diff --git a/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h b/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h
index 202abb9d5b..0d1fc5b539 100644
--- a/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h
+++ b/include/wx/generic/srchctlg.h
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ public:
 
     // wxWindow overrides
     virtual bool SetFont(const wxFont& font);
+    virtual bool SetBackgroundColour(const wxColour& colour);
 
     // search control generic only
     void SetSearchBitmap( const wxBitmap& bitmap );
@@ -235,6 +236,9 @@ protected:
 private:
     friend class wxSearchButton;
 
+    // Implement pure virtual function inherited from wxCompositeWindow.
+    virtual wxWindowList GetCompositeWindowParts() const;
+
 #if wxUSE_MENUS
     void PopupSearchMenu();
 #endif // wxUSE_MENUS
diff --git a/include/wx/srchctrl.h b/include/wx/srchctrl.h
index 74a60c303d..2cdccbd3b5 100644
--- a/include/wx/srchctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/srchctrl.h
@@ -26,10 +26,11 @@
     // no native version, use the generic one
     #define wxUSE_NATIVE_SEARCH_CONTROL 0
 
+    #include "wx/compositewin.h"
     #include "wx/containr.h"
 
     class WXDLLIMPEXP_CORE wxSearchCtrlBaseBaseClass
-        : public wxNavigationEnabled<wxControl>,
+        : public wxCompositeWindow< wxNavigationEnabled<wxControl> >,
           public wxTextCtrlIface
     {
     };
diff --git a/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp b/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp
index d0efcd17b3..8efca10640 100644
--- a/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/srchctlg.cpp
@@ -296,12 +296,7 @@ bool wxSearchCtrl::Create(wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID id,
                                         m_cancelBitmap);
 
     SetForegroundColour( m_text->GetForegroundColour() );
-    m_searchButton->SetForegroundColour( m_text->GetForegroundColour() );
-    m_cancelButton->SetForegroundColour( m_text->GetForegroundColour() );
-
     SetBackgroundColour( m_text->GetBackgroundColour() );
-    m_searchButton->SetBackgroundColour( m_text->GetBackgroundColour() );
-    m_cancelButton->SetBackgroundColour( m_text->GetBackgroundColour() );
 
     RecalcBitmaps();
 
@@ -500,6 +495,14 @@ void wxSearchCtrl::LayoutControls(int x, int y, int width, int height)
                             y + ICON_OFFSET - 1, sizeCancel.x, height);
 }
 
+wxWindowList wxSearchCtrl::GetCompositeWindowParts() const
+{
+    wxWindowList parts;
+    parts.push_back(m_text);
+    parts.push_back(m_searchButton);
+    parts.push_back(m_cancelButton);
+    return parts;
+}
 
 // accessors
 // ---------
@@ -750,13 +753,25 @@ void wxSearchCtrl::SetEditable(bool editable)
 
 bool wxSearchCtrl::SetFont(const wxFont& font)
 {
-    bool result = wxSearchCtrlBase::SetFont(font);
-    if ( result && m_text )
-    {
-        result = m_text->SetFont(font);
-    }
+    if ( !wxSearchCtrlBase::SetFont(font) )
+        return false;
+
+    // Recreate the bitmaps as their size may have changed.
     RecalcBitmaps();
-    return result;
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool wxSearchCtrl::SetBackgroundColour(const wxColour& colour)
+{
+    if ( !wxSearchCtrlBase::SetBackgroundColour(colour) )
+        return false;
+
+    // When the background changes, re-render the bitmaps so that the correct
+    // colour shows in their "transparent" area.
+    RecalcBitmaps();
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 // search control generic only