How Much Does Backyard Landscaping Cost in Melbourne? (2026)
Most Melbourne backyard jobs land somewhere between $5,000 and $50,000, depending on how much hard surface goes in. A lawn and garden refresh sits at the bottom of that range, and a full makeover with paving, a deck and retaining walls sails past it.
The size of the yard isn't the main thing that moves the price. What matters is what's under the surface and how easily a machine can get in, which is why two 100m² yards can quote thousands apart.
This guide runs through what each part of a backyard job costs, with examples from suburbs like Kew, Brighton, Camberwell, Malvern and Toorak. If you'd rather have someone look at your yard first, our backyard landscaping team can talk through the options and price them properly.
Backyard Landscaping Cost by Budget
Here's roughly what each budget buys. These are ballpark figures, not quotes, and they assume a normal suburban block with reasonable access.
| Budget | What it usually covers |
|---|---|
| $5,000–$15,000 | New lawn, garden beds, mulch and planting, maybe a small paved area |
| $15,000–$30,000 | Lawn, planting, a decent patio or small deck, some edging or low walls |
| $30,000–$50,000 | Full backyard rebuild with paving or decking, walls, lighting and irrigation |
| $50,000–$100,000+ | Large or sloping yards, alfresco builds, premium materials |
What Common Backyard Jobs Cost
Below are supplied-and-installed ranges for the jobs that make up most backyards. Different guides and contractors vary, so treat the middle of each range as a starting point.
| Item | Typical Melbourne cost |
|---|---|
| Natural instant turf | $25–$45 per m² |
| Artificial grass | $75–$160 per m², most yards $90–$130 |
| Concrete pavers | $85–$130 per m² |
| Bluestone or porcelain paving | $120–$200 per m² |
| Treated pine deck | $190–$370 per m² |
| Merbau or composite deck | $295–$580 per m² |
| Basic pergola over a deck | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Timber sleeper retaining wall | $210–$470 per lineal metre |
| Concrete sleeper retaining wall | $260–$630 per lineal metre |
| Garden lighting | $500–$2,500 |
| Removing old concrete | $30–$60 per m² |
Lawn: Real Turf or Artificial Grass?
Instant turf is the cheapest way to get a proper backyard feel. Supplied and laid, most Melbourne jobs come in at $25 to $45 per m², and our turf installation cost guide covers the varieties in more detail.
Preparation is what catches people out. A yard that only needs levelling sits near the bottom of that range, but digging out old soil and bringing in new can push the price per square metre to more than double.
Artificial grass costs a lot more upfront, and most Melbourne homeowners pay $90 to $130 per m². It suits shaded corners, small courtyards and dog runs where turf struggles, but for a big open lawn, real turf is hard to beat on price.
Paving
Paving is where backyard budgets start to stretch. Basic concrete pavers run about $85 to $130 per m² laid, while bluestone and porcelain sit closer to $120 to $200.
Small areas cost more per square metre, because the setup and cutting take the same effort whatever the size. A sloping site can add 15 to 25 per cent for extra base and grading, and there's more detail in our paving cost guide.
Decking and Pergolas
Decks are priced per square metre, and the timber makes a big difference. Installed, treated pine runs $190 to $370 per m², merbau $315 to $580 and composite $295 to $580.
Composite costs more on day one but skips the yearly oiling, which suits people who'd rather use the deck than maintain it. A basic pergola over the top usually adds $5,000 to $15,000.
Permits catch a lot of people out here. In Victoria, a deck attached to the house always needs a building permit, and a freestanding deck needs one once it's over 800mm high or 10m².
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are priced per lineal metre for a wall about a metre high, footings included. Timber sleeper walls run roughly $210 to $470 per lineal metre, and concrete sleepers roughly $260 to $630.
Concrete lasts longer and doesn't rot, so it's our pick for anything holding back real weight. Timber still makes sense for low garden edges, and either way, make sure drainage behind the wall is written into the quote.
Then there's the paperwork. A building permit is required for any retaining wall of 1 metre or more, and for lower walls tied to other building work or protecting a neighbour's property. Some councils, including Boroondara, Bayside and Stonnington, can be stricter near boundaries and may want a permit for walls as low as 600mm, which covers Kew, Camberwell, Brighton, Toorak and Malvern.
What Pushes a Backyard Quote Up
Access. Older houses in places like Malvern and Kew often have tight side access. That can mean a mini digger at best, and sometimes soil and pavers going through the house by wheelbarrow, which adds a lot of labour.
Soil. Clay soil preparation is one of the biggest cost drivers in Melbourne, and clay amendment can add $800 to $1,500 on a typical south-east backyard. Bayside yards around Brighton tend to be sandier, so drainage is less of a worry, but sand usually needs organic matter before plants will thrive.
Old structures. Pulling up concrete, sheds and dead garden beds costs money before any new work starts. Ask for it as a separate line so you can see what it is.
Overlays. Some streets in Toorak, Kew and Brighton sit under heritage overlays. A planning overlay can require a planning permit even for a low deck, and VicPlan shows which overlays apply to your property.
Four Example Backyard Budgets
These are illustrative scenarios built from the ranges above. They aren't quotes, and your numbers will shift with access, soil and finishes.
Kew: lawn and garden refresh. An older 90m² yard with a worn lawn and overgrown beds along the fence. Stripping the lawn, laying about 55m² of new turf and planting mulched native beds with drip irrigation usually lands around $8,000 to $14,000. The turf itself is only about $1,400 to $2,500 of that, and the soil work, planting and irrigation make up the rest.
Brighton: paved courtyard. A 35m² courtyard in porcelain or bluestone comes to roughly $4,200 to $7,000 for the paving alone. Add planter beds and lighting and the job usually finishes between $7,000 and $13,000.
Camberwell: sloping block. Twelve metres of 800mm concrete sleeper wall costs about $3,000 to $7,600 on its own, with a levelled lawn terrace above it. Once excavation, drainage and spoil removal go in, you're looking at roughly $10,000 to $18,000. Being under a metre it may not need a permit, but if the wall sits near the boundary, Boroondara might want one.
Toorak or Malvern: deck and pergola. A 25m² composite deck runs about $7,400 to $14,500, and a pergola on top adds $5,000 to $15,000. That puts the alfresco at roughly $12,000 to $30,000. Because the deck is attached to the house it needs a building permit, and a heritage overlay could mean a planning permit as well.
Where to Spend and Where to Save
Spend on the stuff you can't see. Drainage, base preparation and footings decide how the yard looks in five years, and a cheap paver on a solid base outlasts an expensive one on a weak base.
Save on plants and on timing. Smaller tubestock natives establish quickly and cost a fraction of advanced plants, and staging the job (hardscape first, planting later) spreads the cost without losing anything.
How to Compare Quotes
Ask each landscaper to list the following as separate lines. A quote that leaves them out often looks cheaper until the extras turn up.
Excavation and spoil removal
Base material and drainage
Removal of old concrete, turf or structures
Permits and engineering, if needed
Plants, mulch and irrigation
Clean-up and site access arrangements
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to landscape a small backyard in Melbourne?
Most small backyard projects, like new lawn, garden beds and a small paved area, come in at $5,000 to $15,000. Access and soil can push that up.
Is artificial grass cheaper than real turf?
Not upfront. Natural turf is around $25 to $45 per m² installed, while artificial is generally $75 to $160, but it needs no mowing or watering.
Do I need a permit for backyard landscaping in Melbourne?
Planting, turf and garden beds usually don't. Retaining walls of 1 metre or more, decks attached to the house or over 800mm high, and some pergolas do, and heritage overlays can add a planning permit.
When is the best time to landscape a backyard in Melbourne?
Paving, decking and walls can go in any time of year. For planting, April to June is the best window so plants settle in before summer.
Get a Backyard Quote in Melbourne
TXR Landscaping Contractors works across Melbourne's inner east, south-east and bayside, including Kew, Camberwell, Malvern, Toorak and Brighton. Send us a few photos and rough measurements of your yard, and we'll give you a straight answer on what it'll cost.