About 5J Building Group
Kew is a suburb we know first-hand: 5J Building Group has completed renovation projects here, as well as in neighbouring Balwyn. We're a registered domestic builder with more than 20 years of Melbourne experience, and we're comfortable working on homes where quality and detail really matter.
Kew is often described as one of Melbourne's most prestigious suburbs, with some of the city's highest resale values. Its streets hold exceptional Victorian and Edwardian homes, particularly around the Sackville Ward, alongside interwar and contemporary houses, and it's close to Kew Junction, Yarra Bend Park and some of Melbourne's best-known schools.
We plan renovations that suit the home's era and setting, from a new kitchen and family room at the rear to a full internal rebuild, with the finish quality Kew homes deserve. Heritage and tree checks, design, permits and construction are all managed by us, and the initial consultation is free.
Why 5J
Two decades of renovating Melbourne homes means we know which materials suit which rooms, and where projects typically run into trouble.
Registered Domestic Builder (Unlimited), CDB-U 73492. You're dealing with an accountable, licensed builder, not a middleman.
We organise all the contractors and they work for us. They're vetted, professional and respectful of your home.
Every job starts with a free, customised quote built around your budget. What we quote is what you pay for.
Our project managers monitor every stage so your renovation is delivered on schedule and within the agreed budget.
You'll hear from us every week on progress. Change your mind on a finish? Tell us and we'll work it in.
Our services
Whether it's one room or the whole house, we handle design, approvals and construction under one contract.
Full-house renovations that modernise layout, finishes and function, including landscaping, driveways and fencing.
Learn more →Ground-floor and second-storey extensions that add space for a growing family without the cost of moving.
Learn more →Classic, modern and French provincial kitchens designed around how your family actually cooks and gathers.
Learn more →Ensuites, family bathrooms and laundries, from waterproofing and tiling through to final fit-off.
Learn more →Land selection, feasibility, planning, permits and construction for a brand-new home on your block.
Learn more →Self-contained small second dwellings, prefabricated or built on site, for family, guests or rental income.
Learn more →Recent work
A selection of recent 5J renovations in Kew and across Melbourne.
Reviews
Real 5-star reviews from 5J Building Group customers on Word of Mouth.
Jason is a top gun for renovations, he does a great job and is good with communications
I recommend Jason to everyone who needs a renovation done on their family or investment home...
I just wrapped up a 4-month renovation project with Jason. When I decided to renovate last year, I contacted a lot of builders, and Jason was the only one who could provide a quote on the same day. His promptness and professionalism really impressed me. As expected, he made the whole process smooth and stress-free.
Jason kept me in the loop with regular updates and was quick to answer any questions I had. His transparency and willingness to work together made me feel confident and involved. He also pointed out potential issues with my house, helping me avoid future troubles. Effective communication on every detail was crucial for me, as it saved my energy. I worked with Jason's team as if they were my own, and they treated my home with respect.
I highly recommend 5J Building Group to anyone looking to construct or renovate. Their dedication to quality and customer satisfaction truly stands out.
Jason's team is extremely knowledgeable and helpful, it is a delight to work with them.I highly recommend 5J BUILDING GROUP
Jason was extremely professional to deal with
Communication was very honest and upfront
The entire process went smoothly and problem free
Would happily engage in Jason’s Buisness again in the future
Rated 5.0 ★ on Word of Mouth. Read all our reviews
About the area
Kew sits about 6 km east of the Melbourne CBD in the City of Boroondara, bounded by the Yarra River to the west and north. Kew Junction has been its commercial heart since the 1850s–1880s, and Yarra Bend Park is close by.
With so many significant homes, heritage overlays and Boroondara's tree controls are part of most Kew renovations. Well-planned extensions that respect the original house and its garden tend to add the most value here.
| Postcode | VIC 3101 |
|---|---|
| Council | City of Boroondara |
| Distance to CBD | Approx. 6 km east |
| Area | 10.5 km² |
| Population | 24,499 (2021 Census) |
| State electorate | Kew |
| Federal division | Kooyong |
| Neighbouring suburbs | Alphington, Fairfield, Kew East, Balwyn, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Abbotsford |
We also renovate across nearby suburbs including Hawthorn, Balwyn, Canterbury and Bulleen. See all suburbs we service.
Local planning
Kew is in the City of Boroondara, so renovations are assessed under the Boroondara Planning Scheme and Victoria's building regulations. These are the controls we check most often before designing a Kew renovation.
Your zone and any overlays decide which rules apply. Boroondara offers a free planning enquiry tool, myLot, and you can also look up your property on VicPlan. Council's alter or extend your house guide explains what each result means. We check this before design starts.
In Boroondara's residential zones, extending a house needs a planning permit if the lot is under 300 m², or if an overlay applies, such as a Heritage Overlay, Land Subject to Inundation Overlay, Environmental Significance Overlay, most Design and Development Overlays, or a Significant Landscape Overlay where the building is over 6 m. Structural work also needs a building permit from a registered building surveyor, which we arrange.
Many Kew homes are in a Heritage Overlay. Boroondara says this doesn't prohibit renovating, but most changes need a planning permit (repairs and maintenance aside), and your home's heritage grading affects how Council assesses it. Extensions that keep the street-facing character and add space at the rear are usually the smoothest path.
Boroondara's Tree Protection Local Law protects canopy trees on private land with a trunk circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.4 m above ground (or 150 cm at ground level). A permit is needed to remove one, even if it's dead or a weed species, and for works within 2 m of its trunk. Victoria's canopy tree rules (Clause 52.37) can also apply near your front and rear boundaries.
Planning rules change and every property is different, so treat this as a general guide rather than planning advice. We confirm the controls for your address as part of your free quote.
FAQs
It depends on the work and your property. In Boroondara, extending a house needs a planning permit if the lot is under 300 m² or if an overlay applies, and heritage overlays are common. Structural work also needs a building permit. We check your property's zone and overlays early and manage the permits as part of the job.
In Kew, buyers pay for quality and character. Updating the kitchen, bathrooms and living areas, improving the connection to the garden and respecting the home's original features usually adds the most value. We'll talk through options and costs on site so you can decide where to invest.
Often, yes. Under Boroondara's Tree Protection Local Law, you need a permit to remove a canopy tree with a trunk circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.4 m above ground, even if it's dead, and for works within 2 m of its trunk. We check your trees at the design stage and build any permit into your timeline.
Every home is different, so we quote each job individually after an on-site visit. As a general guide, many homeowners aim to spend around 5–10% of their property's value on a renovation. Our quotes are free, tailored to your budget and have no hidden costs.
It depends on the scope. A kitchen and two bathrooms typically take 4–8 weeks, larger renovations usually take 2–4 months, and extensions or new builds can take up to 10 months. We give you a clear timeline with your quote.
Yes. We renovate across Boroondara and the surrounding suburbs, including Hawthorn, Balwyn, Canterbury and Bulleen. You get the same team, the same trades and the same free on-site quote wherever you are.
5J Blog
Book a free on-site quote. We'll come to your Kew home, look at its heritage and tree controls and give you a renovation plan built around your budget.
