About Grolia
We’re engineers and designers in Newcastle, Australia, on a mission to make growing remarkable food at home feel effortless, starting with mushrooms.
Our first product is Flush: a countertop mushroom grower that automatically controls temperature, humidity and fresh air.
Our story
Fascinated by mushrooms and the role they play in nature, we tried growing our own. The results didn’t match the effort: grow kits are a cheap way to start, but they demand constant misting, and one weekend away usually meant a dried-out block.
We wanted to enjoy watching mushrooms grow, without planning our days around a spray bottle. Keeping them from drying out was becoming a chore.
The serious alternative wasn’t much better. Automated setups meant bulky equipment, tents and plastic tubs hidden in the garage. Getting through an Australian summer took ducted air conditioning.
The extra equipment added cost, and we still couldn’t rely on the results. Fruiting mushrooms are beautiful, but our setup wasn’t something we wanted on display. It stayed hidden away in a cupboard.
So the idea for Flush was born: a compact, genuinely user-friendly cabinet that makes growing mushrooms fun and rewarding for everyone. Why the name? When a crop of mushrooms fruits, it’s called a flush.
We built our first prototype in 2022 and asked Little Acre Gourmet Mushrooms, an established commercial grower, to come on board as technical advisors. Three years and four versions later, we launched a Kickstarter campaign that funded in the first seven minutes.
The journey
The first prototype. Rough, loud, and full of promise.
Three years of iteration in the Newcastle workshop.
Flush v4, the version that funded on Kickstarter in seven minutes.
Flush v5 - The first mass production version, shipping to our customers.
Where we work
Our workshop sits in a hub of established hardware businesses who back each other, Evo Technology and Design Anthology among them. We’re determined to keep manufacturing in Australia while raising the bar for product design. Flush is designed and built here, and it is listed with Australian Made under licence.
The team
Head of Product Design & Engineering
Mechanical Engineer · Industrial Designer
More than ten years in industrial design and automation, and a lifetime of building new things. Oliver has been Head of Production for a recycled plastics manufacturer, Technical Design Engineer for a medical diagnostics company, and Engineer & Facilities Manager for an innovation lab. He thrives on fast-paced problem-solving. Rock climbing and surfing are his big passions outside of Grolia.
Managing Director
Civil/Environmental Engineer · Sustainability Advisor
Eight years on major infrastructure projects as an engineer and sustainability consultant, with a passion for designing with the environment in mind. A hydroponic veggie garden built with his twin brother Oliver in 2017 planted the seed for Grolia. Liam spends his spare time surfing, climbing and hiking with his wife Sophie.
Head of Electronics & Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineer
Eight years across mechanical, electrical and automation systems, and an avid problem solver with a sharp, objective eye. Ben designed and built Flush’s custom electrical system and circuit board. We met Ben through rock climbing — and that’s where our adventures together started.
Creative Director
Designer · M. Environmental Management & Sustainability
Sophie brings the professional-yet-creative flair to Grolia’s brand — when she isn’t sculpting designer furniture, weaving lampshades or sewing one-off fashion pieces. Her background spans property economics, energy procurement and ESG reporting. A true all-rounder, expert communicator, and adventurous heart.
Director of Software & UX
Software Developer · Civil Engineer
You can thank Steve for Flush’s touch screen. A structural engineer turned senior software developer, he shipped his first apps to the App Store in 2015 and never looked back — building user experiences where functionality and aesthetics meet. Liam and Steve met at university; Flush brought them back together. Surprise: Steve also loves rock climbing.
Key facts
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