Deciding whether to demolish and build new or work with what you have is one of the bigger calls a homeowner can make. This guide covers the decision framework, demolition process, Victoria's 2025 planning changes, costs, and what makes Mornington Peninsula knockdown rebuild projects different from a standard Melbourne suburban project.

Most Melbourne homeowners start their extension by calling a builder. Here's why that leads to quotes that are all over the place - and what the design and documentation process actually involves before any work begins.

A Melbourne shop fitout can range from $1,500 to well over $3,000 per square metre - and both figures can be accurate at the same time. What you actually pay depends on shell condition, fitout level, joinery specification, and what the 2026 construction market is doing. This guide covers street retail vs shopping centre fitouts, the Mornington Peninsula premium, and every cost driver worth understanding before you sign a lease.