Most of the early fences in the Toowoomba Region were either:
- timber picket (Illustration 3)
- post-and-rail with timber paling (Illustration 4 and Image 5)
- post-and-rail with chain mesh infill panels (Illustration 5 and Image 6).
Occasionally fences were made of cast iron, palisade, steel ribbon, brick, stucco, or a combination of these. Colours and materials typically matched those of the house.
There were several variations of post-and-rail fences (Illustrations 6 and 7, and Image 7).
Generally, decorative fences were built on the street frontage, while side and rear fences were constructed of cheaper timber paling or strained wire (Image 8).
Gates usually matched the front fence in style and materials (Illustration 8), although steel ribbon gates appear regularly on all styles of fences in the region (Image 9).
Brick fences are most suited to brick homes. Victorian and Edwardian era fences are more likely to have a combination of brick or render and cast iron, rather than solid brick walls (Image 10). Interwar and postwar brick fences are generally solid but low in height, often only 300mm to 600mm high.
Hedges
Hedges are a good alternative to fences for privacy screening. They can be environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing. Although privet has been a traditional hedging plant, it is no longer recommended as it is a weed. Instead, consider planting species such as lilly pilly, photinia or double white may.
Contact us for a copy of our planting guide for water-wise gardeners.