About Blue Wattle Pens

Back in primary school in the 1960s, getting your pen licence was a very big deal. Everyone was excited to finally write with a real pen instead of a pencil. That was my first introduction to fountain pens, and it stuck with me.

I learnt italic calligraphy as a teenager and have dabbled on and off in the years since, depending on life and time available. When I started looking for a new hobby, I found my way back to pens again. What I discovered was how much had changed: e-commerce had opened up access to an incredible range of pens and inks, and the fountain pen community online and in person is genuinely diverse and supportive. I loved it.

But somewhere in that journey, and remembering where I'd started, I noticed something. Entry-level pens just aren't readily available in Australia. Chinese manufacturers have come ahead in leaps and bounds over the last decade and their products are well respected as a starting point for new pen users. Yet they weren't being stocked here. And neither were the basic maintenance materials you need to actually look after a pen. And so Blue Wattle Pens was born, with my daughter Sally joining me to run it.

"We're pen enthusiasts first. The shop just made sense."

We're a small Australian micro-business based in Brisbane and we're genuinely involved in the fountain pen community. We know not everyone can afford premium brands, and we think that shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying a good pen. We stock quality entry-level pens and maintenance materials in the right quantities, all available locally.

If you're after your own pen licence moment or you've been writing with a nib for years, have a browse. And if you have questions, we're happy to help.

— Karen & Sally