Wheelers Hill Concrete

Who lives in Wheelers Hill, and what that means for concrete

The 2021 Census shows a distinctive suburb. The median age was 48, the highest of any suburb we service. Nearly half of homes (47.6%) were owned outright, and more than 58% had four or more bedrooms. About 85% of dwellings were separate houses, with a small share of flats and townhouses.

In our experience of suburbs like this (an inference, not a local statistic), requests tend to focus on quality and longevity rather than the cheapest option:

• Driveway replacement with an upgraded finish, often exposed aggregate. Driveway replacement → · Exposed aggregate driveways →
• Safer steps and paths for easier access as needs change, with handrail provisions and anti-slip finishes. Concrete steps →
• Entertaining areas and patios for homes with room to host family. Concrete patios →
• Sealing and colour refresh for decorative concrete laid years ago. Concrete sealing →

Building driveways on a hill

A suburb that sits high above its surroundings naturally has some sloping streets and blocks, although plenty of properties are fairly level. Where a driveway does climb or fall steeply, the details matter:

• Transitions: the change in grade where the driveway meets the crossover and the garage needs to be gradual enough that cars don't scrape.
• Grip: broom finishes, exposed aggregate and anti-slip sealers give tyres and shoes more traction on a slope than a smooth trowelled finish.
• Water: on a downhill driveway towards the garage, a grated strip drain across the driveway stops stormwater running into the garage.
• Joints and reinforcement: sloping slabs still need well-placed control joints and appropriate steel.
• Steps and retaining: sloping front gardens often need steps beside the driveway and, sometimes, a low retaining wall. Retaining walls →

Monash Council vehicle crossing permits

Wheelers Hill is in the City of Monash, which requires a Vehicle Crossing Permit to build, alter or remove a vehicle crossing. It's a separate permit from any building or planning permit you might have. Monash has a structured inspection process that affects how a driveway job is scheduled:

1. 01Apply with photos and a plan. Monash asks for a site plan and at least five photos of the frontage. Assessment can take up to 10 working days.
2. 02Excavate, then stop for inspection. After excavation and before any concrete is poured, the crossing must be inspected. The inspection is booked by phone before 2 pm on the working day before, and inspections happen on weekday mornings.
3. 03Pour after approval. Concrete goes in only after the pre-pour inspection is passed.
4. 04Final check about a month later. Monash re-inspects around one month after the pour, noting that concrete takes about a month to reach almost full strength.

Monash's standard crossing is 3 metres wide, with 3.5 metres the maximum, and one crossing is allowed per residential property. A crossing must be at least 9 metres from a street corner and 1 metre from street furniture, and excavation must stay 4 metres from the base of a street tree. The permit expires six months after it's issued, so it's worth timing your application with your concreting booking. Details are on the Monash vehicle crossing page.

Finishes for established Wheelers Hill homes

Many Wheelers Hill homes are brick family houses with established gardens. Finishes that often complement them include:

• Exposed aggregate with a blend of stones that picks up brick and roof tones
• Coloured concrete in charcoal, sandstone or grey, sometimes with an exposed aggregate border
• Stencil patterns for a paved look without the maintenance of individual pavers. Stencil and stamped concrete →
• Honed concrete for alfresco areas that step out from living rooms. Polished and honed concrete →

We'll bring samples and photos to the site visit so you can see finishes against your home rather than choosing from a screen.

Planning a driveway you'll keep for decades

If you plan to stay in your home long term, a few decisions at quoting time pay off for years:

• Base and thickness: ask what sub-base depth and slab thickness are proposed, and whether they suit the vehicles you'll park, such as a caravan, trailer or delivery trucks.
• Reinforcement: mesh or bar sized for driveway loads, sitting on chairs so it ends up in the right part of the slab.
• Joint layout: joints planned to line up with the garage, house corners and path junctions so any cracking follows the joints.
• Conduits: a spare conduit under the driveway for future lighting, gates or irrigation costs very little during construction.
• Resealing plan: a simple maintenance schedule keeps decorative finishes looking their best.

Local landmarks

Wheelers Hill takes its name from James Wheeler, an early settler, and the name was adopted in 1888. Before that, the local post office was called Mulgrave. The Museum of Australian Photography and the Wheelers Hill Library share a building at the corner of Jells Road and Ferntree Gully Road, and the original 1990 gallery was designed by Harry Seidler. Mulgrave Reserve, home of the Mulgrave cricket and football clubs, is in fact in Wheelers Hill. The Glen Waverley Golf Club is on Waverley Road in Wheelers Hill, and Jells Park, part of Parks Victoria's Dandenong Valley Parklands, is on the suburb's edge.