tradie types

Australia’s tradie galaxy is a busy one: sparkies (electricians), chippies (carpenters), plumbers, brickies, tilers, painters, plasterers, roofers, concreters, landscapers and mechanics—plus HVAC techs, glaziers, cabinetmakers and more. Each has a ticket, a toolkit, and an opinion about how the last bloke did it wrong. For new builds you’ll often see a chippie running point with a platoon of specialists; for renos, expect a rotating cast and a lot of drop sheets. If you’re hiring, check licences, insurance and recent jobs, not just who rocks up in the flashiest ute.

And yes, the good ones are busy—book ahead unless you enjoy cold showers, flickering lights and doors that don’t close quite right.