Surrey Hills is one of those suburbs that people move to and never leave. Sitting within the City of Whitehorse, it's a tightly held pocket of Melbourne's east where tree-lined streets, period homes, and a village atmosphere make it feel like a different world despite being just 14km from the CBD.
The suburb was established in the 1880s during Melbourne's land boom, and much of that original character still defines the area today. Walk along Union Road and you'll see the heritage shopfronts, the local cafes, and a community that still revolves around the village strip. Schools like Surrey Hills Primary, Our Holy Redeemer, and nearby Box Hill High keep families anchored, and the Surrey Hills and Mont Albert train stations make the city commute painless.
But that character comes with responsibility. Surrey Hills has some of the most visible heritage and neighbourhood character controls in Whitehorse. What you build here needs to sit comfortably alongside what's already standing. That takes a builder who understands the suburb, not just the construction.
Craft Built Homes has built across Surrey Hills and Melbourne's eastern suburbs for years. We know how Whitehorse Council assesses applications in this part of the municipality, we respect the streetscape expectations, and we build homes that belong on the street while giving you everything you need behind the front door.
We learn your block, your brief, and what matters most. If your Surrey Hills property has heritage controls or character overlay requirements, we'll tell you what to expect upfront.
We clarify what's involved, what's realistic for your site, and map the best path forward plans, design, and any Whitehorse council approvals required.
We coordinate with your architect, manage permits and planning approvals through Whitehorse City Council, and lock in the full build pathway before construction begins.
Detail-driven construction, steady communication, and a clean handover of your completed Surrey Hills home that you'll be proud of.
Renovation that brings a tired period home back to life. Extension that connects the old with the new. Knockdown rebuild that starts fresh while respecting the street. New home on a rare vacant lot. Whatever your project looks like, we'll tell you straight what's involved.
Surrey Hills spans two council boundaries Boroondara and Whitehorse 11km east of the CBD, and carries eight heritage overlays across significant parts of the suburb. Its Federation and Edwardian streetscapes, strict neighbourhood character expectations, and dual-council planning requirements mean decisions that are straightforward elsewhere need careful management here.
Possibly. Surrey Hills has eight heritage overlays covering individual properties and entire precincts particularly around Union Road and streets north of Canterbury Road. Check your property on Boroondara's heritage overlay map or Whitehorse's planning map, depending on which side of the council boundary your block sits.
In most cases, yes. Heritage overlay properties require planning permission from Boroondara or Whitehorse council before you can demolish, build, or extend. Outside heritage overlays, neighbourhood character controls and residential zone requirements can still trigger a planning permit. Both a planning permit and a building permit are typically required before construction can start.
Custom builds in Surrey Hills typically cost between $3,500 and $5,500 per square metre, based on current industry cost guides. A 220–250m² home generally ranges from $700,000 to well over $1 million for the build alone, excluding land. Heritage requirements, period detailing, and the premium finish level the suburb demands can push costs toward the higher end. Always get a site-specific quote.
Often, yes but due diligence comes first. Surrey Hills land values are among Melbourne's inner east's strongest, with a median house price around $2 million. If your block isn't heritage-listed, a knockdown rebuild can deliver far better long-term value than renovating an outdated layout. If it sits within a heritage overlay, demolition requires a planning permit and any new design must satisfy council's heritage requirements before approval.
Yes. A heritage overlay doesn't stop you improving your home; it means the design must respect the property's significance and the precinct's character. In practice: retain the original street-facing facade, position extensions to the rear, and use materials that complement the existing building. A builder experienced in Boroondara's heritage requirements from the design stage avoids costly redesigns later.
From first consultation to handover, most custom Surrey Hills builds take 18 to 24 months. Construction typically runs 9 to 18 months. Heritage assessments and planning approvals through Boroondara or Whitehorse particularly where heritage impact statements are required add to the pre-construction timeline. Managing this process early is what keeps the build on schedule.
Look for a builder with direct experience across Surrey Hills and both Boroondara and Whitehorse councils, a local portfolio, and client references you can call. Confirm Victorian Building Authority registration and domestic building insurance. Avoid builders unfamiliar with heritage overlay requirements that's the single biggest source of delays, cost overruns, and council objections on Surrey Hills projects.
Yes. Craft Built Homes works alongside architects and building designers across Melbourne's inner east. If you have an architect, they manage the build to deliver the design including heritage permit conditions and dual-council requirements specific to Surrey Hills. If you don't, they can connect you with designers experienced on similar projects in the suburb.
