Burwood at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Council | Burwood Council |
| Postcode | 2134 |
| Typical homes | Large Federation houses and bungalows, interwar homes, and high-rise apartments in the town centre |
| Heritage | Many conservation areas, including Appian Way, one of the first gazetted in NSW |
| Watch for | Heritage rules on additions; clay soils that move with moisture; strata rules in newer towers |
Burwood heritage streets
Burwood has many heritage conservation areas under the Burwood LEP 2012. The best known is Appian Way, a curved street of large Federation homes on big blocks. It became a conservation area in 1981 and gained permanent protection in 1985, making it one of the first conservation areas gazetted in NSW. Council has also group-listed intact Federation houses in other streets.
Council announced a review of its conservation area rules in 2021, after inconsistencies in how single and two-storey additions were handled. Check the current Burwood DCP before planning an addition, and expect changes visible from the street to need a development application. Land next to the town centre can have much higher height and floor space limits than the conservation areas beside it, which is why heritage streets sit so close to tower cranes.
Cracks, clay and old brick
Much of this part of Sydney sits on clay soils weathered from Ashfield Shale. Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, so footings can move with the seasons, especially near big trees, leaking pipes or poor drainage. That is one reason older brick homes show cracks above doors and windows, or doors that stick. Burwood's mature street and garden trees add to this, because their roots draw moisture out of the clay in dry spells.
- Fix gutters, downpipes and stormwater first, because water near footings makes movement worse.
- Keep garden beds and paving from blocking subfloor vents.
- Get a structural engineer to assess serious or growing cracks before anyone suggests underpinning.
Common Burwood jobs
Federation homes here have large roofs of terracotta tile or slate, long gutter runs, leadlight windows and decorative front fences, so roof restoration, gutter replacement and heritage-sensitive fencing are regular requests. Kitchens and bathrooms in these houses are often decades old.
- Repairing leadlight and timber sash windows rather than replacing them
- Restoring tessellated verandah tiles and front paths
- Upgrading old wiring and plumbing while the kitchen or bathroom is open
In the town centre, apartment owners mostly need bathroom, kitchen and flooring work under strata rules. If your building is new, check whether a defect is still covered by the builder's statutory warranty before you pay for a repair. See the Inner West hub for nearby areas.
Popular jobs in Burwood
Roof restoration
Understand whether repairing and restoring your existing roof is a sensible alternative to replacement.
Get quotesBathroom renovations
Plan a bathroom around layout, water management, ventilation and finishes before comparing prices.
Get quotesKitchen renovations
Resolve appliance locations, useful storage and circulation before selecting cabinet finishes.
Get quotesUnderpinning
Investigate footing movement and obtain a repair scope based on qualified assessment.
Get quotesGutter replacement
Plan gutters and downpipes as a connected drainage system, with attention to overflow and the condition of the supporting fascia.
Get quotesFence installation
Define the boundary, purpose and installation scope before choosing a fence.
Get quotesLocal service guides
Common questions
Can I add a second storey to a Federation house in a Burwood heritage area?
Possibly, but it is assessed carefully. Burwood Council's controls aim to keep additions from dominating the original house as seen from the street, so many owners extend at the rear or set an upper level well back. Talk to council's duty planner early, and get a heritage-aware designer before trades quote.
Why does my Burwood house have cracks?
Many homes here sit on reactive clay soil that moves as it wets and dries. Small, stable cracks are common in old brickwork. Growing cracks, sticking doors or sloping floors need a structural engineer's assessment. Often the first fix is drainage and plumbing, not underpinning. Our underpinning guide explains the signs.
Is Burwood part of Inner West Council?
No. Burwood has its own council, Burwood Council, with its own LEP and DCP. Neighbouring Ashfield and Croydon are in Inner West Council, and parts of Strathfield are in Burwood Council. Check your rates notice or the NSW Planning Portal so you lodge with the right council.