What makes Hoppers Crossing different
From a general store to a suburb
Before the 1960s, Hoppers Crossing was little more than a general store. Residential land was subdivided in 1963 and substantial growth was under way by the early 1970s.
The big boom
The estimated population went from about 8,500 to 40,000 during 1980 to 1994, then settled: 37,003 in 2001 and 37,216 at the 2021 Census.
Long-term owners
At the 2021 Census, 33.9% of occupied homes were owned outright, 37.3% had a mortgage and 26.3% were rented. Owners who've been here for decades often haven't touched the board.
Powercor, fed from Altona
Powercor's Werribee and Hoppers Crossing zone substations are both fed from the Altona terminal station, and its Laverton substation also reaches into the suburb. Faults and fallen lines go to Powercor on 13 24 12.
Why the board matters in a 70s or 80s house
A board fitted when the house was built is now decades old. Boards of that era commonly have rewireable fuses, or a safety switch on the power points and nothing on the lights. That's why a switchboard upgrade is often the first job before air conditioning, an induction cooktop or a car charger.
Then there's the panel itself. Asbestos Victoria says a home built or renovated before 1990 likely contains asbestos, and only a laboratory test of a sample confirms it. WorkSafe Victoria lists pitch-based switchboards such as Zelemite, asbestos cement fuse boards and millboard lining among the places to find it.
If an asbestos mounting panel has to come out, WorkSafe's code says it must be replaced with a non-asbestos one and removed under the asbestos rules. Your electrician generally isn't licensed to do that part.
Signs your Hoppers Crossing board needs attention
- Fuses you pull out and rewire with fuse wire
- A black, brittle or fibrous backing panel
- A breaker or fuse holder that feels warm or smells hot
- No safety switch, or one that only covers the power points
- Scorch marks, buzzing or crackling from the board
- Lights that dim every time the air conditioner starts
If it were our Hoppers Crossing house
We'd have the board and meter panel assessed before buying a new air conditioner or cooktop. If the panel turns out to contain asbestos, plan the removal and the new board as one job, so the house isn't left half done between trades.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.