Who We Are
A History of Putting
You First
Who We Are
A History of Putting
You First
Welcome to Wonderlux! We exist to make luxury window furnishing products more attainable and affordable for homeowners like you. Why? Because we believe you deserve a house that feels like a home, and quality blinds or curtains are the finishing touches to give you exactly that.
For over 50 years, we’ve furnished Australia’s luxury homes with window furnishings through our family-run business, Watson Blinds & Awnings.
Now, we’ve launched Wonderlux with a new DIY model that allows you to get the same high-end products Australians know and love us for without having to bust your budget. But don’t confuse “Do It Yourself” with “Do It Alone”! We’re still committed to making every step of the process quick, easy, and stress-free.
Read on to learn a bit more about The Watson family’s history of putting you first—then shop Wonderlux products to join us in this new chapter!
Family-run From Day One
We’ve always been a family serving families, ever since we opened our doors in 1968. John Watson launched Watson Blinds & Awnings on Lyle Street with just one employee, Pauline Hoare.
After selling and fitting blinds transported from Sydney for a few years, John brought his wife Pat on in 1975. With Pat working as a seamstress, the Watson family was able to manufacture their own high-quality blinds and curtains—the start of an operation that’s grown much larger but remains in-house today!
Building a Reputation
With the Watson family’s dedication to quality products and above-and-beyond customer service, it wasn’t long before Australians started taking notice.
The company’s first exhibition was a huge success, and local customers continued spreading the word to friends and family. John’s “old-school” belief that cheaper doesn’t always mean better was catching on!
Passing The Baton
After just two decades, John Watson had grown Watson Blinds 500%. The company had 45 employees, a factory in Queanbeyan, and retail outlets in Fyshwick and Mitchell.
Ready to retire to Huskisson with his wife Pat, John passed the baton to his three sons, Ray, Kevin, and Peter Watson in 1990. With an ongoing commitment to quality products and putting customers first, the three brothers ensured Watson Blinds remained a business of families serving families.
Celebrating a Legacy
By 2000, what started as a humble, two-person team had grown into a multi-generational business serving Australians like you.
As the Watson family celebrated 30 years, Ray and Kevin broke new ground and, more importantly, continued working hard to make every customer feel heard, taken care of, and happy in their homes.
Changing With The Times
As Canberra grew, so did the family business. With a new showroom and factory, the Watson family kept up with advances in technology and manufacturing.
Still operating with the mindset that “quality is remembered long after price is forgotten,” the Watsons aimed to balance their role as industry pioneers with their longstanding history of putting customers and quality first.
Wonderlux is Born
After 50 years, Watson Blinds & Awnings had grown to almost 100 staff members who had fitted out over 67,000 homes in the Canberra region. Still the only window furnishing company with a local factory, the Watson family continued looking for ways to better serve Australian homeowners.
Before long, they began to ask:
Could we use the convenience of the internet to introduce a DIY business model and pass on the savings to our customers? And with that, Wonderlux was born! With this new brand, we’re eliminating the middleman so that more Australians can have local, high-quality blinds, curtains, and awnings that make their houses feel like home.
