Case Study: Thirroul Family Home — Keeping the Family Close

This is an example case study illustrating a typical Granny Flats Illawarra project outcome.

The Situation

Sarah and David had been worrying about David’s mother, Patricia, for over a year. Patricia was 74, still independent and sharp, but living alone in a unit in Wollongong — 35 minutes away. After a minor health scare, the family agreed that having Patricia closer would give everyone peace of mind.

The options they considered were: Patricia moving into the main house (no — she valued her independence too much), buying or renting a nearby property (expensive and impractical), or building a granny flat on their Thirroul property.

The Thirroul block was generous — 720m² — with a north-facing rear yard and good access from a side lane. Sarah found Granny Flats Illawarra online and booked a site inspection.

The Design Brief

Patricia’s requirements were clear: she wanted her own front door, her own kitchen, her own space. She didn’t want to feel like she was “in” Sarah and David’s home — she wanted to be nearby, not inside. At the same time, she didn’t need a large space, but Sarah and David preferred a slightly larger layout to future-proof the space for flexibility.

Our 2-bedroom design at 58m² was the ideal fit:

🏠 Open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area — spacious and functional
🏠 Two bedrooms with built-in robes — allowing flexibility for guests or a study
🏠 Full kitchen with quality appliances
🏠 Separate bathroom with accessibility-friendly layout
🏠 Private entrance from the side path — completely separate from the main house
🏠 North-facing deck for morning sun — Patricia’s one non-negotiable

The design was oriented to maximise the north aspect and position the deck where Patricia could sit in the morning without looking directly into the main house’s living areas — giving both households genuine privacy.

Accessibility Considerations

Patricia was fully mobile, but Sarah and David were thinking ahead. We incorporated several future-proofing features at minimal additional cost:

✅ Step-free entry from path to deck to internal door
✅ Wider doorways (820mm clear opening) throughout
✅ Reinforced bathroom walls for future grab rail installation
✅ Lever-style door hardware throughout

These changes are inexpensive to incorporate during construction and invaluable if needs change over time.

The Approval Process

The Thirroul block fell within Wollongong City Council’s jurisdiction, comfortably meeting all CDC requirements. Our team commenced the full approval process immediately after signing the Pre-Construction Contract.

This included:

• 📐 Boundary survey and site plan
  • ⚙️ Structural engineering drawings
  • 🌿 BASIX energy compliance report
  • 🏗️ Full CDC application lodged with a private accredited certifier

CDC approval was granted in 28 business days. Sarah admitted she’d expected a lengthy council process.

“I assumed this would take six months and involve neighbourhood consultations. We were genuinely shocked when the approval came through so quickly.”

Construction

The Construction Contract was signed with a fixed price of $260,000 — inclusive of everything from site prep to final clean and occupation certificate. Build commenced shortly after CDC approval.

Key milestones:

• Week 1–2: Site prep, slab
  • Week 3–5: Frame, roof, external cladding, windows
  • Week 6–10: Internal fit-out, kitchen, bathroom
  • Week 11–12: Fit-off, painting, flooring
  • Week 12: Landscaping, final inspection, occupation certificate, handover

Total construction time: 12 weeks.

The Outcome

Patricia has been in the granny flat for eight months. By every measure, the arrangement is working exactly as hoped.

• 👵 Patricia has her independence — her own front door, her own routines, her own space
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The family has peace of mind — Patricia is 30 metres away, not 35 minutes
• 🌅 The north-facing deck is Patricia’s favourite spot — “I have my breakfast out there every morning”
• 🏠 The studio is warm in winter and cool in summer thanks to good insulation and the reverse-cycle air conditioning

The family also noted an unexpected benefit: having Patricia close means the grandchildren see their grandmother regularly, without it being a scheduled event. “It’s just become natural,” Sarah said.

Key Takeaways

✅ A standard Thirroul block easily qualified for CDC approval
✅ 2-bedroom design at 58m² provided flexibility, comfort, and future-proofing
✅ Accessibility features were incorporated at low cost during construction
✅ CDC approval was fast and straightforward — no council DA required
✅ The arrangement improved quality of life for three generations of the family

Explore our Thirroul granny flat services, learn about studio granny flat designs, or read about self-contained granny flats.