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Builder comparison · Hornsby Shire

Best home builders in Hornsby Shire (2026): nine compared

Nine builders whose own websites say they build in Hornsby Shire, compared on what each one publishes, with the local rules that shape a new home. AUD Build publishes this page and is one of the nine; its row is marked “This is us”.

By XLGUpdated: 2026-10-28Facts from each builder’s own websitePublished by AUD Build

Short answer

In Hornsby Shire, owners often compare Sarelle Homes, which has its offices in Waitara, with Clover Homes, Marvel Homes and Refined Group for custom homes and knockdown rebuilds; G.J. Gardner Homes, Homestead Homes and Wisdom Homes for design ranges and long track records; and Patterson Built for luxury homes in the Hornsby and Hills district. AUD Build (this is us) has completed 4 homes in the Shire through its group’s building companies since September 2024, in Beecroft, Westleigh, Hornsby and Mount Colah. Hornsby Shire Council averaged 96 days to assess a DA in September 2026; since 31 October 2025 a dual occupancy needs 700–800 m² outside heritage conservation areas and 800–900 m² inside them, and the Council says 34% of properties are bushfire-prone.

Building in Hornsby Shire: local figures

ItemFigureSource
CouncilHornsby Shire Council[1]
Average DA assessment time96 days (September 2026; 97 days in August, 91 in July)[2]
Median weekly house rent, new bondsA$975 across the Shire (A$1,195 for 4+ bedrooms); A$890 in 2077 Hornsby, A$963 in 2120 Westleigh, A$1,150 in 2119 Beecroft and A$850 in 2079 Mount Colah (the last two small samples), April–June 2026[3]
HeritageHornsby LEP 2013 has 8 heritage conservation areas, including Beecroft–Cheltenham, three Hornsby West Side precincts, Wahroonga and Wahroonga North; complying development generally cannot be used in them[4] [5]
Dual occupancySince 31 October 2025: 700 m² (attached) or 800 m² (detached) outside heritage conservation areas, 800 m² or 900 m² inside; heritage-listed, bushfire-prone and some flood-prone land excluded[1] [6]
Housing reformsLow and mid-rise housing areas around Asquith, Hornsby station, Pennant Hills, Thornleigh and Waitara station; Hornsby is one of 8 TOD accelerated precincts[7] [8]
Bushfire34% of the Shire’s properties (19,804) are bushfire-prone, says the Council; a CDC is not available at BAL-40 or in the Flame Zone[9] [5]
Before you demolishThe new home must be approved first; houses built before 1987 need licensed asbestos removal[10] [11]

At-a-glance comparison

BuilderBest forWhat it buildsArea (in the builder’s words)
Clover HomesOwners planning a duplex, knockdown rebuild or custom home who want the builder to handle Hornsby Council approvals.Duplexes, knockdown rebuilds, custom homesHas a Hornsby page and lists Beecroft, Cheltenham, Waitara and nearby suburbs
G.J. Gardner Homes (Hornsby)Owners who want off-the-plan or custom designs, or a knockdown rebuild, through a franchise serving Hornsby.Off-the-plan and custom homes, knockdown rebuilds, house and land“The G.J. Gardner Homes franchise servicing Hornsby”; its list includes Mount Colah
Homestead HomesOwners who want a long-established custom builder that handles council approvals.Custom homesServes Hornsby and names Wahroonga, Asquith, Mount Colah, Thornleigh and Pennant Hills
Marvel HomesOwners who want an engineer-led custom builder working to Passive House standards.Custom homes, including Passive House“builds across Hornsby Shire Council”, naming Hornsby, Beecroft, Cheltenham and Wahroonga
Patterson BuiltOwners in the Hornsby and Hills district who want a family-owned luxury builder that also does renovations, extensions and pools.Luxury new homes, knockdown rebuilds, renovations, extensions, poolsLists Hornsby with Kenthurst, Dural, the Hills and Hawkesbury
Refined GroupOwners who want the house, pool and garden built by one team, with demolition included in a knockdown rebuild.Custom homes, knockdown rebuilds, pools and gardensHas a Westleigh page (custom homes) and a Cherrybrook page (knockdown rebuilds)
Sarelle HomesOwners who want a local, designer-led custom home, knockdown rebuild or luxury duplex, with offices inside the Shire.Custom homes, knockdown rebuilds, luxury duplexes, complex sites“We’re local Hornsby builders”; lists Beecroft, Hornsby, Mt Colah and Westleigh
Wisdom HomesOwners who want a knockdown rebuild from a volume builder’s design ranges, with a structural guarantee.Knockdown rebuilds and new homes from design rangesHas a knockdown rebuild page for Hornsby 2077
AUD Build · This is usHornsby Shire owners who want design, materials, construction, sales and lending coordinated by one company, with material unit prices they can check.New homes, knockdown rebuilds, custom and luxury homes, duplexes, granny flats, renovations and extensions4 of its group’s 21 homes completed since September 2024 are in Hornsby Shire: Beecroft, Westleigh, Hornsby and Mount Colah

Facts from each builder’s website, read 28 October 2026. Alphabetical order, not a ranking. AUD Build publishes this page.

The 9 builders compared

1. Clover Homes

Best for: Owners planning a duplex, knockdown rebuild or custom home who want the builder to handle Hornsby Council approvals.

What its website says:

  • Says it builds duplexes, knockdown rebuilds and custom homes in Hornsby and surrounding suburbs including Beecroft, Waitara, Wahroonga and Cheltenham.
  • Says it handles approvals with Hornsby Shire Council, and builds duplexes on R2-zoned blocks outside the TOD precinct.
  • Says its founders bring a combined 40-plus years of experience and its director is a licensed builder; office in Concord.

Area: Has a Hornsby page and lists Beecroft, Cheltenham, Waitara and nearby suburbs

Sources: [12] [13]

2. G.J. Gardner Homes (Hornsby)

Best for: Owners who want off-the-plan or custom designs, or a knockdown rebuild, through a franchise serving Hornsby.

What its website says:

  • Has a page for the franchise servicing Hornsby, whose suburb list includes Hornsby and Mount Colah.
  • Says the team specialises in off-the-plan homes, custom designs, knockdown rebuilds and house and land packages.
  • Says it has over 30 years of combined building experience; this franchise page shows Builder’s Licence No. 274553C and a Dural office.

Area: “The G.J. Gardner Homes franchise servicing Hornsby”; its list includes Mount Colah

Sources: [14]

3. Homestead Homes

Best for: Owners who want a long-established custom builder that handles council approvals.

What its website says:

  • Has a Hornsby page and says it serves areas beyond Hornsby including Wahroonga, Asquith, Mount Colah, Thornleigh and Pennant Hills.
  • Says it was established by Rod Linder over 35 years ago.
  • Says it handles the paperwork, council approvals and legal details; office in Bella Vista.

Area: Serves Hornsby and names Wahroonga, Asquith, Mount Colah, Thornleigh and Pennant Hills

Sources: [15]

4. Marvel Homes

Best for: Owners who want an engineer-led custom builder working to Passive House standards.

What its website says:

  • Says it builds across Hornsby Shire, including Hornsby, Beecroft, Cheltenham, Cherrybrook, Waitara, Normanhurst, Pennant Hills and Wahroonga, and shows a completed SIPs custom home in Pennant Hills.
  • Where Passive House is the target, it models the home in PHPP and verifies it with blower-door testing and third-party PHI certification.
  • Describes a team of two engineers and two licensed builders; its website shows Builder Licence #330031C.

Area: “builds across Hornsby Shire Council”, naming Hornsby, Beecroft, Cheltenham and Wahroonga

Sources: [16] [17]

5. Patterson Built

Best for: Owners in the Hornsby and Hills district who want a family-owned luxury builder that also does renovations, extensions and pools.

What its website says:

  • Says it designs and builds luxury new homes, renovations, extensions, knockdown rebuilds and custom pools across Kenthurst, Dural, the Hills, Hornsby and nearby areas.
  • Says it has delivered luxury custom homes since 2014.
  • Its website shows Builders License 277084C.

Area: Lists Hornsby with Kenthurst, Dural, the Hills and Hawkesbury

Sources: [18] [19]

6. Refined Group

Best for: Owners who want the house, pool and garden built by one team, with demolition included in a knockdown rebuild.

What its website says:

  • Has a Westleigh page for custom homes, pools and gardens, and says it manages demolition, site preparation, construction and landscaping.
  • Says it began as a family landscaping business in 2005 and caps the number of projects it takes each year.
  • Its website shows NSW builder licence 263394C; based in Bella Vista.

Area: Has a Westleigh page (custom homes) and a Cherrybrook page (knockdown rebuilds)

Sources: [20] [21] [22]

7. Sarelle Homes

Best for: Owners who want a local, designer-led custom home, knockdown rebuild or luxury duplex, with offices inside the Shire.

What its website says:

  • Describes itself as a local Hornsby builder and lists 17 suburbs it services, including Beecroft, Hornsby, Mt Colah and Westleigh.
  • Offers custom design, knockdown rebuilds, luxury duplexes and complex and difficult sites; its offices are in Waitara.
  • Says it builds approximately 40 homes each year and has a display home in West Pennant Hills.

Area: “We’re local Hornsby builders”; lists Beecroft, Hornsby, Mt Colah and Westleigh

Sources: [23] [24]

8. Wisdom Homes

Best for: Owners who want a knockdown rebuild from a volume builder’s design ranges, with a structural guarantee.

What its website says:

  • Has a knockdown rebuild page for Hornsby 2077.
  • Backs its homes with a 25-year structural guarantee.
  • Has its nearest display centre at West Pymble and a Canvas Quarter selection centre. Its suburb pages use one template.

Area: Has a knockdown rebuild page for Hornsby 2077

Sources: [25] [26]

9. AUD Build · This is us

Best for: Hornsby Shire 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, building materials, new-home sales and lending together in one company, backed by AUD Build Group; NSW Builder Licence 475778C.
  • AUD Build Group building companies have completed 4 homes in Hornsby Shire since September 2024, counted by occupation certificate date: one each in Beecroft, Westleigh, Hornsby and Mount Colah.
  • Builds new homes, knockdown rebuilds, custom and luxury homes, duplexes and granny flats, and carries out renovations and extensions.
  • 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.

Area: 4 of its group’s 21 homes completed since September 2024 are in Hornsby Shire: Beecroft, Westleigh, Hornsby and Mount Colah

Sources: [27] [28] [29]

Where other builders may suit you better

  • Local, designer-led custom homes: Sarelle Homes (offices in Waitara, display home in West Pennant Hills).
  • Duplexes with Hornsby approvals handled: Clover Homes; Sarelle Homes also builds luxury duplexes.
  • Passive House and engineer-led builds: Marvel Homes.
  • House, pool and garden from one team: Refined Group and Patterson Built.
  • Design ranges and long track records, as each states: Homestead Homes (over 35 years), G.J. Gardner Homes and Wisdom Homes (25-year structural guarantee).
  • Design, materials, construction, sales and lending from one company, with material prices you can check: AUD Build.

How to choose

  1. Check whether the lot is in one of the Shire’s 8 heritage conservation areas and whether it is bushfire-prone; both change the approval path and the build.
  2. For a duplex, check the 700–900 m² minimums, or whether the lot is in a low and mid-rise housing area or the Hornsby TOD precinct.
  3. Ask every builder to quote on the same drawings and compare inclusions line by line with the inclusions checklist.
  4. Check the licence on Verify NSW and the HBC certificate before you pay a deposit.

Questions

Who are the best home builders in Hornsby Shire?

It depends on the brief. For a local designer-led custom home, owners often compare Sarelle Homes; for duplexes and knockdown rebuilds, Clover Homes; for Passive House, Marvel Homes; for a house, pool and garden from one team, Refined Group and Patterson Built; for design ranges, G.J. Gardner Homes, Homestead Homes and Wisdom Homes. AUD Build suits owners who want design, materials, construction, sales and lending coordinated by one company.

How long does a DA take in Hornsby?

Hornsby Shire Council averaged 96 days to assess a development application in the NSW Government’s September 2026 council league table, after 97 days in August and 91 in July.

What is the minimum lot size for a duplex in Hornsby?

Since 31 October 2025, 700 m² for an attached dual occupancy and 800 m² for a detached one outside heritage conservation areas, and 800 m² or 900 m² inside them, according to Hornsby Shire Council. Heritage-listed, bushfire-prone and some flood-prone land is excluded.

Is my Hornsby block bushfire-prone?

Possibly: the Council says 34% of properties in the Shire are on bushfire-prone land, and the state bushfire map covers parts of Beecroft, Hornsby, Westleigh and Mount Colah. Check the planning certificate for your lot; a CDC is not available at BAL-40 or in the Flame Zone.

Why is AUD Build on this list?

AUD Build publishes this page and builds in Hornsby Shire: its group’s building companies have completed 4 homes there since September 2024. It is listed last and marked “This is us”. Facts about the other eight builders come only from their own websites.

How this list was built

Selection: builders whose own websites say they build in Hornsby Shire or name its suburbs, drawn from Google Australia results for Hornsby builder searches on 28 October 2026. Directories and Buildana are excluded. Facts come only from each builder’s own website, read on 28 October 2026; “Best for” is AUD Build’s editorial summary of those facts. Prices, reviews and award claims are not published. The order is alphabetical, not a ranking. Council websites blocked automated reading, so heritage areas and bushfire mapping come from NSW Government spatial data and council planning papers. AUD Build publishes this page; if a builder’s details have changed, contact AUD Build and the page will be corrected.

Sources (all read 28 October 2026)

  1. Hornsby Shire Council, Dual occupancy DCP provisions (Your Say)
  2. NSW Government, Council league table (September 2026 snapshot, as of 9 October 2026)
  3. NSW DCJ, Rent tables June 2026 quarter (new bonds, houses)
  4. NSW Planning Portal spatial data, EPI heritage layer (heritage conservation areas)
  5. NSW DPHI, Guide to complying development (revised August 2023)
  6. Hornsby Shire Council, Minimum lot size nomination for dual occupancy (13 February 2025)
  7. NSW DPHI, Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy: site selection (updated 21 March 2025)
  8. NSW DPHI, Transport Oriented Development accelerated precincts (updated 1 April 2026)
  9. Hornsby Shire Council, Sustainable and resilient community (Your Say)
  10. NSW Planning Portal, Knockdown and rebuild considerations
  11. NSW Planning Portal, Complying development: demolition (updated 30 April 2025)
  12. Clover Homes, Where we build: Hornsby
  13. Clover Homes, Why Clover Homes
  14. G.J. Gardner Homes, Home builders Hornsby
  15. Homestead Homes, Home builders Hornsby
  16. Marvel Homes, Custom home builders Hornsby
  17. Marvel Homes, About
  18. Patterson Built, Where we build
  19. Patterson Built, Custom home builders
  20. Refined Group, Home builder Westleigh
  21. Refined Group, Home builder Cherrybrook
  22. Refined Group, About us
  23. Sarelle Homes, Hornsby district
  24. Sarelle Homes, FAQs
  25. Wisdom Homes, Knockdown rebuild in Hornsby
  26. Wisdom Homes, Hornsby build area page
  27. AUD Build, Completed homes (updated 22 October 2026)
  28. AUD Build, Company facts
  29. AUD Build, Material price comparison