Shower and Bath Mixers

A shower wall mixer is a single fixture that controls water temperature and flow to a shower, usually mounted on the wall with a separate shower arm and head connected to the outlet, while a bathtub mixer performs the same function for a freestanding or built-in bath. Both are sold with or without a diverter, which lets one mixer body feed two outlets, such as a shower rose and a hand shower, or a bath spout and an overhead shower.

Shower wall mixers

A shower wall mixer sits on the tiled wall of the shower recess and controls hot and cold water blending through a single lever or handle, sending water to the shower arm and rose above. It's the standard fixture in most modern bathroom renovations because it separates temperature control from the shower head itself, making it easier to service or replace the shower arm without touching the mixer body. Shower wall mixers are available in round and square plates to suit different tapware collections, and in finishes from chrome through to matte black and brushed brass.

Bathtub mixers and bathtub taps

A bathtub mixer, sometimes listed as bathtub taps, controls water flow to a bath spout rather than a shower rose. These are typically deck mounted on the bath edge or wall mounted above the tub, with spout projection chosen to suit the depth and width of the specific bath. A mixer for bathtub use should have a spout with enough reach to clear the bath's edge and fill the tub without splashing back against the wall.

Shower mixer with diverter

A shower mixer with diverter adds a second outlet control to a standard mixer, letting you switch water flow between a fixed shower rose and a hand shower, or between an overhead shower and a bath spout, without installing two separate mixer bodies. The diverter is usually a small secondary lever or button on the same wall plate as the main mixer handle. This is a practical option where a single wet area serves both a shower and a bath, since it avoids running two full sets of pipework to separate fixtures.

Exposed and in-wall mixer styles

An exposed shower mixer sits fully on the wall surface with visible pipework connections, and is generally easier and cheaper to install or replace since no valve body needs to be set into the wall cavity. An in wall mixer tap, by contrast, has its valve body concealed behind the tiled surface with only the handle and spout visible, giving a cleaner finished look at the cost of more involved rough-in plumbing during a renovation. Both styles are available with or without a diverter function.

Handle styles

Shower and bath mixers in this range are available with standard lever handles, pin lever handles for a slimmer, more minimal look, and flick mixer styles for single-lever temperature and flow control in one motion. Pin lever handles have become a popular choice in contemporary bathroom fitouts for their low profile against the wall plate.

Finishes and where to buy in Melbourne

Chrome remains the most common finish for shower wall mixers and bathtub mixers, with black, nickel and brushed finishes available across most models for buyers renovating a bathroom with darker or warmer tapware throughout. Shower wall mixers are stocked and shipped Australia-wide, including fast dispatch to Melbourne, so metro buyers aren't limited to what's available in local showrooms.

Water efficiency

Shower wall mixers and bathtub mixers sold here carry WELS water efficiency ratings, and the star rating is listed against each product so you can compare flow rate and water use before choosing between models, particularly if you're renovating to a water efficiency target.

Matching a mixer to your existing pipework

Before choosing between an exposed and an in wall mixer tap, check what's already in the wall cavity from the previous fitout. Replacing an exposed shower wall mixer with another exposed model is usually a straightforward swap, while moving from exposed to an in wall mixer tap during a renovation involves opening the wall to reposition the valve body, which is a bigger job best planned in with the rest of the bathroom renovation rather than treated as a simple tapware swap.

Choosing between a shower mixer and a bathtub mixer

If the fixture only needs to serve a shower recess, a shower wall mixer on its own is the simpler and more common choice. If the bathroom has a separate bath that also needs hot and cold control, a dedicated bathtub mixer with appropriate spout reach is the better fit, and a mixer with diverter is worth considering only where the same wet area genuinely needs to serve both fixtures from one control point rather than as a default upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions