Side Access in Perth: The Widths That Decide Which Machine Gets In
Older suburbs have generous side paths and newer estates have almost none. A guide to typical access widths across Perth, how to measure yours, and which Rippa models fit through.
The first question we ask anyone buying a machine for a suburban block is not what they want to dig. It is how wide the gap beside the house is.
Perth by era
| Era and typical suburbs | Typical side access | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s–70s quarter-acre (Morley, Melville, Belmont, Dianella) | 1.5–3 m, often a driveway to a rear garage | Anything up to 2 tonnes |
| 1980s–90s (Thornlie, Kingsley, Leeming, Ballajura) | 1–1.5 m beside the house, a gate at the front | 1 to 1.8 tonne on narrow track setting |
| 2000s estates (Ellenbrook, Canning Vale, Butler, Baldivis) | 0.9–1.2 m, air-conditioner and hot water unit in the way | R10, R13 PRO, R15 narrowed; RS03, RS04 |
| 2010s+ small lots and rear-loaded (Alkimos, Piara Waters, Wellard) | Often under 900 mm or none; access through the garage or house | R06 (747 mm), R13 PRO (750 mm), RD06 dumper (787 mm) |
| Subdivided battle-axe lots anywhere | The shared driveway is fine; the rear block may have no side access at all | Depends entirely on the driveway |
How to measure properly
- Measure the narrowest point, not the gate. Meter boxes, downpipes, air-conditioner condensers, hot water units and the neighbour's fence posts all intrude.
- Measure height too. Eaves, pergola beams and side gates can be lower than a canopy. The R06's folding ROPS exists for this.
- Check the ground. A machine needs a firm, roughly level path. Steps, a retaining wall lip or a soft garden bed can stop a machine a gate would let through.
- Allow 50 mm each side. A 900 mm machine does not go through a 900 mm gap without paint transfer.
What "adjustable tracks" means
Rippa's 1 to 1.8 tonne excavators hydraulically narrow their undercarriage for access and widen it for stability. The R13 PRO narrows to 750 mm and widens to 990 mm; the R10 runs 912 to 1,212 mm. Always widen again before digging or lifting. A narrow-set machine is far easier to tip.
When nothing fits
- Through the house. Renovators bring the R06 through a standard doorway on plywood.
- Over the fence. A crane truck or Hiab lifts a 1 tonne machine over a fence for a modest fee; ask your machine supplier who they use.
- Walk-behind loaders. The RS03 and the RD06 dumper get spoil out where a barrow would take days.
Neighbours and verges
Using a neighbour's driveway or the verge is common in Perth but needs permission. Council verge permits are required for stockpiling or parking machinery on the verge in most local governments, and damage to verge trees is expensive.
For where the small machines fit in the wider range, see the machines pages or the comparison on the Rippa Aus Perth spec site.