Named in honour of the Wonnarua people
The Wonnarua people are the Traditional Owners of the Country in the Hunter Valley, including Maitland and Cessnock — places where we're privileged to work. The Wonnarua is our sweet-spot design: 70m² of well-planned space that works for aging parents, adult children moving back home, or investors who want a 2-bedroom rental that attracts long-term tenants. It's the design 60% of our clients choose — big enough to feel like a real home, compact enough to fit most suburban blocks without eating the whole backyard.
Technical Specifications
- Internal area: 70m²
- Bedrooms: 2 (both with built-in robes, 3m × 3.2m each)
- Bathrooms: 1 full bathroom (bath + shower, separate toilet)
- Living: Open-plan kitchen/living/dining (32m²)
- Laundry: European-style (washer + dryer space in kitchen joinery)
- Storage: Linen cupboard + external storage cupboard (1.2m wide, plumbed for future outdoor sink)
- Ceiling height: 2.55m throughout (standard residential)
- Energy rating: 6-star (R4.0 ceiling insulation, R2.5 wall batts, 6mm glass windows)
- Heating/cooling: Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning (Daikin or Mitsubishi Electric, 5.0kW output)
- Outdoor: Covered alfresco (9m²) with outdoor power point + TV aerial outlet
What's Included (Standard)
- Full complying development certification (where applicable — see notes below)
- Slab foundation engineered for site (M-class reactive soil rated)
- Hardiplank cladding (Scyon Axon or Stria, your choice of 3 colours: Pale Terracotta, Surf, or Evening Haze)
- Colorbond roof (Monument or Surfmist, 0.48mm BlueScope steel, 22.5° pitch)
- uPVC double-glazed windows (keyed locks, flyscreens to all opening windows)
- Polytec laminate kitchen (soft-close drawers, stone benchtop, 900mm oven + gas cooktop, dishwasher space + plumbing)
- Bathroom inclusions: wall-hung vanity (stone top), frameless shower screen, floor-to-ceiling tiling in shower + bath zone, chrome tapware (Methven Kiri)
- Carpet to bedrooms (Godfrey Hirst Eco+, stain-resistant), hybrid flooring to living/kitchen (AC4 residential-rated, 6mm wear layer)
- LED downlights throughout (90mm, warm white 3000K)
- NBN fibre ready (conduit + internal cabling to 2 data points: living room + master bedroom)
- Hot water: Rheem 250L electric storage (mains pressure, 10-year warranty)
- Fencing to one side (Colorbond, 1.8m high, Monument or Surfmist to match roof), landscaping allowance $2,000 (turf to 50m² + mulch to garden beds)
- Driveway crossover + concrete path to front door (if required — 3m wide × 4.5m long)
Investor Math — The Wonnarua Returns
Build cost: $240,000 (fixed, includes CDC certification where applicable)
Estimated market rent (2026): $420–$450/week (Central Coast / Lake Macquarie 2-bed granny flat median)
Gross rental yield: 9.1% at $420/week ($21,840 annual rent ÷ $240,000 build cost)
Cash-on-cash return (leveraged scenario): If you put down 20% ($48,000) and finance $192,000 at 6.5% interest-only, your annual net cash flow is approximately $9,000 after interest and council rates — an 18.75% return on your $48,000.
Why this works: The Wonnarua sits in the sweet spot where build cost per m² ($3,428/m²) is close to the minimum viable (you're not overpaying for space you don't need), but the absolute rent ($420–450/week) is high enough to cover a mortgage + rates + a bit of profit. Investors choose this design because it attracts quality tenants (couples, single parents, retirees) who stay 2+ years, and the 70m² size means lower council + water rates than The Awabakal (90m²). It's the Goldilocks design: not too big, not too small, just right for cash flow + capital growth.
Rental estimates based on 2026 Central Coast / Lake Macquarie market data (realestate.com.au, Domain.com.au). Your actual rent will vary by location, finish level, and market conditions. Cash-on-cash calculation is indicative only and assumes interest-only loan at 6.5%, council rates $1,600/year, and no other expenses (strata, land tax, maintenance). Speak to your accountant and mortgage broker before making an investment decision. Koori Constructions does not provide financial advice.
Floor Plan
Floor plan illustration coming soon. Layout: Entry opens to open-plan kitchen/living/dining (32m²), kitchen on left wall (4.2m × 2.4m deep, island bench optional upgrade), living/dining flows to covered alfresco (3m × 3m) via sliding glass door. Master bedroom (3m × 3.2m) on right side with built-in robe, bedroom 2 (3m × 3.2m) on left side with built-in robe, shared bathroom (2.4m × 2.1m: bath + shower + vanity, separate toilet 1.2m × 1.5m) between bedrooms. Linen cupboard (900mm wide) in hallway. European laundry (washer/dryer) in kitchen joinery near back door. External storage cupboard (1.2m × 900mm) accessible from alfresco, plumbed for future outdoor sink. Total width 10m, total depth 8.5m including alfresco.
Timeline — 14 Weeks Start to Finish
- Week 0: Contract signed, deposit paid, CDC application lodged (if required)
- Weeks 1–2: CDC approval (10 business days typical), site survey, final engineering, pre-start site meeting
- Weeks 3–4: Slab excavation, formwork, pour, cure (14 days minimum — can't rush concrete)
- Weeks 5–7: Frame erection, roof installation, windows + external doors, Hardiplank cladding, sarking, lockup achieved (end of week 7)
- Weeks 8–11: First fix (electrical, plumbing, insulation, plasterboard), tiling (bathroom floor + walls, kitchen splashback), kitchen installation
- Weeks 12–13: Second fix (paint 3 coats, flooring, joinery, appliances, light fittings, tapware), external works (driveway if required, fencing, landscaping)
- Week 14: Final inspection, snag list rectified, clean, handover walkthrough, Occupation Certificate issued by certifier
Note: This timeline assumes complying development (no DA required). If your council or site requires a full Development Application, add 12–16 weeks to the front end (we'll confirm at quote stage). Weather delays in winter (June–August) can add 1 week. We send you site photos every Friday so you can see progress in real time.
Complying Development — When It Applies
The Wonnarua qualifies for complying development certification (CDC) — a 10-business-day approval instead of a 3–6 month DA — in most Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, and Hunter residential zones (R2, R3, RU5), provided your site meets these criteria:
- Minimum lot size 450m² (check your title — some pre-1980 subdivisions are 300m² and don't qualify)
- No flood, bushfire, heritage, or contamination overlays (we check this for you using council's online mapping + a site visit)
- Total site coverage (existing house + new granny flat + any sheds) under 60% of lot area
- Granny flat setback: minimum 900mm from side + rear boundaries (we recommend 1m to be safe)
- One granny flat per lot (you can't build two)
- Sewer connection available (if you're on septic, CDC doesn't apply — you'll need a DA + septic upgrade)
If your site doesn't meet CDC criteria (e.g. flood overlay, lot too small, no sewer), we'll lodge a full DA on your behalf. DA path adds $8,000–$12,000 to the build cost (council + certifier fees, consultant reports if required) and 12–16 weeks to the timeline. Either way, you'll know exactly what path applies before you sign the contract — we don't quote a price until we've done the checks.
Our promise: No surprises. If we quote you $240k CDC price and it turns out your site needs a DA, we wear that cost — you still pay $240k. (This has happened twice in 4 years. We budget for it.)
Why Families + Investors Choose The Wonnarua
- Perfect for aging parents: 2 bedrooms means privacy (one for sleeping, one for hobbies/storage/visiting grandkids). The separate toilet is a game-changer for older people who don't want to share a bathroom with guests.
- Adult children moving home: 70m² is big enough that your 25-year-old feels like they have their own place, not like they're living in your backyard shed. The European laundry + full kitchen means they're genuinely self-sufficient.
- Highest ROI for investors: At $240k build cost and $420/week rent, The Wonnarua pays itself off faster than any other design in our library. The $3,428/m² build cost is the sweet spot — below this you're sacrificing liveability (tenants leave sooner), above this you're paying for space that doesn't increase rent proportionally.
- Fits most blocks: 10m × 8.5m footprint (including alfresco) means it works on a typical 15m-wide suburban lot with 3m side setback to the house + 1m to the boundary. You still have backyard left over.
- Fast build: 14 weeks is realistic because there's no complex roofline, no 3rd bedroom to frame + plaster, no second bathroom to tile. Investors who want rental income by Christmas 2026 choose this design because the timeline is achievable even if they start in September.
- Built by mob: Koori Constructions is 100% Aboriginal-owned (Dunghutti + Wiradjuri). Every dollar you spend supports an Indigenous business that trains Aboriginal apprentices and works on Country. That story matters to your tenants — and to your own family's values.
Optional Upgrades (Popular Choices)
- Kitchen island bench (900mm × 2.4m, stone waterfall ends, 3 pendant lights) — $4,800 (makes the kitchen feel twice as big, increases rent by $10–15/week)
- Gas instantaneous hot water (Rinnai Infinity 26, replaces electric storage) — $900 (saves $35/month in running costs, tenants love it)
- Stone benchtop in bathroom (instead of laminate vanity top) — $600
- 2-pac painted kitchen (instead of Polytec laminate doors) — $2,400 (looks like a $500k house kitchen)
- Engineered timber flooring (instead of hybrid, 14mm European Oak) — $3,800
- Extended alfresco (increase from 9m² to 15m², add outdoor kitchen prep: sink + BBQ gas + power) — $5,200
- Solar package (5kW system, 20 panels, string inverter) — $6,500 (pays for itself in 5 years, increases rent by $10/week because tenants' power bills are lower)
- Carport (single Colorbond carport, 3m × 6m, matches roof colour) — $7,500 (increases rent by $15–20/week in areas where street parking is tight)
All upgrades are quoted upfront and locked into the fixed-price contract. The kitchen island + gas hot water + solar combo is our most popular investor upgrade package (adds $12,200 to build cost, increases rent by $30–40/week, ROI in under 2 years). The carport is popular in Lake Mac + Newcastle suburbs where off-street parking adds serious rental appeal.
How It Works — From Enquiry to Handover
- Enquiry: Fill in the form below or call Brad direct on 0448 368 354. We'll have a 20-minute phone conversation to understand your site, timeline, and whether The Wonnarua suits your needs (or if another design is a better fit).
- Site visit + quote: We visit your property (free, no obligation within our service area), measure the site, check services (sewer, water, power access), confirm CDC eligibility using council mapping, and provide a written fixed-price quote within 3 business days. Quote is valid for 60 days.
- Contract: If you accept the quote, we send you a standard HIA Residential Building Contract (NSW edition), customised to The Wonnarua scope. You have 5 business days cooling-off by law. Deposit is 5% on contract signature, balance paid in progress payments (slab, frame, lockup, fixing, practical completion).
- Approvals: We lodge the CDC application (or DA if required) and manage the entire approval process. You don't deal with council or certifiers — we do. Approval typically takes 10 business days for CDC, 12–16 weeks for DA.
- Build: 14 weeks from slab pour to handover. We send you site photos every Friday arvo. You're welcome to visit site anytime during business hours (just text Brad first so we can make sure it's safe — no liability if you rock up unannounced and trip over formwork).
- Handover: Final inspection with you present, snag list noted (usually 3–5 minor items like a paint touch-up or a loose door handle), rectified within 5 business days, final clean, Occupation Certificate issued by our private certifier, keys + manuals + warranties handed over. You get a 12-month workmanship warranty on top of the statutory 6-year major defects warranty.
Ready to Build The Wonnarua?
Fill in the form below or call Brad Robinson direct on 0448 368 354 to book your free site visit + fixed-price quote. We'll have a written quote to you within 3 business days, and we'll tell you upfront whether your site qualifies for the fast 10-day CDC approval or needs a full DA (so you can plan your timeline accurately).
Current lead time: 7 weeks from contract signature to slab pour (we're booking builds into late September 2026). If you want your parents moved in before Christmas, or your tenant paying rent by January 2027, now's the time to get your quote.