Knockdown Rebuild Kensington — Demo to Handover in 12 Months
Kensington 2033 KDR with tight programme: demolition (3–4 weeks), new home (24–40 weeks). CDC fast-track or Randwick City Council DA. Weekly progress updates.
HIA Member
MBA NSW0476 300 300Kensington KDR — Single Contract, New Home
A knockdown rebuild in Kensington is worth weighing against the density options, because this inner Randwick suburb adjoins UNSW, with R3 and R4 zoning along Anzac Parade and Doncaster Avenue and a heavy student rental market. On the R2 side streets, a rebuild works well; on the zoned land, a townhouse or apartment project can beat a single rebuild.
The stock is Federation cottages, inter-war homes, post-war flats and contemporary apartments on 250 to 600m² blocks. Heritage Conservation Areas cover several streets, so heritage is worth checking, and where a block is R3 or R4, the UNSW-driven rental demand makes a higher-yield build genuinely compelling.
The ground is sandstone, so excavation can hit rock, priced from a real geotech. The older stock can carry asbestos and lead paint, so a licensed strip-out leads the demolition.
We rebuild fixed-price, licence HBL 487805C. Get our feasibility — rebuild or redevelop — before you commit.
Buildana manages the complete knockdown rebuild process in Kensington — 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 Kensington from $450K
- Randwick City Council DA and CDC approvals managed
- Demolition and asbestos removal included
- M — engineered slab design included
- Typical blocks 250–600m² in Kensington
- Single and two-storey designs available
- 6-year structural warranty
- Free site assessment — near Light Rail Kensington / Kingsford station
Reviewed by Oliver Alameri
Licensed Builder (NSW 487805C) · Master of Property Development · PhD Student · Building across Western Sydney since 2010
UNSW density changes the maths
Kensington adjoins UNSW, with R3 and R4 zoning along Anzac Parade and Doncaster Avenue and a heavy student rental market. On a block zoned R3 or R4, a townhouse or apartment project often returns more than a single rebuild, given the UNSW-driven rental demand, so I show you those numbers first.
On the R2 side streets, a single rebuild works well, particularly for owner-occupiers wanting to stay in the inner east.
Heritage and sandstone
Heritage Conservation Areas cover several streets, so a listed block goes down the DA path. The ground is sandstone, so excavation can hit rock, priced from a real geotech.
The older stock can carry asbestos and lead paint, so a licensed strip-out leads the demolition.
Knockdown-rebuild builder in Kensington — key facts
- Suburb
- Kensington, NSW 2033
- Council / LGA
- Randwick City Council (Randwick)
- Primary zoning
- R2 Low
- Typical lot size
- 250–600m²
- Soil class
- M
- Median house price
- $2.2M–$4M
- Home era
- 1900s–1960s + apartments
- 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
Want a real number for YOUR block — not a generic estimate?
Free site assessment, fixed-price contract, line-itemised quote within 48 hours. No high-pressure sales — just a real builder talking real numbers.
Quality Promise
Our Kensington knockdown rebuilds sequence demolition, slab, frame, lockup, handover. Fixed price locked before demolition starts.
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 Kensington market data — not generic Sydney averages.
⏱New home designed for your Kensington block — maximising FSR, orientation, and streetscape. Working drawings, engineering, and BASIX prepared. CDC or DA lodged with Randwick City Council.
⏱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.
⏱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.
⏱Defect-free handover inspection, OC issued, keys in hand. Permanent services reconnected, landscaping complete, 6-year structural warranty, and full maintenance guide provided.
⏱Our Team
Oliver Alameri
Founder / Director / Builder · MPropDev · PhD Student
Ahmad Alameri
Accounts Manager
Claire Wendell
Project Manager
Estimate Your Build Cost
Use our free calculator to get an instant cost estimate for your project
Still got questions? Talk to Oliver directly.
30-min free call — bring your block, your brief, your budget. We'll map out feasibility, timeline, and realistic cost. No sales pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Buildana built our granny flat in just 12 weeks. Fast approvals, great communication, and a beautiful final product. Highly recommend.
Fatima Al-Rashid
Liverpool, NSW
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Last updated: 1 April 2026
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