What's true across the North Shore
One network
Points we tested at Chatswood, North Sydney, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Wahroonga, St Ives, Lane Cove, Mosman and Hornsby all sit inside Ausgrid's published network area. Fault line: 13 13 88.
Ridges, gullies and big trees
Most suburbs sit on the Hornsby Plateau, with steep valleys running down to the harbour and rivers. The 'Leafy North Shore' nickname is earned, with bushland along the Lane Cove River and Middle Harbour.
Half houses, half units
In the ABS North Sydney and Hornsby region in 2021, 46.1% of homes were separate houses and 46.0% were units. 33.8% were rented.
Older than it looks
The railway came in the 1890s and building boomed after the Harbour Bridge opened in 1932. Ku-ring-gai Council points to the area's outstanding range of twentieth-century houses.
Fire has reached the suburbs
In January 1994 homes were lost in Turramurra, Lindfield, Chatswood and Macquarie Park.
Trees and lines: who deals with what
| Who handles it | What Ausgrid says | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A tree on your land near the service wire | You, through an accredited or authorised contractor | Clear the growth up to your boundary. Clearances range from 0.5 to 6m. | |
| A council or neighbour's tree near your wire | Ausgrid | Ausgrid clears the growth to keep your service wire safe. | |
| Private poles and overhead lines on your property | You, through a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider | Owners keep them clear and have them inspected, tested and maintained. | |
| A tree tangled in lines after a storm | Ausgrid, on 13 13 88 | Treat the lines as live. Keep 8 metres away. |
After the storm passes
When storms hit Ku-ring-gai in September 2026, council told residents to call Ausgrid wherever trees and power lines were involved, and to check Ausgrid's outage website for restoration times. Once the network is back, your own side may still need an electrician: a damaged point where the service wire meets the house, a waterlogged outdoor circuit, or a safety switch that won't reset.
Houses or units: the job changes
In an older house, the useful first step is often an inspection to see what's original and what's been patched. In a unit, the first step is working out whether the fault is inside your lot or in common property, because the owners corporation handles the second. For EV chargers in units, NSW currently needs strata approval for a wall charger.
Our pick for North Shore homes
If you live under big trees, we'd look at what's growing near the service wire before storm season, not after. If you're in an older house, we'd get an inspection before any renovation. Tell us your suburb and the job, and we'll match one licence-checked electrician nearby who does that kind of 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.