West Melbourne
Blocked, burst or leaking in West Melbourne?
Blocked drains, burst pipes and leaks in West Melbourne, from the early cottage streets to the old Dudley Flats, passed to a licensed plumber day and night.
Plumbing in West Melbourne
Early allotments, warehouses and a buried lagoon
West Melbourne began as part of the Parkside township, its town allotments put up for sale in September 1852 and settled quickly. Surviving cottages from those early decades are likely to have earthenware drains repaired in every era since, so the line is filmed before a price is given.
Council describes wide streets, heritage cottages and industrial buildings as the area's character. Where an old cottage stands beside a warehouse or converted factory, drains may be shared or pass under the next site, so the drainage plan and ownership are confirmed before anyone digs.
The western ground was low-lying, with a lagoon about 1 km across, fed by the Moonee Ponds watercourse and a stream from Parkville. That old floor drains slowly in heavy rain, and backflow protection and pit levels are checked before a private drain gets the blame.
Jobs in West Melbourne
Cottage drains and shared industrial lines
CCTV drain inspection
A camera to trace a cottage drain that may run under a neighbouring warehouse.
Blocked drains
Old earthenware lines with repairs from every era, and sagging joints on filled ground.
Commercial plumbing
Warehouses, workshops and converted industrial buildings, with the drainage plan checked first.
What it costs: hot water replacement cost, gutter replacement cost, toilet installation cost
West Melbourne questions
Swamp fill, tip ground and heritage places
Why do drains sag on the old swamp ground?
The West Melbourne swamp took waste water from the suburbs upstream until it was drained and filled, and its southern part later became the Dudley Flats tip. Filled ground settles and can hold old waste, so drains crossing it are prone to sagging joints and any dig allows for soft or contaminated spoil.
Can a newly listed building need a permit for downpipes?
Yes. A planning scheme amendment brought in the West Melbourne Heritage Review 2016 and added new heritage places. Before visible roof plumbing or downpipes are replaced, the current overlay is checked, which can add lead time.
Who owns a drain shared by a cottage and a warehouse?
That depends on the drainage plan, not on where the pipe looks like it goes. The plan and the owners are settled first, so the quote covers only the length that belongs to you.
