Kirrawee is a well-established suburb in Sydney's Sutherland Shire, known for its leafy streets, proximity to the Woronora River, and a strong mix of family homes. This analysis looks at a home and contents insurance quote for a four-bedroom, three-bathroom semi detached property in the area — built in 2019, sitting on a slab foundation, and finished with brick veneer walls and a tiled roof. With a building sum insured of $800,000 and contents valued at $249,000, the annual premium came in at $1,988 per year (or about $202 per month). So, is that a good deal?
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Is This Quote Fair?
The short answer: it's reasonable, but not exceptional. This quote has been rated Fair (Around Average) — meaning it sits in the middle of the market rather than at the budget end of the spectrum.
To put it in context, the suburb average for Kirrawee sits at $2,593 per year, with a median of $2,724. At $1,988, this quote comes in roughly $600 below the suburb average — which is a meaningful saving. However, the suburb's 25th percentile (the cheapest quarter of quotes) starts at $1,808, which means there are cheaper options available in the area if you're willing to shop around.
The "Fair" rating reflects that while this quote beats the local average, it doesn't quite crack the most competitive tier. For a relatively new build with standard fittings, there may be room to negotiate or find a better rate elsewhere.
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How Kirrawee Compares
One of the more striking takeaways from this data is just how much premiums vary depending on where you look.
| Benchmark | Average Premium | Median Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Kirrawee (suburb) | $2,593/yr | $2,724/yr |
| NSW (state) | $9,528/yr | $3,770/yr |
| National | $5,347/yr | $2,764/yr |
| Sutherland LGA | $23,423/yr | — |
The NSW state average of $9,528 looks alarming at first glance, but it's heavily skewed by high-risk and high-value properties across the state — the median of $3,770 is a more representative figure. Similarly, the national average of $5,347 is pulled upward by cyclone-prone regions in Queensland and Western Australia, where premiums can be extraordinarily high.
Kirrawee's median of $2,724 is actually very close to the national median of $2,764, suggesting it's a broadly typical suburb in terms of insurance risk and pricing. The Sutherland LGA average of $23,423 is an extreme outlier — almost certainly driven by a small number of very high-value or high-risk properties within the LGA skewing the figures significantly.
For this property, a premium of $1,988 sits comfortably below both the suburb and national medians, which is a positive sign.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property will have influenced the quote, both positively and negatively.
What works in your favour:
- Construction year (2019): Newer homes are generally cheaper to insure. A 2019 build means modern construction standards, better fire resistance, and up-to-date plumbing and electrical systems — all of which reduce the likelihood of a claim.
- Brick veneer walls and tiled roof: These are among the most insurer-friendly combinations in Australia. Brick veneer offers solid fire and weather resistance, while tiles are durable and widely understood by underwriters.
- Slab foundation: Concrete slab foundations are low-maintenance and less susceptible to subsidence or pest damage compared to older pier-and-beam styles.
- No cyclone risk: Kirrawee is not in a cyclone-designated zone, which removes one of the biggest premium drivers seen in northern Australia.
- Standard fittings quality: High-end or custom fittings can push rebuild costs — and therefore premiums — significantly higher. Standard fittings keep the sum insured more predictable.
What may add to the cost:
- Solar panels: While solar panels are an asset, they add to the replacement cost of the building and can complicate roof claims. Insurers typically factor this into their pricing.
- Ducted climate control: Similarly, ducted systems are expensive to repair or replace and are generally included in the building sum insured, which can nudge premiums upward.
- Timber and laminate flooring: These materials are more susceptible to water damage than tiles, which can be a consideration for contents and building claims alike.
- 235 sqm building size: At 235 square metres, this is a generous semi detached. The larger the footprint, the higher the rebuild cost — and the higher the appropriate sum insured.
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Tips for Homeowners in Kirrawee
1. Review your sum insured regularly Building costs in Sydney have risen sharply in recent years. The $800,000 sum insured on this property should be reviewed annually against current construction costs per square metre in the Sutherland Shire. Being underinsured at claim time can be a costly mistake.
2. Consider your excess strategy This policy carries a $3,000 building excess and a $1,000 contents excess. Opting for a higher excess is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce your annual premium — but make sure you can comfortably cover that amount out of pocket if you need to claim.
3. Check your solar panel coverage Not all home insurance policies automatically cover solar panels to the same standard. Confirm with your insurer whether your panels are covered for accidental damage, storm damage, and electrical faults — and whether the inverter is included.
4. Bundle building and contents for simplicity This quote already combines home and contents cover, which is generally a smart move. Having a single insurer for both means no disputes between providers about which policy covers a given claim — particularly useful when damage affects both the structure and your belongings simultaneously.
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Compare Your Options with CoverClub
Whether you're renewing your policy or insuring for the first time, it pays to see what the market looks like before you commit. CoverClub makes it easy to compare home and contents quotes for properties across Kirrawee and the wider Sutherland Shire. Get a quote today and see how your current premium stacks up — you might be surprised at what's available.