Renovating a pre-1985 Canberra home: asbestos plans and the Mr Fluffy register

What is Mr Fluffy asbestos?

Mr Fluffy is the Canberra name for loose-fill asbestos insulation. The ACT Government says it "was blown into roof spaces in Canberra homes between 1968-1979", and that it has since moved into wall cavities, underfloors and ducts.

The ACT's buyback scheme covered the "acquisition and demolition of almost 1,000 properties", and the ACT Government says "the vast majority of known affected houses have now been demolished". Remediated blocks were resold and rebuilt. But the scheme is not finished: 17 known affected homes remained at 8 October 2026. None is being actively considered for compulsory acquisition, and the next formal review point is in 2027.

Where were Mr Fluffy houses in Canberra?

Across most of Canberra's established districts. Our count of the official List gives 1,029 properties in 62 divisions, with Belconnen, Woden and Weston Creek well ahead of the rest and almost none in Gungahlin.

By suburb, Kambah tops the List with 102 properties, then Curtin 41, Pearce 36, Farrer 34, and Lyons, Torrens and Weston with 32 each. In those suburbs many 1960s and 70s houses now stand beside new homes on remediated blocks. See our pages on Woden and Tuggeranong for what that means locally.

What's the difference between the Mr Fluffy Register and the List?

The Register shows the affected homes still standing; the List shows every property that contains or ever contained loose-fill asbestos. Before any work on a house, the Register is the one that matters.

The 17 remaining homes by district, from our count of the Register: Belconnen 8 (Macquarie 3, Weetangera 2, and one each in Aranda, Cook and Giralang), Woden 3 (Curtin, Farrer, Lyons), Weston Creek 3 (Chapman, Fisher, Stirling), Inner North 2 (Hackett, Watson) and Inner South 1 (Yarralumla). We give suburbs only, never addresses.

What work is allowed on a Mr Fluffy house?

Very little. Approvals on an affected home are limited to work essential for health, safety or reasonable living conditions, or demolition. Exempt work can't involve a building containing loose-fill asbestos, unless it is demolition or health and safety work.

The ACT Government's advice to tradespeople, engineers included, is clear:

• Check the Register before going to the property.
• Read the Asbestos Management Plan displayed at the entrance.
• Look for the warning tag at the meter box.
• Stay out of the ceiling space and subfloor "without the advice and supervision of a Class A licensed asbestos assessor".
• Don't penetrate wall, floor or ceiling cavities.

Our position is simple. We check the Register before every visit. We never enter or inspect affected roof spaces or subfloors, and we don't test for asbestos.

What changes for any home built before 1985?

Any building approval for it comes with an asbestos removal control plan. The Building Act requires one in a BA application for a class 1–4 building, or an associated class 10, that was built or started before 1985. The application also includes any existing asbestos assessment report.

That rule covers Canberra's older housing, from the 1920s Garden City cottages to the 1960s ex-govvies and 1970s homes. Asbestos-cement sheeting (fibro) containing amosite or crocidolite was used "until the mid-1980s", so the date matters even where there was never any loose-fill.

Building Act 2004 s 26; ACT BA page. Selling? The seller's documents include an asbestos assessment report or asbestos advice (Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act s 9).

How does asbestos affect structural work on an older home?

It adds a step, not a barrier. The asbestos removal control plan goes into the same building approval application as our drawings, so both need to be ready together.

• Before a visit, we check the Register. If the home is on it, we tell you what we can and can't do before anything is booked.
• During an inspection, we don't cut, drill or sample linings. Where framing is hidden, our report says what we could and couldn't see.
• For a design job, such as a wall removal, our beam, post and footing details go to your certifier with the asbestos plan.

Wall removal and beam design starts at $890 + GST ($979 inc GST). A structural inspection and report starts at $1,090 + GST ($1,199 inc GST). For homes in the heritage precincts, see older and heritage homes; for 1960s government houses, our guide to renovating an ex-govvie.

What about Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra and Googong?

NSW keeps its own Loose-fill Asbestos Insulation Register, searched by address. Not finding a home on it is not a clearance. We don't have a current count for Queanbeyan, so we don't quote one.

The ACT's pre-1985 asbestos plan rule is ACT law. Across the border NSW rules apply, and we work with QPRC and your certifier.

When should you call a structural engineer?

When you're planning structural work on an older home, or you've found cracks, sagging or movement you want explained. Tell us the year the house was built if you know it.

• Something looks wrong: a structural inspection and report.
• Opening up the floor plan: wall removal and beam design.
• Starting again: knock-down rebuild engineering for the new house.

We're engineers only. We don't remove asbestos, build or recommend contractors, so our advice isn't shaped by the job that follows. Send photos or plans, add up to 5 files, and we reply with a fixed quote in under 20 minutes on average, during business hours.