What shapes a Brunswick job
Terraces and weatherboards
eMelbourne says the 1880s and 1890s brought modest brick terraces, single-fronted weatherboards and grander two-storey houses, mainly in central and southern Brunswick. Since 1945, parts have been rebuilt with flats.
Today's mix
At the 2021 Census, 35.3% of occupied homes were separate houses, 29.3% terraces, townhouses or semi-detached, and 34.1% flats or apartments. 43.1% had two bedrooms.
Conservation precincts
Heritage buildings line Sydney Road, and Wikipedia says urban conservation precincts cover whole streets or large parts of them.
The Merri-bek exemption
The council's heritage exemptions plan lists air conditioners and heating or cooling systems under domestic services. It waives the heritage permit for contributory and non-contributory places, if the unit's on the rear wall or rear setback, or a side wall or setback at least 4m behind the front facade.
Where it doesn't apply
Places graded significant, and anything on the Victorian Heritage Register, don't get that exemption. For them, Victoria's Heritage Overlay needs a permit if the unit is visible from a street (other than a lane) or public park.
Jobs that come up in Brunswick
A split for the living room. Solar Victoria says split systems are great for single rooms and small apartments. With the living area at the back of a terrace, a split there and the outdoor unit on the rear wall is usually tidiest. See split system installation in Melbourne.
Upstairs as well. In a two-storey house, a second split works, or a multi-split runs two indoor units from one outdoor unit, so there's one less box on the wall. Mitsubishi Electric says all the indoor units on a multi-split share one mode, heating or cooling.
Flats with an owners corporation. In the post-war blocks, approval for the outdoor unit and its pipe run comes before any quote. Our apartments and strata page explains what to ask for.
Landlords and neighbours
From 1 March 2027, a new Victorian lease needs an efficient fixed cooler in the main living area, and a failed main heater must be replaced with an efficient electric one. Heritage permit refusal and owners corporation rules are among the listed grounds for exemption. Our rental heating guide has the detail.
On a narrow block, the next bedroom can be very close. Victoria's rules say cooling mustn't be heard in a neighbour's habitable room after 11pm, and heating after 10pm.
What we'd do
If it were our Brunswick terrace
Look at the rear wall first. If it works for the pipe run and the drain, the outdoor unit goes there, and a contributory or non-contributory house skips the heritage permit. If yours is graded significant, talk to Merri-bek before booking. And choose a quiet outdoor unit: your neighbours are close.
