Knockdown Rebuild Melbourne
Is Your Family Home Ready for a Change?
Ellari Homes supports Australian families through every stage of the rebuild process. We explain what is involved, outline costs, review your block and guide you so the entire process feels organised and achievable. With a dedicated team who values transparency and communication, your knockdown rebuild journey becomes clear from the very beginning.
A knockdown rebuild is ideal when your old house no longer suits your needs, when your family has grown, or when renovations may introduce hidden costs. With our experienced team leading your rebuild project, you can confidently explore home designs, consider upgrades and enjoy a structured pathway toward your dream home.
Why Choose a Knockdown Rebuild
A knockdown rebuild offers the chance to stay in your prized location while replacing an existing property with a new design tailored to your lifestyle. Families choose a rebuild because:
- Renovations often uncover unexpected costs
- Older homes may not support modern energy-efficiency
- Better layouts, natural light and space improve daily living
- You avoid stamp duty costs on a new land purchase or an established home purchase
- A rebuild in Melbourne provides long-term value
A knockdown rebuild project gives you a fresh start while maintaining the land value you already hold. Instead of pouring money into costly renovations, you can maximise space, improve functionality and design a home that feels right from the start.
When a Knockdown Rebuild Is the Best Choice
A knockdown rebuild is worth considering when:
- Your existing home no longer works for your lifestyle
- The old house requires significant upgrades or repairs
- You love your location and want to stay
- You want the benefits of energy-efficiency and modern design
- You want to avoid the uncertainty of renovating
Replacing an established home with a new build often delivers better long-term comfort, performance and value. A knockdown rebuild in Melbourne also lets you customise features like open living areas, a spacious walk-in pantry while ensuring the design suits your block and orientation.
What to Know Before You Choose a Knockdown Rebuild
Before committing to a rebuild, it is important to understand the key cost and block considerations. Every block and brief is different, so the figures below are indicative only, but they’ll help you budget and decide if a knockdown rebuild is right for you.
Understanding these ranges early helps families plan realistically and avoid unexpected costs during the build. * prices shown in AUD
Typical Costs
Demolition:
$20,000–$40,000 (dependent on size, materials, access and asbestos)
Site preparation:
$12,000–$28,000 (slope, soil class, trees and earthworks)
New home construction:
Single-storey from $350,000+
Double-storey from $450,000+
Premium/custom homes require specialised quoting
Typical extras:
Council approvals, planning and report-and-consent: $1,500–$5,000
Underground power pit: $3,000–$5,000
Temporary fencing: from $1,000
Post-handover items such as landscaping and driveway
Temporary accommodation:
Budget for short-term living and storage during demolition and construction
The timing and investment for your rebuild project depend on:
- Your block – soil class, slope, access width, easements and utility services
- Design and size – footprint, facade, energy-efficient targets and selections
- Approvals – whether planning permits are required (zoning/overlays)
- Demolition scope – asbestos, trees, hard surfaces and neighbouring protection works
- Build timeline – weather, material lead times and custom selections
These factors play an important role in your decision-making and budgeting. Here’s how we support you throughout the journey: clear, transparent pricing with documented allowances, practical checklists to guide each step, a realistic build program with milestone updates, and a design tailored to your block and lifestyle – backed by energy-efficient, 7-Star-standard inclusions.
Every knockdown rebuild requires the right approvals at the right time. These may include:
- Planning and council permits
- Council regulations and overlays (such as heritage overlays and zoning requirements)
- Building permit
- Asset protection permits
- Report-and-consent from neighbours (where required)
- Demolition permit
Our team will help you understand what applies to your site and what needs to be in place before we can commence. While planning and demolition approvals are typically handled by the owner and the relevant consultants, we’ll manage the building permit process and coordinate the information the Building Surveyor requires on your behalf to help minimise delays.
Ellari Homes makes the knockdown rebuild journey straightforward by helping you understand your block, the site requirements, the design options and the documentation needed before construction.
Our knockdown rebuild specialists guide you through:
- Site requirements and soil test outcomes
- Council approvals and council regulations
- Your building contract and fixed pricing
- The entire process from design to handover
Every knockdown rebuild begins with a site inspection to understand slope, access and services. With this information, we tailor home designs that maximise space, improve natural light and enhance everyday living. Whether you prefer pre designed floorplans or customised home designs, our knockdown rebuild experts help shape a solution that aligns with your lifestyle perfectly.
Ready to Rebuild Your Dream Home?
Talk to Ellari Homes about how a knock down rebuild could transform your existing home into a contemporary, energy efficient home that suits your lifestyle perfectly.
Ready to Begin Your Rebuild?
Your brand new home and fresh start begins here.
Book your free site assessment and discover how Ellari Homes can guide your knockdown rebuild with clarity, care and exceptional quality.
Enquire now and take the first step toward your new home in the place you love.
Why Families Choose Ellari Homes
Families choose Ellari Homes because of our honesty, reliability and transparent communication. With a focus on superior craftsmanship, exceptional quality and family values, we ensure every knockdown rebuild is delivered with care.
Our approach blends warmth and professionalism, giving families confidence that their home is being built by a team who takes pride in every detail.
Knockdown Rebuild Journey
We make the journey from old to new as seamless and stress-free as possible. Our knockdown rebuild process is designed to take you from first chat through to handover with clarity, care and support. We focus on the build and work alongside you, ensuring clear communication, practical checklists and organised steps.
1. Start the Conversation
Share your goals, timing and budget. If needed, we can introduce a trusted finance broker.
2. Free Site Check
We complete a site assessment to review slope, access, orientation, services and any constraints.
3. Design Tailored to Your Lifestyle
We develop home designs with energy-efficient home options and layouts that maximise space and natural light.
4. Transparent Estimate
You receive transparent pricing with clear allowances. Once your selections are finalised we can finalise your contract.
5. Client-Led Demolition and Planning
You engage a licensed demolition company and organise required planning approvals with your council and consultants. If helpful, we can recommend a demolition company, and we’ll share practical checklists and support you along the way.
6. Site Ready Check
After demolition, we inspect the site address to confirm the site is ready for construction and coordinate any required arrangements so pre-site can commence smoothly.
7. Pre-Site
We finalise your contract and arrange for engineering, reports and relevant documents needed for your building permit. We lock in your build program and confirm key dates.
8. Construction
Your build journey progresses through slab, frame, lock-up and fix stages. Your site supervisor provides regular updates and ensures quality workmanship throughout.
9. Quality Checks and Handover
We complete multiple quality checks before your Practical Completion Inspection. Once we receive your Occupancy Permit, we hand over your keys to a dream home built with exceptional quality.
Old House to New Home Transformation
Replacing an old house gives you a fresh start with modern spaces, enhanced energy-efficiency, personalised layouts and better performance. Instead of committing to costly renovations with unpredictable outcomes, a knockdown rebuild provides clarity, structure and a beautifully finished home designed for modern living.
Knockdown Rebuild Team Supporting Your Journey
With Ellari Homes, you receive guidance from an expert team who understands the details involved in a knockdown rebuild. We explain soil test results, site preparation expectations, site costs, service connections and construction costs clearly.
We take the time to understand your priorities and ensure your home designs, key features and energy-efficiency goals are incorporated into your rebuild project. Throughout your journey, our dedicated team maintains strong communication so you feel supported at every stage.
FAQ's
Typical costs include demolition, site preparation, construction and approvals. Demolition costs average $20,000–$40,000. Site preparation usually ranges from $12,000–$28,000. Common extras average $5,000-$11,000 for things such as council/planning/report-and-consent (where applicable), underground power pit and temporary fencing. Construction starts around $350,000+ for single-storey homes and $450,000+ for double-storey homes. You also need to factor in temporary living arrangements and storage. *Prices in AUD
Yes, for many families. A knockdown rebuild can deliver a dream home with modern layouts, improved energy efficiency and better long-term value. It can also save you time, stress and money compared to searching for an existing home, while avoiding the risk of hidden costs that often come with renovating an older home.
Rebuilding is often more predictable and cost-effective. Renovations may uncover hidden issues in an established home, while a knockdown rebuild offers clear pricing and a structured process.
Many families use a construction loan or refinance to unlock equity. We can connect you with a finance broker who can explain borrowing capacity, progress payments and building contract requirements, helping you plan with confidence. Talk to our team to find out more.
In most cases, you do not pay stamp duty on the construction if you already own the land. Stamp duty is charged when purchasing land or an established home, so if you are rebuilding on your existing block, you avoid stamp duty costs.
You may still pay stamp duty in certain lending or refinancing scenarios, depending on your financial structure, but the majority of families completing a knockdown rebuild do not pay stamp duty on the land component. This is one of the key financial advantages of choosing to rebuild rather than relocate.
By avoiding stamp duty on land, more of your budget can be put toward your home design, selections, upgrades or improving energy-efficiency in your brand new home.
A heritage overlay doesn’t automatically rule out a knockdown rebuild, but it can change what’s permitted and how your new home needs to look from the street. In Victoria, a Heritage Overlay is a planning control in the local planning scheme, and a planning permit is typically required for demolition and for a new build or external changes where the overlay applies.
To save time (and avoid surprises), we recommend you confirm the details with your local council first:
• Whether your property is covered by a Heritage Overlay
• Whether demolition is supported, and any façade/streetscape requirements that may apply
• Any supporting documents council expects
During your site assessment, we’ll talk through how any heritage requirements may impact your build (design approach, façade presentation, and likely timeframes). Planning and demolition approvals are typically handled by the owner and relevant consultants, but we’ll guide you on what needs to be in place before construction can commence and we’ll manage the building permit process once those prerequisites are sorted.
In most cases, no. Once demolition is scheduled and services are being disconnected, the home is no longer safe or practical to live in. You’ll typically need to move out before demolition begins so the site can be secured, cleared and accessed by machinery and trades.
Some owners can stay in the home during the early planning stage (before demolition), but it depends on the condition of the home, safety, access, and the timing of permits and service works. We’ll help you map out a realistic timeline early so you can plan temporary accommodation with less stress.
Asbestos is common in many older Melbourne homes and it doesn’t automatically stop a knockdown rebuild. It simply means demolition must be planned and carried out by appropriately licensed professionals, with the right safety controls in place.
If asbestos is suspected or confirmed, your demolition contractor will arrange compliant removal and disposal (often involving licensed asbestos removalists, depending on the type and amount). This can add cost and time, so it’s best to identify it early and allow for it in your planning.