How Maroubra was built
Beach blocks from 1911
On Australia Day 1911, 60 waterside blocks were auctioned as the Surf Bathers Estate, and the tram reached the beach in 1921.
The Coral Sea estate
The NSW Housing Commission took over the old Maroubra Speedway in 1947. Building of the Coral Sea estate began in 1951 and it opened in 1961.
A genuine mix
Of Maroubra's 11,992 occupied homes in 2021, 29.6% were houses, 20.9% were semis or townhouses and 48.5% were units. 42.5% were rented.
Ausgrid network
Maroubra is inside Ausgrid's network area: 13 13 88 for outages and fallen lines.
Signs a 1950s home needs attention
- Fuses rather than circuit breakers, or a board with no safety switch.
- A dark backing board. Boards made before 1987 can contain asbestos.
- Power points that are loose, discoloured or warm.
- Lights that dim when the kettle or heater goes on.
- A safety switch that trips at random, especially after rain.
Getting a post-war home up to date
NSW Fair Trading strongly recommends that homes built before 2000 have a licensed electrician check whether safety switches are fitted. In a 1950s house, that check often turns into a switchboard upgrade, which is also the point to add capacity for an induction cooktop, air conditioning or a car charger.
If the board might contain asbestos, the electrician will tell you how they'll handle it. Some old fuses carry asbestos inside the carrier, which is a job for a licensed removalist.
Units and rentals
In a strata block, common lighting and the main switchroom are the owners corporation's to fix. Tenants with a fault should tell the landlord or agent in writing: in NSW it's an urgent repair.
Where we'd focus
In an original Maroubra house, we'd start at the switchboard, because nearly every other upgrade depends on it. Tell us your postcode and what's going on, and we'll match one licence-checked local electrician who does switchboard and rewiring work.
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.