How long does demolition take on a Hillsdale block?

Standard demolition on a 500–650m² Hillsdale block runs 2–4 weeks including asbestos removal. 1950s–1970s-era homes almost always have asbestos (fibro sheeting, eaves, roof underlay) — licensed Class A removal is mandatory. Randwick City Council disconnect-of-services sign-off must happen before demo starts.

How long does a knockdown rebuild take in Hillsdale?

Total 12–18 months: design and pre-construction (2–3 months), Randwick City Council approval (1–4 months depending on DA vs CDC), demolition (1–2 weeks), construction (8–12 months). Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast) soil conditions in Hillsdale are standard for the area. Buildana provides a detailed timeline in every fixed-price contract.

Does my 1950s–1970s-era home in Hillsdale contain asbestos?

Most homes built before 1990 in Hillsdale contain some form of asbestos — eaves, cladding, bathroom and laundry linings, fencing. Buildana includes an asbestos survey as part of every KDR assessment. Licensed asbestos removal is included in our demolition management — typically $3,000–$12,000 depending on extent.

What soil conditions affect building in Hillsdale?

Hillsdale has predominantly Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast) (extremely reactive) soil. This affects slab design and cost — engineered slab design is included in every Buildana KDR quote. Geotechnical testing confirms exact conditions for your block.

Can I build a larger home on my existing Hillsdale block?

In most cases, yes. Hillsdale blocks of 500–650m² with R2 Low / R3 Medium (Coogee/Maroubra/Kingsford R4 spines) zoning and FSR of 0.5:1 allow floor areas that typically exceed what the original 1950s–1970s-era home provided. A 600m² block at 0.5:1 FSR allows 300m² of floor area — larger than most existing homes. Height cap of 8.5–9m allows two full storeys. Buildana designs to maximise your entitlement under Randwick City Council's controls.

What happens to my landscaping during a knockdown rebuild?

Mature trees may be protected under Randwick City Council's tree preservation order — we check before demolition. Fences, driveways, lawns, and garden beds on the build footprint are removed. Side and rear boundary fences may need replacement if damaged during demolition. Buildana includes landscaping and driveway in the fixed-price KDR contract so your outdoor areas are finished at handover.

Where do I store my belongings during a knockdown rebuild in Hillsdale?

Most Hillsdale KDR clients use a mix: essentials and clothing into rental accommodation, the rest into commercial storage. Storage costs $250–$450 per month for a household-sized unit. Worth doing a hard cull before packing — 12 months of storage often costs more than replacing the items at the other end. Buildana's project schedule gives you a firm move-back date so you can budget storage to the week.

Can I remove trees on my Hillsdale block during a KDR?

Randwick City Council has a Tree Preservation Order — protected trees (typically over 5m tall or with trunk diameter over 300mm) need permission before removal. Application processing takes 4–8 weeks. Significant tree removal may be refused or require replacement plantings. Trees within the proposed building footprint are usually approved if reasonable; trees on boundaries or with heritage value rarely are. Buildana checks tree mapping before design lock-in.

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Knockdown Rebuild Hillsdale — One Contract, Demo to Keys

Everything under one agreement in Hillsdale 2036: demolition, asbestos removal, site prep, design, approvals, engineering, new home construction, landscaping and Occupation Certificate.

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Hillsdale KDR — Single Contract, New Home

KDR in Hillsdale works post-war stock on 500–650m² blocks. Sandstone soil; rock excavation $10K–$25K. Demolition $35K–$65K with asbestos prevalent. Realistic premium turnkey $1.3M–$2.2M for 280–420m² build. Pre-construction 4–6 months.

Hillsdale's housing stock is mostly from the 1950s–1970s, which is the era where structural bones either hold up or don't — and we see plenty of both across the suburb. For knocking down and rebuilding here, that history matters: asbestos survey before any demolition is non-negotiable, and licensed removal lands somewhere between $5,000 and $25,000 depending on what's actually there. Median price $1.6M–$2.5M on typical 500–650m² blocks. Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast) ground, foundation cost band $45,000–$80,000.

Buildana manages the complete knockdown rebuild process in Hillsdale — from site assessment and architectural design through to DA or CDC approval, demolition management, and fixed-price construction to handover. One builder, one contract, one new home.

Read our KDR Cost Guide 2026 or use the Renovation vs KDR Calculator to compare options.

New home in Hillsdale from $450K
Randwick City Council DA and CDC approvals managed
Demolition and asbestos removal included
Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast) soil — engineered slab design included
Typical blocks 500–650m² in Hillsdale
Single and two-storey designs available
6-year structural warranty
Free site assessment — near Light Rail Kingsford (4 km) station

Why Knockdown Rebuild in Hillsdale?

Hillsdale is a post-war inland suburb adjoining Eastgardens — fibro and brick on 500–650m² blocks plus public housing pockets. Limited heritage stock. Sandstone soil. Affordable entry point in the Randwick LGA.

Building costs in Hillsdale sit well below the Sydney metro average, making it an attractive location for value-conscious homeowners and investors. 500–650m² blocks at median prices of $1.6M–$2.5M offer strong land-to-build ratios. Transport access via Light Rail Kingsford (4 km) connects Hillsdale to the wider Sydney network. 1950s–1970s-era housing stock across Hillsdale is prime for knockdown rebuild — replacing dated layouts and materials with modern, NCC-compliant homes that maximise block potential. Ground conditions (Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast)) across Hillsdale are well understood by local builders — Buildana's engineering accounts for extremely reactive soil movement.

KDR in Randwick works post-war non-contributory pockets outside Heritage Conservation Areas — inland Maroubra, Matraville, Chifley, Phillip Bay, Hillsdale, Pagewood, parts of Kingsford. Coastal heritage suburbs (Clovelly, Coogee village, South Coogee, Daceyville-entire, La Perouse, Malabar) are extension-restricted. Sandstone-dominant soil; rock excavation $15K–$45K typical, deeper $25K–$60K on cliff-fall lots. Coastal salt-grade specs add $15K–$45K material premium on coastal-facing builds. Demolition $40K–$80K with asbestos prevalent in 50s–70s stock. Realistic premium turnkey $1.6M–$3.5M for 280–450m² build inland; $2.5M–$6M on coastal-facing blocks; $4M–$12M+ on direct beachfront/clifftop in Coogee, South Coogee, Clovelly. Pre-construction 5–9 months.

Planning Controls — Randwick City Council

Randwick LEP 2012 & Randwick DCP 2013. R2 Low Density covers most residential streets: FSR 0.55–0.65:1, building height 9.5m, front setback 4–6m, landscaped area 35–40%. R3 Medium Density along Coogee Bay Road, Carrington Road, Belmore Road, Maroubra Road and Anzac Parade permits FSR up to 0.9:1. R4 High Density and B4 Mixed Use concentrated on the Anzac Parade UNSW corridor through Kensington and Kingsford, Randwick Junction, Coogee village and Maroubra Junction. Heritage Conservation Areas cover Daceyville (entire suburb), Coogee village, Clovelly, parts of Maroubra and South Coogee, Randwick Junction, La Perouse, Malabar and Kensington/Kingsford pockets. Tree Preservation Order LGA-wide. Sandstone-dominant soil with substantial cliff fall on the eastern coast from Clovelly through South Coogee to Malabar Headland — suspended slabs and substantial retaining standard, rock excavation $20K–$60K. Coastal salt-grade specifications mandatory across all coastal-facing builds (Clovelly, Coogee, South Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar, Little Bay, La Perouse). Aboriginal cultural heritage protocols apply on the La Perouse headland and parts of the Botany Bay foreshore. UNSW campus and Light Rail (Randwick line + Kingsford line) drive density along Anzac Parade. The new Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct (Prince of Wales Hospital, UNSW Health Translation Hub) is the LGA's signature strategic centre. Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Parklands frontage on the western edge of the LGA.

Knockdown-rebuild builder in Hillsdale — key facts

Suburb: Hillsdale, NSW 2036
Council / LGA: Randwick City Council (Randwick)
Primary zoning: R2 Low / R3 Medium (Coogee/Maroubra/Kingsford R4 spines)
Typical lot size: 500–650m²
Soil class: Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast)
Median house price: $1.6M–$2.5M
Home era: 1950s–1970s
Typical price range: $450,000 – $1,200,000+
Typical timeline: 14–22 months including demolition
Approval pathway: CDC where eligible or DA for complex sites

Building in Hillsdale — Local Context

Site & Ground Conditions in Hillsdale

Hillsdale sits on Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast) soil — extremely reactive clay. For a knockdown rebuild, that rules out the cheapest off-the-shelf slab designs straight away. and pushes engineered footings into the $45,000–$80,000 range on most 500–650m² blocks here. Geotechnical testing isn't optional — every Buildana rebuild in Hillsdale starts with a borehole report so the slab and footings are sized to your actual block, not a generic spec. Skipping that step is how you end up with cracked cornices and sticking doors three years in. Drainage design matters too — overland flow paths on Hillsdale's topography can collect water against rear setbacks if the contour survey is sloppy.

Planning Controls in Hillsdale

Hillsdale is zoned R2 Low / R3 Medium (Coogee/Maroubra/Kingsford R4 spines) with R3 Medium Density pockets. Randwick City Council controls FSR, height limits (typically 8.5–9m), site coverage, landscaped area minimums, and setbacks. For a rebuild, the binding constraints on most 500–650m² blocks here are: front setback (around 4.5–6m), side setbacks (1.0–1.5m articulated), rear (3–6m depending on lot depth), and landscaped area (usually 35–40%). Buildana's design team works to those numbers from the first sketch — no late re-design when council comes back with comments.

Realistic Budget for Hillsdale

For a knockdown rebuild in Hillsdale, the budget conversation starts with what you actually want versus what the site supports. Most quotes you'll get from volume builders strip out the things that matter on Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast) soil — engineered slab upgrade, decent waterproofing, real drainage design, BASIX-compliant glazing — and present them as variations after you sign. We don't do that. Buildana's contract is fixed-price including everything required to deliver a rebuild that complies with NCC 2025 on a 500–650m² block in Hillsdale.

Lifestyle Fit in Hillsdale

Hillsdale has a settled residential character. Light Rail Kingsford (4 km) from the nearest station. Local landmark: Eastgardens Westfield (1 km). For families knocking down and rebuilding here, the design considerations that matter day-to-day: orientation for natural light (north-facing living wherever the lot allows), separation between adult and kids' zones, a kitchen that opens to outdoor entertaining, garage size that fits a real family vehicle plus storage, and a layout that doesn't require renovating again in 10 years as the kids grow. Buildana designs for the long arc of how families actually use a home, not just the showroom photo.

What Recent Approvals Show

Randwick City Council's recent decisions for Rebuilds in Hillsdale reveal a clear pattern — applications that demonstrate genuine understanding of Randwick City Council's DCP — not just the State controls — progress materially faster. Sloppy lodgement adds 4-8 weeks of round-trip; clean lodgement doesn't.

Builder's Take on Hillsdale

Clients often ask whether to keep the existing slab. Almost always no. 1950s–1970s-era slabs in Hillsdale weren't engineered for Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast) soil to today's standards. Trying to match new construction to old footings creates structural liability. Full slab replacement is cleaner and cheaper in the long run.

1950s–1970s Hillsdale homes are often asbestos-affected — not always, but often enough that the demolition quote should include contingency. AL/A-class licensed removal runs $8K–$25K on top of standard demolition. Any builder who doesn't flag this is either inexperienced or setting up a variation.

Hillsdale vs Nearby Suburbs

Hillsdale vs nearby suburbs — key metrics for knocking down and rebuilding.

Suburb	Median Price	Typical Lot	Soil Class	Era	Station
Hillsdale2036this suburb	$1.6M–$2.5M	500–650m²	Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast)	1950s–1970s	Light Rail Kingsford (4 km)
Eastgardens2036	$1.7M–$2.6M	400–700m²	Class M (Wianamatta Shale + Botany Sands) / Class P/E (alluvial near Cooks River + Botany Bay foreshore)	1950s–1980s + apartments	Bus to Mascot (T8, 4 km)
Pagewood2035	$1.8M–$2.8M	400–650m²	Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast)	1950s–2000s	Light Rail Kingsford (4 km)
Matraville2036	$1.7M–$2.6M	500–700m²	Class M (sandstone ridges) / H–E (cliff fall on coast)	1950s–1970s	Light Rail Kingsford (5 km)

Median price, soil class, and lot size shape build feasibility and final cost. Buildana assesses every site against these and other constraints during the free feasibility stage.

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Quality Promise

Buildana handles Hillsdale KDR end-to-end — old house out, new house in, one contract, one contractor, one defined timeline.

Fixed-price KDR constructionNCC 2025 and BASIX compliantFull Randwick City Council complianceLicensed demolition and asbestos removalWeekly progress updates6-year structural warranty

How It Works

From First Call to Final Key

KDR feasibility is two questions: what can the block legally support, and is it cheaper to build new than fix old. We answer both in writing within a week, with cost ranges grounded in current Hillsdale market data — not generic Sydney averages.

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New home designed for your Hillsdale block — maximising FSR, orientation, and streetscape. Working drawings, engineering, and BASIX prepared. CDC or DA lodged with Randwick City Council.

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Full demolition management: asbestos survey report, licensed removal where required, structural demolition, site clearing, temporary fencing, and dust/noise management. Randwick City Council demolition permit obtained beforehand.

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Build sequence: site prep, slab pour, frame stand, roof, brickwork, lock-up, plumbing and electrical rough-in, plaster, internal fit-out, kitchen install, tiling, flooring, painting, external works, final clean. Each stage signed off before payment release.

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Defect-free handover inspection, OC issued, keys in hand. Permanent services reconnected, landscaping complete, 6-year structural warranty, and full maintenance guide provided.

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Our Team

Oliver Alameri

Founder / Director / Builder · MPropDev · PhD Student

Ahmad Alameri

Accounts Manager

Claire Wendell

Project Manager

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Last updated: 1 April 2026

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