A knock-down-rebuild suburb
Ryde, Eastwood, West Ryde, Marsfield, North Ryde, Denistone and Gladesville were largely built in the decades after the war. Solid brick houses, often double brick, on blocks with room to spare.
With land values high and transport and schools in demand, those houses are being replaced — with larger family homes through knock-down-rebuild, and with dual occupancies where the lot allows.
Construction
Post-war double brick. Heavy, lots of tonnage, terracotta roofs. Recyclable brick and sometimes salvageable timber floors.
1960s–70s brick veneer. Lighter, but eaves and wet areas commonly contain asbestos cement.
Fibro and weatherboard pockets. Asbestos likely throughout.
Anything built or renovated before about 1990 is surveyed first, and removal is by a separately licensed asbestos removalist before demolition. See asbestos-aware demolition.
Terrain
Much of Ryde is gently rolling, but blocks toward the rivers — Putney, Tennyson Point, Gladesville, Meadowbank — and parts of Denistone and East Ryde can be steep, with retaining walls and sandstone.
Council
City of Ryde. Many dwellings can be demolished under a complying development certificate. Heritage items, the area's conservation controls where they apply, and constrained sites need a development application. Council's tree controls apply to established trees, which are common across the area. See council and approvals.
Dual occupancy and redevelopment
Where a dual occupancy or townhouse development is approved, the demolition sits within that consent and its conditions — neighbour notification, dilapidation reports, waste management and hours of work.
Suburbs covered
Ryde, West Ryde, Eastwood, Denistone, Marsfield, North Ryde, East Ryde, Gladesville, Putney, Tennyson Point, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Ermington and Macquarie Park.
Typical jobs
Costs
See the 2026 demolition cost bands.
Call 02 6412 7316 or send the job details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
What sort of houses are demolished in Ryde?
Mostly post-war brick houses — double brick and brick veneer from the 1940s to the 1970s — plus fibro and weatherboard in some pockets. Many are single-storey homes on generous blocks that suit a larger replacement.
Can I build a dual occupancy after demolishing?
Where zoning and lot size allow, dual occupancies are a common outcome in Ryde. They may be approved through a development application or, in some cases, as complying development. The demolition is usually included in that approval.
Does double brick cost more to demolish?
Yes. Double-brick houses produce considerably more material than brick veneer, so disposal is a bigger part of the price. The bricks can sometimes be recycled or salvaged, which helps.
Are there sloping blocks in Ryde?
Yes, particularly toward the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers in Putney, Gladesville, Tennyson Point and Meadowbank, and in parts of Denistone and East Ryde. Slope affects access, retaining walls and erosion control.