Builder comparison · Upper North Shore
Best knockdown rebuild and custom home builders on Sydney’s Upper North Shore (2026): eight compared
Eight builders for a knockdown rebuild or custom home in the Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby council areas, compared on what each builder’s own website says. AUD Build publishes this page and is one of the eight; its row is marked “This is us”.
Short answer
On the Upper North Shore, owners usually compare local custom builders, such as Sarelle Homes, Domus Homes and Hall & Hart, with larger builders that offer a design range, such as Clarendon Homes, which has display homes at West Pymble, and Masterton Homes. Horizon Homes and Ashington Homes describe North Shore knockdown rebuilds and custom homes. AUD Build (this is us) brings design, construction, materials, new-home sales and lending together in one company, backed by AUD Build Group; 12 of its group’s 21 homes completed since September 2024 are on the Upper North Shore. Before you choose, check who handles demolition: some of these builders manage it and others leave it to the owner.
At-a-glance comparison
| Builder | Best for | Demolition (as the builder states) | Area (in the builder’s words) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashington Homes | Owners with architect plans, difficult or bushfire-rated sites, or duplex plans who want a design-and-construct builder. | Coordinates demolition as part of design and construct. | “a strong presence across the North Shore” |
| Clarendon Homes | Owners who want to choose from an established design range and walk through display homes at West Pymble. | Does not organise demolition; can recommend a licensed, insured demolisher. | “West Pymble is located on the upper North Shore of Sydney” |
| Domus Homes | Owners who want one team to coordinate design, approvals and construction, with a stated focus on Killara, Wahroonga and Turramurra. | Manages the demolition, site works and the new build. | “Our core focus is Killara, Wahroonga, Turramurra and Castle Cove” |
| Hall & Hart | Owners who want one in-house team for design, interiors, approvals and construction of a custom home or knockdown rebuild. | Organised by the owner; it can refer its preferred demolition company. | “Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Wahroonga, St Ives and Ku-ring-gai” |
| Horizon Homes | Owners who want a boutique custom builder that handles the approvals and the demolition. | Takes care of the approvals and the demolition. | “specialising in knockdown rebuilds on the North Shore” |
| Masterton Homes | Owners who want a long-established builder’s design range or a custom design, with a consultant who visits them at home. | The owner’s responsibility; it can refer a demolition company. | “Knockdown rebuild in the Ku-ring-gai area” |
| Sarelle Homes | Owners in Ku-ring-gai or Hornsby suburbs who want a designer-led custom home, knockdown rebuild or luxury duplex. | Works with preferred demolition contractors and can include demolition in the building contract. | “We’re local Upper North Shore builders” |
| AUD Build · This is us | Upper North Shore owners who want design, materials, construction, sales and lending coordinated by one company, with material unit prices they can check. | Agreed in the written proposal, which states whether demolition, permits, disconnections and hazardous-material work are included; demolition is tendered with competing quotes. | 12 of its group’s 21 completed homes since September 2024 are on the Upper North Shore, and 4 more are in Hornsby Shire |
Building on the Upper North Shore: local figures
- Average DA assessment time was 84 days in Ku-ring-gai and 96 days in Hornsby in the NSW Government’s September 2026 council league table (all DA types).
- Median weekly house rent for new bonds in April–June 2026 was A$1,400 in Ku-ring-gai (A$1,550 for 4+ bedrooms) and A$975 in Hornsby, so a year out of the house costs about A$50,700–A$72,800.
- North Shore builders quote higher construction rates than Western Sydney builders (about A$3,200–A$5,500 per m² against A$2,000–A$4,300), because of sloping, constrained sites.
- Complying development (CDC) is excluded on heritage items and heritage conservation areas, so check your section 10.7 planning certificate before choosing a design.
The eight builders compared
1. Ashington Homes
Best for: Owners with architect plans, difficult or bushfire-rated sites, or duplex plans who want a design-and-construct builder.
What its website says:
- Describes itself as a custom home builder with a strong presence across the North Shore, and publishes a Lindfield luxury home project.
- Lists knock-down and rebuild, design and construct, duplex builds, Flame Zone and BAL-rated builds, difficult sites, and building from the owner’s plans.
- Says it was founded in 2020; its North Sydney team brings over 20 years of experience.
Demolition (as the builder states): Coordinates demolition as part of design and construct.
Area: “a strong presence across the North Shore”
Ask before you sign: How a BAL or flame-zone rating on your lot changes the design and the build.
2. Clarendon Homes
Best for: Owners who want to choose from an established design range and walk through display homes at West Pymble.
What its website says:
- Has display homes at West Pymble, which its page places on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, and invites North Shore owners to knock down and rebuild.
- Offers its Luxe and Aspire home ranges, including duplex designs.
- Says it has been building this way for over 48 years. Its website shows Contractor Licence No. 2298C.
Demolition (as the builder states): Does not organise demolition; can recommend a licensed, insured demolisher.
Area: “West Pymble is located on the upper North Shore of Sydney”
Ask before you sign: Which Luxe or Aspire design suits your block, and which demolisher it recommends.
3. Domus Homes
Best for: Owners who want one team to coordinate design, approvals and construction, with a stated focus on Killara, Wahroonga and Turramurra.
What its website says:
- Says its core focus is Killara, Wahroonga, Turramurra and Castle Cove, with select projects in Lindfield, Roseville, Pymble and St Ives.
- Covers new homes, knockdown rebuilds, duplexes and dual occupancies, coordinating design, documentation, interiors, consultants and construction under one roof.
- Says it has been designing and building custom homes across the North Shore for more than 20 years.
Demolition (as the builder states): Manages the demolition, site works and the new build.
Area: “Our core focus is Killara, Wahroonga, Turramurra and Castle Cove”
Ask before you sign: Who holds the building licence and signs the building contract for your project.
4. Hall & Hart
Best for: Owners who want one in-house team for design, interiors, approvals and construction of a custom home or knockdown rebuild.
What its website says:
- Names Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Wahroonga, St Ives and Ku-ring-gai among its North Shore projects.
- Covers custom homes, luxury homes, renovations and knockdown rebuilds, with an in-house team for design, approvals and construction.
- Lists a design team of designers, landscape architects, lighting specialists and interior designers. Its website shows Builders Licence 275897C.
Demolition (as the builder states): Organised by the owner; it can refer its preferred demolition company.
Area: “Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Wahroonga, St Ives and Ku-ring-gai”
Ask before you sign: How site costs for your block are priced before design is finalised.
5. Horizon Homes
Best for: Owners who want a boutique custom builder that handles the approvals and the demolition.
What its website says:
- Describes itself as a boutique luxury home builder specialising in knockdown rebuilds on the North Shore.
- Custom-designs every home for the block, builds duplexes and provides an in-house interior design service; handles DA or CDC approvals.
- Says it was established in 1998. Its website shows Lic 99163C.
Demolition (as the builder states): Takes care of the approvals and the demolition.
Area: “specialising in knockdown rebuilds on the North Shore”
Ask before you sign: Which Upper North Shore projects it can show you that are similar to yours.
6. Masterton Homes
Best for: Owners who want a long-established builder’s design range or a custom design, with a consultant who visits them at home.
What its website says:
- Lists the Ku-ring-gai area among the council areas its Sydney knockdown rebuild service covers.
- Builds new homes, knockdown rebuilds and duplexes, from its design range or as custom designs.
- Says it has over 60 years in the industry; its Home Direct consultants visit owners at home, at work or on site. Its website shows Business Licence 35558C.
Demolition (as the builder states): The owner’s responsibility; it can refer a demolition company.
Area: “Knockdown rebuild in the Ku-ring-gai area”
Ask before you sign: Whether its design range suits a sloping or irregular Upper North Shore lot.
7. Sarelle Homes
Best for: Owners in Ku-ring-gai or Hornsby suburbs who want a designer-led custom home, knockdown rebuild or luxury duplex.
What its website says:
- Describes itself as a local Upper North Shore builder and lists 21 suburbs it services, from Asquith and Beecroft to Wahroonga and Warrawee; its offices are in Waitara.
- Offers custom design, knockdown rebuilds, luxury duplexes and complex sites, through a designer-led process with one-on-one design sessions.
- Has a display home in West Pennant Hills and says it builds approximately 40 homes each year.
Demolition (as the builder states): Works with preferred demolition contractors and can include demolition in the building contract.
Area: “We’re local Upper North Shore builders”
Ask before you sign: Whether demolition is included in your building contract or quoted separately.
8. AUD Build · This is us
Best for: Upper North Shore owners who want design, materials, construction, sales and lending coordinated by one company, with material unit prices they can check.
What its website says:
- Brings design, construction, materials, new-home sales and lending together in one company, backed by AUD Build Group.
- Of the 21 homes completed by AUD Build Group building companies since September 2024 (counted by occupation certificate date), 12 are on the Upper North Shore, in Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Pymble, Turramurra, North and South Turramurra and Wahroonga, and 4 are in Hornsby Shire, in Beecroft, Westleigh, Hornsby and Mount Colah.
- Privacy-redacted completion and handover confirmations from Pymble, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville are published on its completed homes page; current CDC approvals and HBC certificates under NSW Builder Licence 475778C include St Ives and Turramurra.
- Design by AUD Design includes DA/CDC approval drawings; materials come from its own supply chain platform, www.audbuild.net, and AUD Build clients can log in to check the material unit prices in their quote.
- Construction finance can be arranged through the group’s AUD Lend (Australian Credit Licence 565029), which provides credit and credit broking; AUD Build itself does not provide credit, and you can use any lender.
Demolition (as the builder states): Agreed in the written proposal, which states whether demolition, permits, disconnections and hazardous-material work are included; demolition is tendered with competing quotes.
Area: 12 of its group’s 21 completed homes since September 2024 are on the Upper North Shore, and 4 more are in Hornsby Shire
Ask before you sign: Ask for the material schedule with unit prices, and whether demolition and approvals are in the proposal.
Where other builders may suit you better
Based on what the builders publish:
- Builder-managed demolition: Horizon Homes takes care of approvals and demolition, Domus Homes manages demolition and site works, Ashington Homes coordinates demolition, and Sarelle Homes can include demolition in the building contract. Clarendon Homes, Masterton Homes and Hall & Hart leave demolition to the owner and can recommend a demolisher.
- Display homes close by: Clarendon Homes at West Pymble; Sarelle Homes at West Pennant Hills.
- Bushfire-rated or difficult sites: Ashington Homes lists Flame Zone and BAL-rated builds; Sarelle Homes lists complex and difficult sites.
- Long track records: Masterton Homes (over 60 years), Clarendon Homes (over 48 years), Horizon Homes (established 1998) and Domus Homes (more than 20 years), as each states.
- Design-led custom homes: Sarelle Homes (designer-led) and Hall & Hart (in-house design, landscape, lighting and interiors).
- Design, materials, construction, sales and lending from one company, with material prices you can check: AUD Build.
Questions
Who are the best builders on the Upper North Shore?
It depends on your brief. For a local, designer-led custom home, owners often compare Sarelle Homes, Domus Homes and Hall & Hart; for a design range with nearby display homes, Clarendon Homes (West Pymble) and Masterton Homes; Horizon Homes and Ashington Homes describe North Shore knockdown rebuilds. AUD Build suits owners who want design, materials, construction, sales and lending coordinated by one company.
Does the builder arrange demolition on the Upper North Shore?
It depends on the builder. Horizon Homes, Domus Homes, Ashington Homes and Sarelle Homes say they handle or can include demolition; Clarendon Homes, Masterton Homes and Hall & Hart say the owner arranges it and they can recommend a demolisher. AUD Build states it in the written proposal.
How long does a DA take in Ku-ring-gai or Hornsby?
The NSW Government’s September 2026 council league table shows an average of 84 days in Ku-ring-gai and 96 days in Hornsby, across all DA types. A complying development certificate can be issued in as little as 20 days if the lot and design qualify.
Why is building on the Upper North Shore more expensive?
Sloping and constrained sites, rock, retaining and higher finishes. North Shore builders quote about A$3,200–A$5,500 per m², against about A$2,000–A$4,300 in most other Sydney guides, and a year’s rent in Ku-ring-gai is about A$72,800 at the median.
Why is AUD Build on this list?
AUD Build publishes this page and builds on the Upper North Shore: 12 of its group’s 21 homes completed since September 2024 are there. It is listed last and marked “This is us”. Facts about the other seven builders come only from their own websites.
How this list was built, and sources
Selection: builders whose own websites say they build custom homes or knockdown rebuilds on the North Shore or Upper North Shore, or name Ku-ring-gai or Hornsby suburbs, drawn from Google Australia results for Upper North Shore knockdown rebuild and custom home searches on 28 October 2026. Facts come only from each builder’s own website, read on 28 October 2026; the “Best for” column and the questions to ask are AUD Build’s editorial suggestions. Prices, reviews and award claims are not published here. The order is alphabetical, not a ranking.
AUD Build publishes this page and also builds on the Upper North Shore. If a builder’s details have changed, contact AUD Build and the page will be corrected.
Sources: read 28 October 2026