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Tipper truck loaded with demolition rubble parked in front of a new building

Matraville 2036 · Randwick City Council

House Demolition in Matraville: From Fibro to New Build

Knocking it down is the easy bit. Everything around it isn't.

Matraville still has a lot of the original 1950s to 1970s stock: fibro cottages, plain brick houses, sensible blocks of 500 to 700m². Many have reached the point where rebuilding makes more sense than renovating. The excavator takes a day or two. Getting to that day, legally and safely, takes proper planning.

Plan my knockdown 0476 300 300
Lots
500–700m²
Era
1950s–70s fibro and brick
Dual occ threshold
600m² (R2)
Rebuild rate
$2,090–$2,520/m²

Short answer

What's the process for house demolition in Matraville?

Approval, disconnections, then licensed asbestos removal, which is common in fibro homes and must be notified to the regulator five clear days ahead. After that the house comes down in days. Check for a sewer main in the backyard before designing the rebuild. R2 lots of 600m² or more can often take a dual occupancy, and rebuilds cost about $2,090 to $2,520 per m².

Written and reviewed by

Licensed builder, NSW Contractor Licence 487805C · Founder, Buildana

Fact-checked

The order of a Matraville demolition

Approval comes first. Demolition is usually approved together with the new house, through a DA with Randwick or, where the design fits the codes, a complying development certificate.

Then services. Electricity gets disconnected and the meter removed by the network. Gas is capped at the boundary. Water and sewer are sealed off. Each of these needs booking, and none can be rushed on the day.

Then the hazardous material, if any. Then the fence, the site sign, the traffic plan for trucks. And only then the machine.

  • Demolition approval, usually alongside the new build
  • Electricity, gas, water and sewer disconnected
  • Asbestos survey and licensed removal where required
  • Site fencing, signage and dust control
A demolition that starts before the services are off isn't brave. It's dangerous.

Fibro houses and asbestos removal

A lot of post-war Matraville fibro is asbestos cement sheeting. Bonded, and stable while it's left alone. Demolishing it is another matter.

An asbestos survey identifies what's there. Licensed removalists take it out first. The regulator has to be told five clear days ahead of that work. The main demolition waits for a clearance certificate. It adds time and cost. It's also not optional.

Excavator demolishing an old house, with debris piled on the site
The machine comes last, after the hazards are gone.

Ready to clear your Matraville block?

Tell me the lot size and what's standing on it now. I'll map out approvals, disconnections and demolition, and show you what a single home or duplex could cost to rebuild.

0476 300 300

No obligation. We only use your details to respond to this enquiry.

The sewer main under your backyard

Here's what catches Matraville owners out. Older sewer mains run through a surprising number of backyards, sometimes right where the new house or a granny flat is meant to go.

Building over or near a Sydney Water asset needs their approval, often through the Tap in service. Footings may need to go deeper, clear of the pipe's zone of influence, or the design may need to shift. We pull the sewer diagram before design starts, every time.

Once the block is clear, the numbers get interesting. Lots of 600m² or more in R2 can often take a dual occupancy, and Matraville rebuilds cost about $2,090–$2,520/m² mid-spec, based on adjusted Rawlinsons Sydney rates. Two new homes where there was one old fibro.

View from a new home's upper balcony over a front lawn, low fence and a suburban street
From an upstairs balcony, the street looks very different.

Matraville knockdown checklist

Work through these before booking the demolition crew.

  1. 01

    Get the sewer service diagram from Sydney Water

  2. 02

    Have a hygienist survey the fibro and linings for asbestos

  3. 03

    Lodge the DA or CDC covering demolition and new build

  4. 04

    Book electricity, gas and water disconnections

  5. 05

    Confirm whether a dual occupancy suits the lot

  6. 06

    Arrange a dilapidation report on neighbouring houses

Demolition in Matraville

Is a permit needed to knock down my Matraville home?

Yes. Demolition is usually approved with the new house, through a DA or a complying development certificate.

How quickly can the old house come down?

Once the site is ready, the machine work is often done inside a week. The weeks beforehand go on asbestos removal, service disconnections and approvals.

Can I build over a sewer main?

Only with Sydney Water approval. Special footings or a changed design may be needed to protect the pipe.

Can I build a duplex after knocking down?

On lots of 600m² or more in the R2 zone, dual occupancy is often possible under Randwick's controls, subject to design.

Sources and references

Costs are from the Rawlinsons handbook with the local cost index applied; rules and timeframes are checked against the sources below.

Knockdown rebuilds in MatravilleFull service from demolition to handover.
Duplexes in MatravilleTwo homes on one post-war lot.
Renovating in MaroubraPost-war brick strip-outs.

Clear the block properly. Build something better.

Knockdown rebuilds and duplexes in Matraville, 2036, with every approval, disconnection and hazard handled in the right order.

Plan my knockdown 0476 300 300