Houses from the Hills' first boom
Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, West Pennant Hills, Cherrybrook and Winston Hills filled out through the 1970s and 1980s. Many of those houses are large double-storey brick homes on generous blocks — and many are now being replaced with modern designs.
What makes Hills demolitions distinctive
Trees. Established blocks here often carry large eucalypts and other significant trees. The Hills Shire Council regulates removal, and retained trees need protection fencing that keeps machinery out of their root zones. See site clearing.
Size. Double-storey brick houses with large footprints mean more tonnage and more disposal.
Pools, driveways and retaining walls. Common on Hills properties, and often part of what a builder wants removed. Pools are generally a specialist job priced separately.
Slope. Plenty of streets fall away steeply, particularly toward creeks and bushland.
Rural-residential
Toward Dural, Glenorie, Kenthurst, Annangrove and Galston, blocks become acreage. Demolition may include old farm sheds, stables, fences and dams, and clearing is subject to both council tree controls and, in places, native vegetation and bushfire considerations.
Asbestos
1970s and early-1980s houses and outbuildings may contain asbestos. Survey first, licensed removal by a separate asbestos removalist, then demolition. See asbestos-aware demolition.
Council
The Hills Shire Council. Many dwellings can be demolished under a complying development certificate. Heritage items, bushfire-affected sites and proposals outside the standards commonly need a development application. See council and approvals.
Suburbs covered
Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, West Pennant Hills, Cherrybrook, Winston Hills, Northmead, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Norwest, Glenhaven, Dural, Kenthurst, Annangrove, Glenorie and Rouse Hill.
Typical jobs
- Knock down rebuild site prep.
- House demolition of large double-storey brick homes.
- Site clearing on acreage.
- Concrete removal of long driveways.
Costs
See the 2026 demolition cost bands.
Call 02 5701 3034 or send the job details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
Can I remove trees on my Hills District block?
Only with the right approval. The Hills Shire Council regulates tree removal, and many blocks in the area carry large established trees. Some may be approved for removal as part of a new house approval; others must be retained and protected during demolition. This is confirmed before any tree is quoted for removal.
Are Hills houses likely to contain asbestos?
It depends on age. Houses built through the 1970s and early 1980s — common in Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill and West Pennant Hills — can contain asbestos in eaves, wet areas and outbuildings. Newer estates from the 1990s onward are generally clear. A survey is used wherever the age warrants it.
What about bushfire-prone land?
Parts of the Hills, especially around Dural, Glenhaven, Kenthurst and bushland edges, are mapped as bushfire prone. That affects the approval and construction of the new home and can influence which trees are retained. It is checked early.
Do larger Hills blocks cost more to demolish?
Larger houses do, because there is more material. Larger blocks usually mean easier access, which saves time. The biggest additional costs tend to be trees, pools, extensive driveways and retaining walls, which are common on Hills properties.