat says it’s an honour to be Canberra’s trusted leader in the workwear industry.

“It’s extremely important that we provide the right equipment and the best safety products to our clients,” says Pat.

“We want to get it right the first time so that we build long-term relationships with our clients.”

Providing clothing and safety items for a wide variety of industries, Pat says they can help labourers, chefs, blue and white-collar workers all the way to government departments, such as Defence, and hospitals.

“With 1400 square metres of space, there are truckloads of stock ready to meet our clients needs,” he says.

“There is nothing worse than having to wait weeks for something to be ordered in.”

Providing a free measure-and-quote and free delivery service, Pat says they also provide a full embroidery and screen printing service.

“We are competitively priced and are prepared to negotiate on bulk orders,” he says.

“These are just some factors on why we believe Seears Workwear has become a household name.”

Seears Workwear, 60 Barrier Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4111 or visit seearsworkwear.com.au

Independent printers take pride in their work

For more than 30 years, Elect Printing has been a part of the Canberra community, offering their services for schools, government departments, small businesses and trade works, 

“We are Canberra’s largest privately owned printing house,” says director Maria Nesic. 

“It’s something we pride ourselves on.” 

Employing 24 staff, Maria says their “for the community, from the community” approach extends beyond the company’s printing services, sponsoring support programs such as the Canberra Ronald McDonald House and Karinya House. 

“We have some of the best printing equipment in the region, including cutting-edge digital presses, a new Heidelberg press and traditional foiling and embossing,” she says. 

With no project too big or small, Maria says they can print anything from a single print-out all the way to 5000 books. 

Specialising in offset printing, digital printing, large-format printing, prepress, finishes and embellishments, Maria says the friendly team are there to talk customers through the entire process. 

Maria says they bring beautiful finishes to every job, delivering a “product of quality that’s made with care by a passionate team.”

“Contact us online or just come in for a chat to see how we can help you,” she says. 

Elect Printing. 112 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6925 or visit electprinting.com.au

Barbecue experts who value hands-on experiences

For almost two years, the team at Canberra BBQ and Outdoors have been providing expert knowledge on the Weber barbecue range. 

Family owned and operated, store owner Michael Halewicz says they are the only Weber Premium specialists in Canberra. 

Recently taking out the top spot in Outstanding Customer Experience and Outstanding Marketing Initiative at the 2025 Weber Conference in Adelaide, as well as winning the High Achiever Award, Michael says it’s the little things that they do that sets them apart. 

“We have a full-time chef that can teach you how to double-click the tongs,” he says. 

“We run multiple food demonstrations throughout the week for our customers to learn how to cook the perfect steak or sausages on a Weber barbecue.” 

Alongside the demonstrations, Michael says they also conduct their own cooking classes in-house for customers to participate in. 

“It’s a hands-on experience to try before you buy,” he says. 

Also specialising in outdoor kitchens, Michael says they will soon be exploring outdoor furniture and shade covers to help customers make the perfect outdoor barbecue setting. 

“We are also looking forward to releasing the new Weber Genesis and Weber Spirit barbecues shortly,” he says. 

Canberra BBQ and Outdoors. 26 Pirie Street, Fyshwick. Call 6152 8028 or visit Canberra BBQ & Outdoors on Facebook.

Furniture for all budgets and styles

James Fullerton and Taylor Radnall have more than 25 years of experience in picking out quality pieces of furniture. 

Following their moving the company, Ex-Government Furniture, to 26 Molonglo Mall, just off the Shell service station roundabout, James says the new location puts them “in the heart of it all”. 

“We are in the home of furniture, and we are now in prime position to reach a larger audience in Fyshwick,” he says. 

With new furniture arriving each week, James says they have something for everyone. 

“We’ve got chairs as low as $5 in store, all the way up to some really nice vintage leather couches that will last forever,” he says. 

Recently receiving a huge haul of bookshelves, home furnishings, sofas and storage supplies, James says they provide quality items at a half of the cost. 

“We’re the one-stop shop for household furniture,” he says. 

“We are here to make furniture upgrades easy, making it easy to move on to the next stage of home improvements at a fraction of the cost.” 

According to James, Ex-Government Furniture supplies 90 per cent of the furniture around Fyshwick, making them the industry professionals to beat. 

Ex-Government Furniture, 26 Molonglo Mall, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com, facebook at exgovfurniture or on instagram at exgovfurniture

Artist creates space for quality art supplies and classes

An artist of 25 years across all mediums, with a specialty in oil and acrylic, Margaret Hadfield is the owner and operator of Artists Shed, and more recently, the event co-ordinator for Canberra’s first Art Fair at EPIC, September 5-7. 

“The shed is my primary job,” she says. “And I love what I do.”

The shed is split into three components, a studio to teach art, a shop full of hand-picked art supplies to sell and an art gallery to display and sell her pieces. 

“It’s hard to find quality art supplies,” says Margaret. “I only stock the items that I believe in and can vouch for.

“I’ve made it my mission to supply quality materials for my students, and for the greater art community to purchase.

“I don’t provide cheap, nasty items that won’t support a piece of art.”

Margaret’s classes run throughout the week and she says they fill up quickly. 

With under a month to go, Margaret says she is thrilled to organise Canberra’s first Art Fair at EPIC. 

“When I came to Canberra, I first sold my art at an art show, which was more than 20 years ago,” she says. 

“It’s a daunting step, but I feel that I’m responding to the need for artists to have a space to sell their work.

“Many of my students have already jumped on board and are eager to see their art displayed.” 

Artists Shed. 1-3/88 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 0418 237 766 or visit artistshed.com.au

Hemp for all ailments and concerns

South Pacific Hemp offers a thoughtful range of products to help through the colder months, says store manager Sue Booth. 

“We get to know the story and origin behind each wholesaler, we pride ourselves on knowing these individual companies’ stories and telling our customers exactly where the products originated,” she says.

“The global market for hemp is predicted to nearly quadruple in value between 2020 and 2027.

“This is because of hemp’s hardiness across a wide range of climates, its ability to grow in and improve poor soil, as well as absorb more carbon dioxide than any other crop, and that every part of the plant is useful.”

Sue says she also takes pride in having vast knowledge about the different hemp products and uses.

“We have a green hemp healing balm that is good for arthritis, psoriasis, bruising, nerve pain and eczema,” she says.

“Or, we have a popular hemp and cherry balm or black sheep, which can help with nappy rash, inflammation, bites and stings.

“The store also has a range of clothing and linen, fabrics, bedding and cushions all made to promote wellbeing.

“Hemp protects your skin by naturally filtering UV light. It also resists bacterial growth and breathes excellently, preventing odours.”

Sue says hemp gives years of wear, while its breathing ability, antibacterial and antiviral properties help promote good sleep.

South Pacific Hemp, 84 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 0431 318898, visit southpacifichemp.com.au or email sthpacifichemp@gmail.com

Funeral services with respect, honour and dignity

Tobin Brothers, part of the Invocare branch of funeral services alongside White Lady Funerals and Simplicity, has three sites across Canberra.

“Our support centre and state-of-the-art mortuary’s location in Fyshwick is the perfect place to house our hearses and support both the community as well as our valued team members,” says Cassandra Proctor, operations manager for Invocare ACT. 

“It is our mission to stand alongside our clients, their families and friends during pivotal moments in their lives, offering compassion, exceeding expectations and delivering exceptional service.”

Offering ritual washing facilities for different faiths, Cassandra says it is important that Tobin Brothers caters to a wide audience, ensuring every person is given the respect, honour and dignity they deserve. 

“We actively seek new strategies, opportunities and technologies that enable client families to honour their loved ones in meaningful ways,” she says.

“Our team is deeply passionate about the service we provide, viewing our work as a true vocation that transcends traditional job roles.

“At Tobin Brothers, we are committed to ensuring that every farewell is a meaningful tribute, making each moment count during times of need.” 

Tobin Brothers. 8 Whyalla Street, Fyshwick. Call 6295 2799 or visit tobinscanberrafunerals.com.au

Cost-effective solutions for home renovations

Upgrading or improving a home shouldn’t have to be an expensive adventure, says store-owner John Rivers. 

“At Handyman’s Trading Post, people can find a great range of new, factory used and used parts and pieces at half the price,” he says.

Now settling into a new location on Newcastle Street, Fyshwick, John says Handyman’s Trading Post is pleased to again be providing affordable tools and items for home-improvement projects. 

With a wide range of new and used windows, doors, hardware and other building materials, John says Handyman’s Trading Post is a leading supplier of factory-second and used windows and doors, with new stock arriving each week. 

“We’re also the experts at delivering purchased windows and doors safely to your home or job site,” he says. 

Offering to take “want lists” from customers, John says they can alert customers when products from their list have arrived in store. 

“Our range of other items is constantly changing, with great deals to be had on modern and antique tools, cladding and piping, floorboards and timber, door and window latches etcetera,” he says.

John says customers can save hundreds, or even thousands, by buying secondhand windows and doors. Items he says are often the key feature of renovations. 

“For more than 42 years, Handyman’s Trading Post has supplied Canberrans with quality and affordable home and commercial building materials,” says John.

The Handyman’s Trading Post. 167 Newcastle Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4036. On facebook.com/p/Handymans-Trading-Post or Instagram at htpcanberra

Flag makers and embroiders in the heart of Fyshwick

Having first opened more than 30 years ago, and changing hands in January, the Australian Flag Company has gone on to supply its finely crafted flags throughout the entire country, says managing director Abu-Shankar Babu.

“We supply and manufacture a complete range of national flags for all countries,” says Abu.

“We also provide specific company flags, corporate flags, flags for school houses, DFAT, Defence, AFP, specific ideas and specialised designs.”

Today, the company has gone on to sell accessories, banners, badges, souvenirs and, as Abu puts it, almost anything to do with flags.

“A flag has long been viewed as a symbol of respect by those who view it, and of pride by those who fly it,” he says.

“We take an enormous amount of pride in both making and selling something that means so much to so many people.”

Abu is in partnership with Personally Yours business owner Asha Rani, who provides embroidery services. 

With both companies working together under the same roof with the same staff, Abu says the businesses complement each other nicely. 

“You can personalise a flag all in one location,” he says. 

Australian Flag Company and Personally Yours. 218 Gladstone Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4166 or visit australianflag.biz or pyours.biz