Our History

Clifford Powell has a rich history dating back to 1891 when it was established as W.L. Powell Saddlery.

In 1915, Q.A. Powell took over the business, continuing to operate it as a saddlery until the late 1940s, when Clifford Powell transitioned it into a motor trimming service. He ran the business successfully until 1978 when it was sold to Horrie Nowland.

Horrie Nowland maintained the Clifford Powell name, as did Paul Taliana when he acquired the business in 1987. Under Paul’s leadership, the company flourished, and in 1993, after reaching near-peak success in Darlinghurst, he expanded by opening a second branch in Alexandria. Four years later, he chose to consolidate operations, selling the Alexandria shop and refocusing on the original workshop.

In 1997, Mark Bonello, who had apprenticed under Paul, purchased the business and rebranded it as Sydney Motor Trimmers. Meanwhile, Clifford Powell relocated to new premises in Botany and continued operating until 2004, when Paul Taliana and Mark Bonello decided to merge both companies. From then on, they operated as Sydney Motor Trimmers and Clifford Powell Motor Trimmers from a single location in Alexandria.

In 2021, the business moved to Waterloo, and in 2024, we relocated to our brand-new, state-of-the-art workshop in Banksmeadow, continuing our legacy as Sydney’s leading motor trimming and car upholstery specialists.