Cubby Houses Melbourne
We deliver premium timber cubby houses to Melbourne families across the metro area and beyond — shipped from our Brisbane warehouse directly to your door. Whether you're in the inner suburbs, the Mornington Peninsula, or out past the Dandenong Ranges, we've got you covered. Melbourne metro deliveries typically arrive within 3–5 business days, with outer areas up to 7.
Melbourne Delivery Areas
We deliver across Greater Melbourne and surrounds. Use the table below as a guide — for semi-rural addresses or anything beyond the metropolitan fringe, get in touch before ordering and we'll confirm your postcode.
| Area | Estimated Delivery |
|---|---|
| Inner Melbourne, Inner North, Inner South | 3–5 business days |
| Eastern Suburbs, Outer East | 3–5 business days |
| Bayside, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula (northern) | 3–5 business days |
| Western Suburbs, North West corridor | 3–5 business days |
| Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley, Upper Mornington Peninsula | Up to 7 business days |
| Geelong fringe, Macedon Ranges, Sunbury | Up to 7 business days |
All deliveries are kerbside. You'll receive tracking once your order dispatches. Deliveries run Monday–Friday during business hours.
Suburbs We Cover
Inner Melbourne
Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond, South Yarra, Prahran, St Kilda, Elwood, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, Docklands, Carlton, Parkville
Inner North
Brunswick, Coburg, Northcote, Preston, Thornbury, Reservoir, Bundoora, Heidelberg, Eltham, Diamond Creek, Greensborough
Inner East
Hawthorn, Camberwell, Kew, Balwyn, Box Hill, Doncaster, Templestowe, Ringwood, Croydon, Mooroolbark, Lilydale
South East
Glen Waverley, Wheelers Hill, Berwick, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Dandenong, Springvale, Noble Park, Keysborough
Bayside & South
Brighton, Sandringham, Cheltenham, Mentone, Mordialloc, Aspendale, Chelsea, Frankston, Seaford, Mornington, Mount Eliza
West & North West
Footscray, Sunshine, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook, Altona, Williamstown, Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Keilor, Melton
Outer East & Ranges
Healesville, Yarra Glen, Warburton, Belgrave, Emerald, Gembrook, Olinda, Sassafras, Kallista, The Basin
Building Permits in Melbourne — What You Need to Know
Good news for Melbourne parents: in most residential zones, a cubby house does not require a building permit. Under the Building Regulations 2018 (Victoria), a Class 10a structure — which includes cubby houses, garden sheds and similar outbuildings — is generally exempt from a building permit if it meets the following conditions:
- Floor area no more than 10m² — all our models are well under this
- Wall height no more than 3m
- Not in a designated Bushfire Prone Area (BPA)
- Meets required setback distances from title boundaries — typically 1m or more, though this varies by council zone
- Not in a heritage overlay or subject to specific council overlay controls
Bushfire Prone Areas: If your property is in a designated BPA — which applies to parts of the Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley, Macedon Ranges, and Mornington Peninsula hinterland — additional rules may apply regardless of size. Check your property at the VicPlan mapping tool (planning.vic.gov.au) before ordering. The above is general guidance only and not formal planning or building advice.
For most suburban Melbourne backyards — from Frankston to Footscray, Doncaster to Dandenong — a cubby house under 10m² is a straightforward exempt structure. If you're in an inner-city heritage overlay area (parts of Fitzroy, Carlton, Richmond etc.), worth a quick call to your council just to confirm.
Setting Up in a Melbourne Backyard
Melbourne's climate is one of the more demanding in Australia for outdoor timber — not because of heat, but because of the sheer variation. Cold wet winters, warm dry summers, sudden temperature swings, and strong southerly winds mean your cubby house needs to be set up and maintained properly from day one.
Getting the base right
Before your order arrives, prepare a flat, level base using hardwood sleepers or treated pine decking boards. Melbourne's combination of clay soils and heavy winter rainfall makes this especially important — moisture pooling underneath a cubby house is the single biggest cause of premature timber wear. Get the base right and everything else follows. Avoid pavers, bricks or bare soil as a foundation.
Painting in Melbourne's climate
All our cubby houses arrive in raw timber and must be painted before or during assembly — this is particularly critical in Melbourne. The cooler, damper conditions that Melbourne experiences from May through August create ideal conditions for mould and mildew on unsealed timber. Use a quality exterior water-based paint with a mould inhibitor if possible, apply two full coats, and don't skip the undersides and joins. Annual maintenance checks in autumn — tightening bolts, touching up worn paint on horizontal surfaces — will keep your cubby in great shape through many Melbourne winters.
Which model suits your yard?
Melbourne backyards tend to be more generous than Sydney's, particularly in the middle and outer suburbs. That said, inner-city and inner-north blocks can be quite compact. For smaller yards, the Arlo Cubby House is a ground-level option that fits without dominating the space. For a typical suburban block, our elevated mid-range models like the Millie, Frankie Grand, and Billie Grand are consistently our most popular — the space created underneath is a genuine bonus in a Melbourne winter when kids still want to be outside. For those with the space and the budget, the Marlie and Newport are the ones that draw comments from every visitor.
Common Questions from Melbourne Customers
Do you have a Melbourne showroom?
We don't — we operate online and ship from our Brisbane warehouse. Our product pages include detailed dimensions, real customer photos, and assembly guides. If you have questions before buying, we're available via email and phone and happy to help you choose the right model.
Can I pick up from somewhere in Melbourne?
Not currently. All orders ship from Brisbane. Melbourne metro customers typically receive their order within 3–5 business days from when it dispatches.
Does it come assembled?
No — all cubby houses arrive flat-packed via freight carrier. Assembly takes two adults approximately 2–4 hours depending on the model. All hardware and step-by-step instructions are included. Most Melbourne families make a weekend project of it, especially when kids are "helping."
My property backs onto a reserve — does that affect setbacks?
Setback rules apply to title boundaries, not to reserves or shared green space. In most cases you'd still need to meet your council's standard setback from your own property boundary. If you're unsure, a quick call to your local council will clarify — they're generally very straightforward about exempt structures under 10m².
What if something arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos and we'll arrange replacement parts or a resolution under our warranty. Freight damage is rare but we take it seriously and will look after you.
Can I add a swing set or mud kitchen later?
Absolutely — many Melbourne families build their backyard play zone over time. Our cubby house add-ons, swing sets, and mud kitchens all deliver to Melbourne on the same timeframes.