Fencing Macedon Ranges

Under Victoria's Fences Act, neighbours generally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence equally. What counts as sufficient depends on the existing fence, how the land is used and the fences common in the area; for a typical home, a 1.8 metre timber paling fence is the usual example. If one neighbour wants something more expensive, such as a taller fence or a different material, they pay the difference.

Before work starts, you need your neighbour's agreement or a formal Fencing Notice, which gives them 30 days to respond. Talking it through early saves a lot of hassle, and the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria offers free information and advice if you can't agree.

If you'd like a written quote to share with your neighbour, get in touch and we'll measure up the boundary.

Every pool and spa in Victoria has to be registered with the local council, and the owner must lodge a certificate of barrier compliance with the registration. A new certificate is then needed every four years, so the barrier has to keep meeting the standard long after it's built.

In practical terms, that means a barrier at least 1.2 metres high, no gaps or footholds a child could climb, and gates that self-close and self-latch from any open position. Garden beds, pots and outdoor furniture near the fence count too, so it's worth planning the surrounds at the same time as the fence.

If you're putting in a new pool or your barrier is due for its next certificate, call us on (03) 9605 3505 to talk through a compliant fence.

CSIRO's bushfire research recommends solid, non-combustible materials such as steel, brick, stone or concrete for fences close to the house. Timber can catch fire and carry it towards the home, so if you prefer timber, keep it away from windows, doors and decks. Open designs like chain link or gapped pickets aren't effective barriers.

Parts of the shire are covered by a Bushfire Management Overlay, which can affect what you build. You can check your property on VicPlan or ask Macedon Ranges Shire Council before you settle on a design.

To talk through the right materials for your block, reach out to our team.

Colorbond suits people who want privacy with very little upkeep. The steel won't rot, warp or attract termites, it never needs painting, and it's non-combustible, which counts on bush blocks.

Timber has a natural look that suits older homes and established gardens, and paling is often the cheaper option for long boundaries. It needs staining or oiling to keep its colour, but damaged palings can be replaced one at a time. For residential fencing, a common mix is Colorbond along the side and rear boundaries with a timber or aluminium slat fence at the front.

If you're torn between the two, call us on (03) 9605 3505 and we can talk through how each would look on your property.

If the ground drops away along the fence line, or one side sits noticeably higher than the other, the retaining wall usually comes first. Fence posts aren't designed to hold back soil, and a fence pressed into service as a retaining wall tends to lean as the ground pushes against it.

On a gentle slope, the fence can usually step down or follow the ground without a wall. On steeper sections, a sleeper retaining wall with drainage behind it gives a level base, and the fence is then built on or behind it.

The price comes down to the material, the length and height of the run, and how many gates you need. Colorbond, timber, aluminium and steel all sit at different price points, and a sliding or automated driveway gate adds more than a simple pedestrian gate.

The site matters as well. Rocky ground, heavy clay, slopes and tight access all change how long the posts take to set, which is why a measured quote is far more reliable than a price per metre.

Online estimates can't see rock, slope or access, so the most accurate price comes from Macedon Ranges fencing installers measuring up on site. Call us on (03) 9605 3505 to book your free measure and quote.