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Westspan Sheds builds custom farm sheds across Margaret River and the surrounding Shire, from the vineyards at Wilyabrup and Cowaramup through to Witchcliffe, Rosa Brook, Forest Grove and out to Gracetown and Prevelly.
We work with viticulture operators, mixed farmers, lifestyle block owners and rural developers. Machinery sheds, hay and grain storage, fertiliser sheds, workshops and livestock shelters, each one designed for the specific site rather than pulled off a size chart.
Over ten years building in WA, and we manage the whole thing: design, engineering, Shire approvals, site prep, concrete and install. No kit, no subcontracted crew.
Shed Types We Offer in Margaret River
Farm and Agricultural Sheds
Farm sheds are the backbone of what we build around Margaret River. Machinery sheds sized for the tractor and the sprayer, hay storage, fertiliser and grain storage, workshop sheds, and livestock shade structures. We build for the wind and rain the Shire actually gets, not a generic national spec.
More: Farm Machinery Sheds · Hay Storage Sheds · Dairy Farm Sheds · Livestock Shade Sheds · Rural Property & Lifestyle Sheds · Workshop Sheds
Commercial Sheds
For businesses, commercial sheds in Margaret River from Westspan Sheds offer versatile spaces that can be used as showrooms, workshops, or storage areas. These sheds can be customised to match the branding and aesthetics of the business, creating a professional and inviting space.
Industrial Sheds
Industrial sheds are designed to withstand the rigours of heavy-duty operations. They offer ample space for storage, manufacturing, and other industrial activities. Westspan Sheds specialises in creating industrial sheds that are functional and durable, meeting the demands of various industries.
Custom Design Sheds
We understand that every property and purpose is unique. That’s why we offer a range of customisation options, from colour choices to doors, windows, and more. Create a customised shed that matches your requirements and complements your property’s aesthetics.
Our Sheds Portfolio and Work
ShedSafe Certified, Which Matters at the Approval Stage
ShedSafe means our engineering and design have been independently audited against the National Construction Code. In practice, for a Margaret River property owner, that means the structural documentation that goes to the Shire has already been through third-party scrutiny. It’s one less thing to get sent back over.
It also means the shed is engineered for the wind loading your site actually sits in, which matters on exposed blocks out toward Gracetown and the coast.
Why Choose Westspan Sheds for Shed Building in the Margaret River Region
10+ Years in the South West
Based in Vasse since day one. We know which blocks flood, which sit in bushfire-prone areas, and what the Shire will and won’t wave through.
We Do the Whole Build
Design, engineering, approvals, site works, concrete, install. Our own team, not a subcontracted crew and not a kit dropped on your verge.
Finance Available
HandyPay finance if you’d rather not fund the build up front.
ShedSafe Certified
Independently audited engineering, which smooths the approval process with the Shire.
Transparent and Engaging Process
Throughout the entire journey, from the initial design phase to the final construction, we maintain transparency and keep you engaged. We aim to ensure that you’re well-informed and satisfied every step of the way.
“Nothing was a problem, erected the shed in the time frame that he said & kept us updated along the way…”
Kim Arrowsmith
Your Local Shed Builder in Margaret River
We’re 30 minutes up the road in Vasse, which means we can come out, walk the site, and give you a straight quote without charging travel to get here.
Whether it’s a machinery shed for a working vineyard, hay storage for a mixed farm, or a powered workshop on a lifestyle block, we design it for your site and build it ourselves.
Building a Shed in the Shire of Augusta–Margaret River: Frequently Asked Questions
The Shire’s rules are not the same as the City of Busselton’s. Here’s what actually applies on a Margaret River block, and why the difference between an “outbuilding” and a “farm building” is worth understanding before you design anything.
Do I need a building permit for a shed in Margaret River?
Almost certainly. Under the Building Regulations 2012, a building permit is not required only for a shed that is freestanding, has a floor area of 10m² or less, and is under 2.4m high. Anything larger than that, or taller than that, needs a building permit. In practice, every shed we build in the Shire needs one. We prepare and lodge the documentation as part of the job.
Do I also need planning approval?
Sometimes, and this catches people out: planning approval and a building permit are two separate things. You can need planning approval even where a building permit isn’t required, and if you need planning approval, you have to get it before you can lodge the building permit application.The Shire flags several situations where planning approval is likely to be needed for a shed, including where it will be a habitable room, where it sits within a Bushfire Prone Area, where it’s in a Heritage Area, or where the land is affected by floodway or flood fringe. Sheds that meet the “acceptable development” criteria in the Shire’s Local Planning Policy 1 are exempt from needing planning approval. Those criteria are set out below.
My block is bushfire prone. Does that change the approval process?
Yes, and more than most people expect. In this Shire, being located within a Bushfire Prone Area is itself listed as a circumstance where planning approval may be required for a shed. It isn’t only a construction-standard question, it can change the approvals pathway. Where a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating applies, it determines the construction standard the structure has to be built to. Large parts of the Margaret River region sit within designated bushfire prone areas, so this is a live question on most rural blocks here, not an edge case. We design to the BAL rating from the outset rather than discovering it at approval stage and having to redraw. If you’re not sure whether your property is in a bushfire prone area, tell us the address and we’ll check it before we quote.
How big can my shed be before I need planning approval?
It depends on your zoning and lot size. Under Local Planning Policy 1, outbuildings that fall within these floor areas meet the acceptable development criteria and are exempt from needing planning approval:
| Zone / density | Outbuilding floor area |
|---|---|
| Residential R10 | 75m² |
| Residential R5 and lower | 80m² |
| Rural Residential, 2ha or less | 120m² combined |
| Rural Residential over 2ha, and Bushland Protection | 150m² combined |
| Priority and General Agriculture | 150m² total |
Those Rural Residential, Bushland Protection and Agriculture figures are combined across all outbuildings on the site, not per shed, though water tanks are excluded from the count. Height matters too. In the Rural Residential and Bushland Protection zones, the acceptable development criteria cap ridge height at 4.5m. In the Residential and Future Development zones, wall height is capped at 3.1m. Going over these figures doesn’t automatically mean no. It means you need planning approval and the Shire assesses it on its merits.
I’m a farmer. Is a machinery shed treated the same as an outbuilding?
No, and this is the most useful thing on this page if you’re running a working property. The Shire treats “farm buildings” as a separate category from “outbuildings.” A farm building is one used for storing farm machinery, equipment, and agricultural produce grown on the land.
In the Priority Agriculture and General Agriculture zones, the acceptable development criteria allow a cumulative farm building floor area of up to 450m².
Compare that to the 150m² total that applies to outbuildings in the same zones. Same block, same council, three times the floor area, and the difference comes down to how the building is classified and whether it’s genuinely necessary for the conduct of rural practices on that land.
For a vineyard at Wilyabrup or a mixed farm out toward Rosa Brook, getting this classification right at design stage is the difference between a shed that fits your operation and one that doesn’t. It’s a big part of why we ask what’s actually going in the shed before we start drawing.
Can I live in the shed, or convert it later?
Not as built. An outbuilding is a Class 10a non-habitable structure under the Building Code of Australia, and the Shire’s policy is explicit that outbuildings used or capable of use for permanent occupation will not be supported, aside from an approved home occupation or cottage industry.
Converting a shed to habitable use is a separate proposition requiring its own approvals and compliance with the far higher Class 1a standards. On the non-sewered rural blocks that make up most of this Shire, that also brings effluent disposal approval into play, which has to be obtained before a building permit can be issued.
Can I build the shed before the house?
Not on Residential, Rural Residential or Future Development zoned land. The Shire’s policy only permits an outbuilding on those zones where a dwelling already exists, or where an approved dwelling is under construction on the same lot, and the building permit for the shed has to be issued with or after the one for the dwelling.
Agricultural zoned land is a different conversation. If you’re on Priority or General Agriculture and the building is a genuine farm building, ask us and we’ll walk through it.
Does ShedSafe certification help with Shire approval?
It means the engineering and design behind the shed have been independently audited against the National Construction Code. In practical terms, the structural documentation going to the Shire has already been through third-party scrutiny, which removes a common source of back-and-forth.
It also means the shed is engineered for the wind loading of the site it’s actually going on, which matters on exposed country out toward Gracetown and the coast.
Who handles the approvals, me or you?
We do. We prepare the engineering and documentation, and we lodge with the Shire. You’re not the one chasing forms.
Because we’re based in Vasse, about half an hour up Bussell Highway, we can get to the site, look at the ground, check the zoning and the bushfire mapping, and come back with a quote that already accounts for what the Shire is going to ask for.
Note: This is a general guide, not planning advice. Zoning, lot size, bushfire mapping and Special Control Areas all change the answer, and the Shire updates its policies periodically. Check your property with the Shire of Augusta–Margaret River’s sheds and outbuildings guidance, or send us the address and we’ll check it for you as part of the quote. This is a general guide, not planning advice. Zoning, lot size, bushfire mapping and Special Control Areas all change the answer, and the Shire updates its policies periodically. Check your property with the Shire of Augusta–Margaret River’s sheds and outbuildings guidance, or send us the address and we’ll check it for you as part of the quote.
Areas We Service Around Margaret River
We’re based in Vasse, roughly 30 minutes up Bussell Highway, so a site visit doesn’t come with a travel surcharge or a three-week wait. We build across the Shire of Augusta–Margaret River and the wine country between here and Busselton.
Shire of Augusta–Margaret River:
- Margaret River
- Cowaramup
- Witchcliffe
- Rosa Brook
- Rosa Glen
- Gracetown
- Prevelly
- Forest Grove
- Osmington
- Treeton
- Burnside
- Karridale
