Maroubra's housing, beach to Junction
Maroubra grew mostly after the Second World War. Much of the suburb is single-storey and two-storey brick houses from the 1940s to the 1960s, many since extended upward. Toward the beach and along the main roads sit walk-up flats from the 1950s to the 1970s and newer apartment buildings facing the water. Around Maroubra Junction there is a steady mix of units and townhouses.
Compared with Randwick or Paddington, fewer homes here fall within heritage controls, and more have had at least one earlier bathroom refresh — often a 1980s or 1990s makeover over the original.
What we find in Maroubra bathrooms
Layers of past renovations. A 1990s tile laid over a 1960s tile laid over a mortar bed is not unusual. Demolition takes longer, and floor heights may need adjusting at the door.
Brick houses with upstairs additions. Many houses gained a second storey with a new bathroom above the original living areas. Those rooms are typically on timber framing, and a leak from them shows in the ceiling below.
Walk-up units with baths. Most flats of that era were built with a bath and shower over. Owners now often trade the bath for a large walk-in shower.
Tired ventilation. Plenty of bathrooms rely on a small window that stays shut in winter. Mould on ceilings and around window frames is common.
Designing for the coast
In Maroubra, "high-end" has to mean durable in salt air. Our standard specification here:
- Tapware in quality PVD finishes or solid brass, not budget chrome
- Marine-grade 316 stainless for grates, towel rails and any exposed fixings
- Exhaust fans ducted to outside, sized for the room and on a run-on timer or humidity sensor
- Aluminium window frames checked and resealed, since salt corrodes seals as well as metal
- Epoxy grout on shower floors, which holds up better against sand and scrubbing
Sand, wetsuits and family life
Maroubra is a beach suburb with families. A bathroom here often needs to handle kids coming in straight from the sand, wetsuits dripping in the shower, and boards leaning in the hallway.
Practical features we often suggest:
- A handheld shower on a rail, for rinsing kids, feet and gear
- Large-format floor tile with minimal grout, easier to hose and wipe clean
- Hooks and rails at child height, so towels are not left on the floor
- An outdoor rinse shower planned at the same time, where the block allows — it keeps a lot of sand out of the house
Strata near the water
Beachfront buildings in Maroubra are often managed tightly, because salt exposure makes their maintenance costs high. Owners corporations here are particularly interested in waterproofing, window seals and any penetration through the external wall.
That makes the approval pack important. We prepare the scope, membrane method, insurance details, working hours and protection plan so the committee can decide without follow-up questions.
Upstairs bathrooms in extended houses
Where a Maroubra house has been extended upward, the upstairs bathroom sits over living space. The renovation priorities are:
- Checking floor framing once exposed, especially under the shower
- A correctly detailed membrane with a water stop at the doorway
- A flood test before tiling where the owners want the reassurance
- Protecting ceilings below during demolition
Finishes that suit Maroubra
Coastal doesn't have to mean themed. Owners here tend toward light, textured tiles, pale timber-look or painted joinery, and matt or brushed tapware. A porcelain slab vanity top — engineered stone has been banned since 1 July 2024 — is practical and stands up to sunscreen and sand.
What it costs
As a 2026 guide: compact unit bathrooms $26,000–$40,000, house main bathrooms $32,000–$50,000, upstairs bathrooms over living areas toward the higher end. See the cost page for detail.
Nearby
We also work in Coogee, Randwick, Kensington, South Coogee and Kingsford.
Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder — licence and insurance details are provided on request.
Call 02 5121 7922 or send photos of the bathroom.