Project Dunbar, Renovation in Sunshine

Why did renovation make sense for Dunbar?

The Dunbar home in Sunshine under Brimbank had real value worth keeping. Structure, street presence and layout all supported a renovation path rather than a full rebuild. The decision was not automatic. It came from testing the existing home honestly before committing to a scope.

That test looked at what the house could carry into its next chapter, not just what looked outdated. A renovation only works well when the brief and the existing structure are moving in the same direction.

A home doesn't need to be perfect to stay standing. It needs a frame with years left in it, a roofline that still works, and a footprint that sits well on the block. Dunbar had all three, and Brimbank's planning controls didn't ask for anything the existing site couldn't already support. Where any one of those is missing, a rebuild usually protects the outcome better than reworking a floor plan that's already fighting the site.

What does Dunbar show about testing an existing home?

Dunbar shows that a renovation should solve a real problem, not just refresh finishes. The project tested what the home was preventing, then shaped the scope around that, rather than assuming a bigger renovation would automatically be the safer answer.

This is the same test Gidaya Group applies to every renovation decision. Structure, services and layout are checked against the future brief before the scope is finalised, so the project adds what is actually needed.

For the owners, that meant keeping a home that already sat well on its block and in its street, while the layout changed to match how they actually use the space day to day. That's the real test behind a renovation decision. Not whether the finishes look new, but whether daily life gets easier once the work is done.

What does Dunbar mean for a similar project?

Dunbar sits alongside renovation work through Project Neville in Carnegie, Project Victoria in Preston and Project Kenmore in Hoppers Crossing. All four sit inside the same retain, change or rebuild decision Gidaya Group works through with every owner. It is also a useful comparison point for a knockdown rebuild decision, when the existing home is closer to the limit of what renovation can achieve.

Frequently asked questions

What type of project is Dunbar?

Project Dunbar is a renovation in Sunshine under Brimbank.

Can I see the cost of Project Dunbar?

No. Project costs and addresses are not published for any Gidaya Group project.

Why was renovation chosen over a rebuild for Dunbar?

The existing home had real structural and layout value worth keeping, and the brief could be met without a full rebuild.

What other projects give similar renovation context?

Project Neville in Carnegie, Project Victoria in Preston and Project Kenmore in Hoppers Crossing.

Talk through a similar renovation with Gidaya Group.

Written by the Gidaya Group team. This page is reviewed whenever project details are confirmed. Updated 2026-07-08.