Not every demolition is a house. Some of the most common jobs on Bendigo blocks are smaller: a collapsing timber garage, a fibro shed from the 1960s, a rusted carport, a sleep-out, a bungalow, or an old wash-house at the back of a miner's cottage. They are quick to knock down, but they still need the right approach, because outbuildings are where asbestos and old wiring are most often overlooked.
Bendigo Demolition Service is a referral service. We pass enquiries, with the owner's consent, to registered demolition businesses that take on outbuilding work in Greater Bendigo. We do not carry out demolition ourselves.
Typical outbuilding jobs
- Old single garages in timber or fibro, often leaning and sometimes built on the boundary.
- Corrugated iron sheds with rotten posts or rusted sheeting.
- Carports and pergolas attached to the house or freestanding.
- Sleep-outs and bungalows converted from verandahs or built as separate rooms.
- Wash-houses, outhouses and coal sheds behind older homes in central Bendigo suburbs.
- Farm-style sheds on larger blocks around Maiden Gully, Huntly, Axedale and Marong.
- Slabs and paths left behind after a shed is gone.
Do you need a permit to remove a shed in Bendigo?
It depends on size, location and controls on the land. In Victoria, demolishing a small freestanding outbuilding is sometimes exempt from a building permit, but the exemptions are narrow. Ask a building surveyor before assuming you do not need one. A permit becomes much more likely when:
- the structure is attached to the house;
- it sits on or near a boundary and shares a wall with a neighbour's structure;
- the property is in a Heritage Overlay, where outbuildings can be part of what is protected, especially stables, coach houses and early sheds;
- the work forms part of a larger building project.
If the shed is in a Heritage Overlay, check with the City of Greater Bendigo's planning team before arranging demolition. Some early outbuildings are specifically noted in heritage citations.
Asbestos in sheds and garages
Older Bendigo outbuildings often used fibro wall sheeting and asbestos-cement roofing, because it was cheap and durable. These materials are non-friable when intact but can become hazardous once weathered, broken or cut. Victorian rules require asbestos that is likely to be disturbed to be identified and removed before demolition so far as is reasonably practicable. An unlicensed person may only remove up to 10 square metres of non-friable material within limited time. A typical single fibro garage usually exceeds that, which means licensed removal.
Look closely at shed roofs. Corrugated asbestos-cement roofing is easy to mistake for fibreglass or metal sheeting from a distance, and old roof sheets are often brittle. Do not climb on or break up old shed roofs before they are assessed.
Electrical and services
Many old sheds have wiring run from the house, sometimes informally. Power should be isolated by a licensed electrician before demolition, and any cable run back to the switchboard should be made safe. Water lines to sheds and garden taps may also need capping.
Typical process
- Photos or an inspection to judge size, material, access and asbestos risk.
- Permit check with a building surveyor if the structure is attached, on a boundary or heritage-affected.
- Asbestos testing and licensed removal, where needed.
- Electrical isolation.
- Hand or small-machine demolition, depending on access. Tight side gates often mean hand work and a skip.
- Slab and footing removal if the scope includes it, then site tidy.
- Separation of steel, timber and general waste.
What affects the price
Outbuilding demolition is usually priced as a job lot, not by area. The main factors are:
- size and construction (steel, timber, fibro or brick);
- asbestos quantity and type;
- whether a slab is being broken up and removed;
- access through side gates, over fences or down narrow driveways;
- disposal, including metal recycling, which can offset a little of the cost.
Grouping several small jobs together, such as a shed, a carport and an old path, can be cheaper than separate visits.
Doing it yourself
Owners sometimes ask whether they can pull down a small shed themselves. A metal garden shed with no asbestos and no services is a reasonable DIY job. Fibro sheds, anything with an old roof that might be asbestos-cement, boundary structures and anything wired is better left to professionals. Victorian rules for asbestos still apply to owners doing their own work.
Boundary garages and shared walls
Many older Bendigo garages were built hard on the boundary, and some share a wall or roof line with the neighbour's shed. Demolishing your half can expose or weaken theirs. Before work starts, agree with the neighbour what will happen to the shared wall, whether it will be left standing, braced or rebuilt, and who pays. Where adjoining property could be affected, a building surveyor may require formal protection work notices. Photos of the neighbour's structure before demolition are a sensible precaution for everyone.
Reusing materials
Galvanised iron, steel frames and sound hardwood from old sheds have some reuse or scrap value. Bendigo has salvage and second-hand building supply outlets, and some owners sell or give away materials before demolition. Asbestos-cement sheets must never be reused or given away. They go to an accepted disposal facility.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to demolish a shed in Bendigo?
It varies with size, materials, asbestos and slab removal. A small metal shed is a modest job, while a large fibro garage with a concrete slab costs considerably more. An itemised quote after inspection is the only reliable figure.
Do I need a permit to demolish a garage?
Sometimes. Detached small outbuildings may be exempt, but attached garages, boundary structures and heritage-affected buildings often need approval. A building surveyor can confirm.
Is my old shed roof asbestos?
Corrugated cement roofing installed before the mid-1980s commonly contains asbestos. Have it tested, and do not walk on or break the sheets.
Can the slab be left for a new shed?
Sometimes, if it is sound, level and the right size. Ask your builder or shed supplier before deciding, because footing requirements for new structures may differ.
Can a shed and a house be demolished in one job?
Yes. Including every outbuilding in the house demolition scope is usually more efficient and keeps the asbestos survey in one place.
Next step
Send us photos of the structure, its rough size, and the suburb. With your consent, we will connect you with a registered demolisher who handles outbuilding work around Bendigo.