G’day, Shug here. A lot of my work these days is at people’s homes. Off-street parking, a garage that opens straight onto the driveway, a car you’ve spent years restoring: if a thief can get to it, they can drive it away. A steel bollard locked into the ground stops that.
As featured in The Age
In June 2026 The Age ran a story on how far Melburnians are going to keep their homes and cars safe. It reported that insurance claims for stolen cars in Melbourne had eclipsed all the other capital cities combined. I spoke to them about what I’m seeing. More Victorians are buying bollards for their homes, and about half of my customers are now residential property owners. As I told the paper:
“The problem with a security camera is they can still steal your car, where with a bollard it’s going to take a little bit of effort at least.”
The homeowner in the story had two bollards on his driveway as part of his setup. You can read my write-up of the feature here.
How a driveway bollard stops car theft
It’s simple. A heavy steel bollard is locked into the ground in front of your car. While it’s in, the car can’t be driven off the property, even if someone gets in and starts it. Only someone with the key can unlock it and lift it out. There’s no wiring, no remote and no battery to go flat. Alarms and trackers tell you after the car’s gone; a bollard stops it leaving in the first place. More on that in can bollards prevent car theft?
Options for your home
In-ground removable bollards. These are the most popular choice for driveways and garages. A steel sleeve is set in a concrete footing, and the bollard drops in and locks with a key. When you need the driveway, unlock it, lift it out, drive out and drop it back in. It takes seconds. Every Shug Removable Bollard comes with its in-ground sleeve and key. See the Sunshine garage job.
Bolt-down removable bollards. Sometimes you can’t dig because there are pipes or cables under the driveway. On a Chelsea home where a bloke was fed up with people cutting the corner across his driveway and damaging his gate, a bolt-down removable bollard did the trick.
The Bulldog collapsible bollard. This one is great for a unit car space or a shared car park where someone keeps parking in your spot. It bolts down, padlocks upright, and folds flat when you want to drive over it, so there’s nothing to lift or store. I put one in for a block of units in Toorak. See the Bulldog.
Custom colours. Safety yellow is standard, and custom colours are available. At Wonga Park I fitted four custom black removable bollards across a property entry to protect a client’s classic cars and boat.
Gas meter and meter box protection. In Victoria, if your gas meter is within one metre of a driveway, the gas distributors require protective bollards. Read about gas meter bollards. I also make Rhino protection bollards that are used to keep meter boxes safe beside driveways.
Things to think about first
- Fixed or removable? Fixed bollards give the most security but block the driveway for good. Removable or collapsible bollards let you get your driveway back when you need it, which is usually the go for a home.
- Placement. Bollards work best at the most vulnerable access point, usually the driveway entrance or the front of the garage.
- Quality. Cheap imported bollards won’t hold up to a determined attempt. Mine are made in Melbourne from 250 grade steel.
- Council rules. Depending on your council and property, there may be requirements about bollards near footpaths or street frontages, so it’s worth checking first.
- What’s underground. Pipes and cables need to be located before anything is drilled or dug. See my installation terms.
What a customer said
“Months and months of frustration and trying to find owners of vehicles using the space has now been whipped away immediately with the installation of your product.” – Carmel, Hawthorn, VIC
Melbourne-wide, from Mooroolbark
I make my bollards in Mooroolbark and install them myself, all over Melbourne: east, south-east, west and north. I’m happy to come out, have a look at your driveway and tell you what I’d do. See also bollard installation in Melbourne and removable bollards across Melbourne.
Home & driveway bollard FAQs
Will a bollard really stop my car being stolen?
While it’s locked in, the car can’t be driven off your driveway. A thief would need the key or a lot of time and effort, and that’s often enough to make them move on.
Do I lose the use of my driveway?
No. A removable bollard lifts out in seconds, and a collapsible one folds flat. When it’s out of the way you’ve got full access.
Do removable bollards come with everything?
Yes. Every Shug Removable Bollard comes with its in-ground sleeve and key.
What if there are pipes or cables under my driveway?
A bolt-down removable bollard is often the answer when an in-ground sleeve isn’t possible. The services need to be located before any work starts.
How much do driveway bollards cost?
Every driveway is different, so get a free quote. Tell me where the car sits and I’ll come back to you.
