Updated October 2026. Indicative supply-and-install ranges from current published Australian guides — Colorbond pricing varies widely by region and site, so treat the metre rate as a conversation starter, not a contract.
Colorbond is the Illawarra’s default fence for good reason: it handles coastal weather, doesn’t feed termites, and the colour range plays nicely with the local palette. Published Australian pricing commonly lands between $80 and $160 per metre supplied and installed for a standard 1.8m fence — flat, straightforward runs can come in under that; sloped, rocky or hard-access sites go over.
Indicative ranges
| Scenario | Typical range (per metre, installed) |
|---|---|
| Standard 1.8m, flat clear run | $80 – $120 |
| Sloped block (stepped or raked panels) | $110 – $160 |
| With old fence removal + disposal | add ~$15 – $30/m |
| Gates | $350 – $900+ each depending on size/hardware |
So a typical 20-metre boundary replacement lands somewhere between roughly $1,800 and $3,200 including removal — wide, which is exactly why per-metre quotes on site visits beat phone estimates.
What moves the price
- Slope. The Illawarra’s escarpment-side blocks often need stepped panels or custom raking — more cuts, more posts, more time.
- Ground conditions. Rock near the surface (common toward the escarpment) turns post holes from minutes into hours.
- Access. If materials have to be carried through the house or down a battle-axe drive, labour rises.
- Wind rating. Exposed coastal sites may need closer post spacing — ask how the quote handles it.
The rules worth knowing
Fencing over $5,000 (including materials) is licensed building work in NSW — check the licence on the Fair Trading register. For boundary fences, the Dividing Fences Act applies: your neighbour normally shares the cost of a “sufficient dividing fence” equally, but agree in writing (or use a Fencing Notice) before work starts — a fence built without agreement is hard to recover money for. Swimming pool boundaries have their own barrier rules.
Frequently asked questions
My neighbour won’t pay half — what now?
Serve a formal Fencing Notice (NSW has a standard process). If there’s still no agreement after a month, NCAT or the Local Court can order contributions. Or build without them and wear the full cost — legal, but unrecoverable.
Colorbond vs timber on cost?
Upfront they’re often comparable per metre. Over 15 years Colorbond usually wins: no painting, no rot, no termites. Timber wins on looks for some homes and on DIY-repairability.
How long does a fence replacement take?
A straightforward 20–30m replacement is typically 1–2 days on site, often split (posts set, then panels after concrete cures).
Browse Illawarra fencing contractors, or see all cost guides.