Quick answer: Backyard fences around Moreton Bay went from chain wire, to timber, to powder coated steel from the mid 1990s. Aluminium took over pool barriers and front fences, and batten styles are the newest arrivals. Colours moved from earthy browns and greens, to greens and creams with black frames, to Coke and Slate Grey over the last ten years, and our team expects lighter colours such as Off White and Gull Grey to come next.
We asked the people on our team who have lived in this area all their lives what they have seen change, and added what we see across the counter at our Deception Bay warehouse every week. It is local experience rather than a market study, but it is a useful guide if you are choosing a fence style or colour today.
From Chain Wire to Privacy
Chain wire was the affordable option, and for a long time it was the only one most households considered. The drawback was obvious: you could see into everyone's backyard. As people wanted more privacy, they moved to tall solid fences. Timber was plentiful in Queensland, which helped it spread, and from the mid 1990s powder coated steel started to take over.
Powder Coated Steel Arrives
Steel privacy fencing solved the things timber struggles with in this climate: it does not rot, there is nothing in it for termites to eat, and the finish does not need repainting. Today it is the default for many Moreton Bay boundaries. We supply GramLine® steel fencing, and we are Brisbane's only authorised GramLine® stockist. If you are weighing it against Colorbond®, our guide to GramLine® vs Colorbond® explains the difference.
How Fence Colours Changed
Colour is where the change is easiest to see. These are GramLine® colour names, in the order our team remembers them arriving:
- The first colours: Bowral Brown, Picton Green and Ironbark. Earthy tones that sat quietly beside brick houses and bush backyards.
- Greens and creams with black frames: Caulfield Green, then creams such as Primrose and Merino, usually with black frames.
- The last ten years: Coke, Dark Smoke and Slate Grey. Dark, modern and neutral. Coke is the colour our team sees ordered most today.
- What is coming next: lighter colours such as Off White and Gull Grey.
Why lighter? Our team gives two reasons. Blocks are getting smaller, and a light fence can make a small yard feel bigger. Light colours also help with heat, which matters in this part of Queensland. There is a third pattern too: fence colours tend to follow roof colours, and we are seeing a lot of white roofs go up now. If you are matching a fence to a house, our guide on matching your fence colour to your home is a good next read.
We keep the popular colours in stock (Coke, Slate Grey, Off White, Primrose, Merino, Black, Dark Smoke, Gull Grey, Caulfield Green, Mocca, Mountain Blue, Blue Rock and Mist Green). Any other colour, such as Bowral Brown, can be ordered on our next delivery, which is usually every two to two and a half weeks. The full range is in our steel fence colour guide.
Who Builds the Fence Has Changed Too
Our team says it used to be around half DIY and half fencing contractors buying from us. In the last ten years DIY has dropped off, and more contractors than DIYers now buy from us. People have less time, or they simply do not want to do the work themselves any more. We supply the materials rather than install, and we can point you to local installers who work with our products regularly.
Aluminium: Pools, Slats and Battens
Pool fences. Pool safety rules are a big reason aluminium spread. Queensland tightened them in stages: new pools from 1 December 2009, existing pools from 1 December 2010, and by 1 December 2015 every pool had to meet one standard, the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 3.4. Among other things it asks for a barrier at least 1.2 m high with a non-climbable zone around it. Our team remembers flat-top aluminium becoming the usual pool fence as the rules tightened, and it is easy to see why: it does not rust, and closely spaced bars suit a barrier meant to keep small children out. Check the current rules with the Queensland Government pool safety pages before you build, and see our pool fencing page for what we supply.
Slat fences. In the last ten years vertical and horizontal slat fences have turned up in front yards, replacing older iron fences. They suit the look people want now, and aluminium does not rust.
Batten fences. In the last five years, radiata-style batten fences and gates, which we call RAD batten, have taken off with customers who want a more modern look. You can see current examples, including a curved RAD batten fence made to an architect's design, on our aluminium fencing page and in the project gallery.
Near the coast. GramLine's 10-year warranty does not apply within 1 km of a marine or corrosive industrial environment, so most coastal homes choose aluminium, which does not rust.
Commercial and Security Fencing
Commercial sites used to be chain wire as well. Today the focus is security. Our team sees Zeus-style fencing across the front of a site, often with steel or Colorbond® fencing along the sides and back. Zeus comes in black only, in steel or aluminium. Steel is the more popular heavy-duty choice. Aluminium is used where appearance matters more, such as schools and shopping precincts, along with aluminium Zeus-style sliding gates. See our security and industrial fencing page.
What This Means If You Are Choosing a Fence
- Look at your roof first. Fence colours tend to follow roof colours, and lighter roofs are becoming common.
- On a small block, consider a lighter colour. It can make the yard feel bigger and it helps with heat.
- Near the coast, plan on aluminium. Steel within 1 km of a marine environment is outside the GramLine® warranty.
- Around a pool, build to the current Queensland standard. Aluminium pool panels are made for it.
- Want a colour we do not hold? Order early, because our next delivery is usually every two to two and a half weeks.
Send us the length of your fence, the height you want and the colour through our quote form, and we will price the materials. You can also read about Accolade Fencing and how we work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular fence colours in Moreton Bay?
Right now our team sees Coke ordered most, followed by Slate Grey. Lighter colours such as Off White and Gull Grey are the ones we expect to grow, as blocks get smaller and roofs get lighter.
When did steel fences become common in Moreton Bay?
Our team says powder coated steel fencing started appearing in the mid 1990s and gradually replaced chain wire and timber on many backyard boundaries.
Why are aluminium fences used around pools?
Queensland's pool safety standard sets requirements such as a barrier at least 1.2 m high and a non-climbable zone, and aluminium pool panels are made to meet it. Aluminium also does not rust, which suits a fence that has to last next to a pool.
Should my fence match my roof?
There is no rule, but fence colours tend to follow roof colours. If your roof is light, a light fence colour usually looks right, and if it is dark, Coke, Dark Smoke or Slate Grey are common matches.
Do I need aluminium near the coast?
Within 1 km of a marine or corrosive industrial environment the GramLine® 10-year warranty does not apply, so most coastal homes choose aluminium, which does not rust.
