Timber fencing in the Sutherland Shire
Updated October 2026
A timber paling fence is still the classic Australian boundary fence, and thousands of them line the back streets of the Shire. Timber is warm to look at, simple to repair one paling at a time, and usually the cheapest way to fence a straightforward run. If you need timber fencing in the Sutherland Shire, tell us about the job and an experienced, insured local fencer will call you back with a price.
Timber fence styles
The fencers we work with build the common styles seen across the Shire:
- Standard paling. Treated pine palings on hardwood or treated pine rails. The workhorse boundary fence, good side facing one way.
- Lapped and capped. Overlapping palings with a capping rail on top. No gaps as the timber shrinks, a neater look, and better privacy.
- Picket fencing. Front boundary fences for older homes in suburbs like Sutherland and Jannali.
- Hardwood and screening. Feature panels and privacy screens around decks and spas.
Most boundary fences use treated pine palings because pine keeps the cost down, with hardwood posts where extra strength is wanted.
What timber fencing costs
As a guide, timber paling fencing in Australia typically runs from around $80 to $190 per metre supplied and installed in 2026. A basic treated pine paling fence on flat ground sits at the lower end. Lapped and capped, hardwood, sloping blocks and old fence removal push it up. These are guide figures only, never a quote. The fencing cost guide covers the full per-metre breakdown, and every job gets priced on site.
On a shared boundary, the NSW Dividing Fences Act generally has neighbours sharing the cost of a sufficient dividing fence equally. If you want lapped and capped where a standard paling fence would do, the difference is usually yours to carry. General information only, not legal advice.
Timber in the Shire's conditions
Timber needs a little more thought here than in drier parts of Sydney. Salt air around Cronulla and Woolooware is hard on fasteners, so galvanised fixings matter. Suburbs backing onto the Royal National Park and the Woronora valley see more termite pressure, which is why treated pine and good post detailing count. A well-built paling fence in the Shire commonly gives 15 to 20 years, longer with care, though actual life depends on timber, drainage and exposure.
The upside of timber is repairability. One cracked paling or one rotten post can be swapped without replacing the run, which is a big part of why older timber fences are worth patching for years. For that work, see fence repairs.
How the referral works
Shire Fencing is a referral service. We do not build fences ourselves. You fill in the form, we pass the job to one of the experienced, insured local fencers who works your suburb, and they call you back with a free quote. No obligation, no call centre, and you deal with the fencer directly from the first call.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a timber fence last?
A treated pine paling fence commonly lasts 15 to 20 years in the Shire, sometimes longer. Posts usually fail first, at ground level. Good drainage, treated timber and keeping soil and garden beds off the palings all stretch its life.
Is timber or Colorbond better?
Timber is usually cheaper up front on a simple run and is easy to repair in sections. Colorbond needs no maintenance and resists rot and termites. Plenty of Shire streets have both. See our Colorbond fencing page for the comparison from the other side.
Does my neighbour have to pay half of a timber fence?
Generally yes for a sufficient dividing fence on a shared boundary under the NSW Dividing Fences Act 1991, with any upgrade beyond sufficient usually paid by the owner who wants it. General information, not legal advice.
Can one section of my fence be replaced?
Yes. Timber is the easiest fence to repair in parts. A fencer can replace individual palings, rails or posts, or splice a new section into an old run, as long as the remaining fence is sound.