Founding members wanted in Darwin & Palmerston

What we’re building

Solarpunk Builders Co‑op is a new worker‑owned construction company serving the greater Darwin and Palmerston area. We’re starting with standalone homes, then moving into duplexes and townhouses as the crew and capacity grow.

Our focus is concrete and repeatable formwork: strong, cyclone‑ready structures that handle the Top End climate, are termite‑resistant, fire‑resistant, and built to last generations. By standardising designs and details, we cut waste, bring costs down, and deliver high‑quality, affordable homes that people want to live in.

We’re not here to chase quick jobs. We’re here to build something lasting in our community, with local jobs and local skills.

Why a worker co‑op matters for you

In a worker co‑op, the people who do the work are the owners. There’s no external boss taking most of the profit, and no expensive CEO salary eating into what the crew earns. For founding members, that means:

• One member, one vote – active members decide how the business runs, not distant shareholders.
• Fair profit share – on top of normal, market‑rate pay for your role, surplus profits are shared between members based on how much they contribute.
• Better job security – when work slows, co‑ops are more likely to cut hours before cutting people, and ramp back up faster when conditions improve.
• Real say in how we build – the crew on the ground decides how to work smarter and more efficiently, because when the job runs better, everyone benefits.

This is still a business, but it is built so the people doing the work own it.

Who we’re looking for

We’re recruiting founding members across the key trades and roles needed to run residential projects from earthworks to auction. Priority roles include:

• Licensed builder
• Accountant / bookkeeper
• Electrician
• Plumber
• Concrete form workers
• Concreter / floor finisher (polishing)
• Stainless steel installer / metal joiner
• Precast / concrete erection crew
• Painter / protective coatings
• Glazier
• Landscaper / irrigation specialist
• All‑rounders and other trades

If you’re sick of being treated as disposable labour, want more control over your work, and are keen to build something you actually own, you’re exactly who we’re after.

Interested? Let’s talk.

If you’re in or around Darwin/Palmerston, work in construction or related fields, and you’re curious about co‑ownership, we want to hear from you.

Next step: fill in the contact form below with your details, trade/role, and why you’re interested. We’ll get back to you to set up a quick chat and explain how the co‑op will work in practice.

How this works

Right now, Solarpunk Builders Co‑op is in the founding stage. We’re bringing together a core group of people who want to set up and grow a worker‑owned construction business in the Top End. As a founding member, you’ll:

• Help shape the rules, roles, and profit‑sharing model.
• Commit time and skills to get the co‑op off the ground.
• Take on real responsibility and ownership from day one.

Membership details (including any share buy‑in) are still being worked out with the founding group. The key point: this is for people who want to be active owners, not just employees.

Built for the Top End. Built to last.

Our approach is simple:

• Strong structures – concrete and steel systems designed for cyclones, heat, and humidity.
• Low maintenance – termite‑resistant, fire‑resistant, non‑toxic, no off‑gassing.
• Affordable quality – repeatable designs and details that keep costs down without cutting corners.
• Local jobs, local community – profits and skills stay here, not shipped off to distant shareholders.

We’re aiming to make money by combining talents to take on bigger, more profitable property developments than most of us could do on our own, while building homes we’re proud to put our names on.