May 28, 2025
Heritage homes deserve heritage colours. The right palette preserves charm, highlights period features and protects your property
Your home tells a story. If you're lucky enough to own a heritage property, that story stretches back decades or even centuries. But nothing kills that historical charm faster than slapping on the wrong paint colours.
Think of heritage colours as the DNA of your building's era. Victorian homes had their palette, Federation houses had theirs, and Inter-War properties told their own story through colour. Using the right colours enhances the architectural features that make heritage buildings special.
When entire conservation areas stick to period-appropriate colours, magic happens. The whole street becomes more attractive, property values rise and you're doing your bit to preserve Australia's architectural heritage for future generations.
Before shopping for paint, keep these things in mind:
Your walls are like a history book. Carefully scrape back those layers of paint (especially in sheltered spots like under window sills or behind meter boxes) and you'll often find the original colours underneath. Just remember to allow for fading when you're checking those samples.
Can't find enough clues in the paint scrapes? No worries. Old photos of your building, even black and white ones, can tell you a lot. You can also refer to resources like the City of Sydney's Heritage Scheme Colours and Index and paint charts from companies like Dulux that focus specifically on heritage colours.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't be shy about getting help. Paint retailers, design specialists or your council's heritage team can point you in the right direction. Sometimes the best investment is expert advice upfront.
Each era had different pigments available to them, which created their signature looks.
Quick note: The colours mentioned below follow the Australian Standards AS2700 Colours .
Victorian Era (1840–1890) went for earthy, substantial colours. Think Biscuit, Deep Stone, Sandstone, and Cream as your main colours, with secondary shades like Mushroom, Teal, and Olive for details. These colours reflected the era's love of natural materials and solid craftsmanship.
Federation/Edwardian (1890–1915) got a bit more adventurous. Pale Ochre, Burnt Pink, and Crystal Green joined the palette. Trim colours like Deep Bronze Green and Brunswick Green added sophistication to verandah posts and decorative elements.
Inter-War/Post-War (1915–1960) brought us Red Oxide, Brunswick Green, and softer shades like Pale Primrose and Opaline. This era was about moving forward while still maintaining bits of tradition.
The beauty of these palettes is in their restraint. They used simple colour ranges but employed clever tonal differences to highlight architectural details.
Best Practice:
What to Avoid:
There are a few things to sort out before you repaint or hire a professional tradie. Check if your building is heritage-listed. You might need council approval before making changes. In places like Sydney or Armidale, the rules can be pretty specific about what you can and can't do.
Minor works may not require approval if they don't affect the heritage significance of a property. If you live in North Sydney, you can submit a Heritage Maintenance Enquiry to the city council.
Here's a golden rule: only paint surfaces that were meant to be painted originally. That means timber joinery and metalwork are fair game. You might need approval from your city council before you paint face brickwork, stone, and tiles. If previous owners have painted these surfaces and they're in poor nick, you can repaint them. Just try to make them look as natural as possible.
You May Paint These:
Never Paint These:
Don't hide your home's best features by painting everything the same colour. Those decorative plasterwork details and intricate woodwork deserve to stand out. Use at least two contrasting colours on your main facade to highlight the architectural elements.
It might help to choose paint that lets your old walls breathe. Vapour-permeable finishes prevent moisture from getting trapped and causing damage down the track.
Your colour choice may affect the whole neighbourhood. If you're part of a row of heritage homes or live in a conservation area, have a chat with your neighbours. Sometimes a coordinated approach using the same base colour with different accent details can make the whole street look spectacular.
Go for breathable paints whenever possible. These vapour-permeable finishes (like cement-based painted finishes) are your best bet because they let moisture move naturally from inside the wall to the surface. This prevents all sorts of nasties like damp walls, flaking and bubbling that can seriously damage your heritage surfaces over time.
Think about where you're painting. Traditionally, external joinery got the full paint treatment to protect it from our harsh Australian weather, while front doors were often left with a natural stain or oil finish to show off the timber.
For elements like window sashes and architraves, gloss enamel was the go-to choice. It still works brilliantly today.
Modern paint options give you flexibility. You've got oil-based enamels and water-based acrylics, plus different gloss levels from high gloss right down to matt finishes. The trick is matching the right type to each part of your building.
Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and chat with paint manufacturers or your local paint shop.
Heritage paint colours are about celebrating the past while creating a home that works for today. When you choose colours that honour your building's history, you're not just maintaining your property, you're preserving a piece of Australia's story.
If you're looking for vetted tradies who care about that story, let's have a chat. SnapTradie can connect you to a network of professional painters who know their craft and understand the value of heritage (not to mention compliance with local council rules).
Here's how you can find the right tradie for your heritage property:
