Sunshine's homes and where they came from
Built around a factory
In 1904 H. V. McKay bought the Braybrook Implement Works, renamed it the Sunshine Harvester Works and bought land to house his future workers. The works became the largest manufacturing plant in Australia.
Period and post-war
Wikipedia describes Sunshine, 12 km west of the city centre, as a low-density residential suburb with a mix of period and post-war homes.
Houses and units
In 2021, 69.2% of occupied homes were separate houses, 22.1% semi-detached, terrace or townhouses and 8.3% flats.
Four in ten rented
40.4% of Sunshine homes were rented at the 2021 Census, 28.6% owned with a mortgage and 27.1% owned outright.
Sealing up an old house that has a gas heater
Energy Safe Victoria warns that renovating or weather-sealing a home can change the ventilation needed to clear carbon monoxide, and may trap it inside. Open-flued heaters spill it more easily than other types. Before new windows, insulation or draught-proofing, have a gasfitter service and check the heater, and add a carbon monoxide alarm as a back-up, never a substitute for servicing.
The jobs that come up in Sunshine
Replacing an old gas heater during a renovation. That can be the easiest time, while walls and ceilings are open. A reverse cycle split in the living area heats and cools from one unit. For the whole house, compare ducted reverse cycle and gas on our Melbourne ducted heating page.
A knock-down rebuild. From 1 January 2027, every new Victorian home is built all electric, and new gas connections to houses under construction are banned. Plan the heating and cooling with the builder at drawing stage, including where the outdoor units will sit.
A rental. With 40.4% of homes rented, the 2027 standards will reach many Sunshine properties. When a main living area heater permanently fails from 1 March 2027, its replacement must be energy efficient electric. Our rental heating guide covers the ratings.
What we'd do
What we'd do in Sunshine
Renovating with a gas heater in place, we'd get it serviced and checked before the house is sealed up, then decide whether it stays. If it's old and you'd like cooling too, we'd replace it with an efficient reverse cycle system while the builders are still there and the walls are open.
Send through the job and your 3020 postcode. Licence-checked local installers who do that kind of work see it, and only the one who takes your job gets your contact details. If no one near Sunshine takes it within 48 hours, installers elsewhere in Victoria may be shown it.
