Electrician Newtown, Geelong
Lighting, switchboards and fault finding for the older homes of Newtown, Geelong, by CabledIN
CabledIN is the electrician Newtown, Geelong homeowners call for lighting, switchboard upgrades and fault finding in one of the city's oldest suburbs. We are a licensed Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 30925) based in North Geelong, and every job finishes with testing and a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
A new light fitting or power point is usually done in one visit, while a switchboard upgrade takes most of a day. We quote after seeing the job.
- Area
- Newtown, Geelong VIC 3220
- Most common jobs here
- Lighting, switchboards, fault finding
- Licence
- Registered Electrical Contractor, REC 30925
- After hours
- 24/7 emergency call-outs on 1300 025 555
The electrical work we do most in Newtown
Our job records for Newtown show a different mix from Geelong's newer suburbs. Across the region, power points are the job we do most. In Newtown they come fourth.
- Lighting. About half of our Newtown jobs involve lighting installation: LED downlights in place of old halogen fittings, dimmers, and new switch plates.
- Switchboards. Switchboard upgrades from old fuse boards to a board with a circuit breaker and safety switch (RCD) on each circuit.
- Fault finding. Flickering lights, circuits that trip, and power lost to part of the house, including weekend call-outs.
- Mains and supply. Replacing fused mains boxes and consumer mains, plus the occasional three-phase job. See mains upgrades and Powercor defect repairs.
- The rest. Power points, safety switches, hard-wired smoke alarms, inspections and renovation wiring.
What Newtown homes typically need, and why
Land in Newtown was first sold in 1839. Many of its early houses are still standing and several are heritage-listed. At the 2021 Census about one dwelling in five was a semi-detached or terrace house, and close to three in ten were rented. That history shapes the work.
- A wiring check before you buy or renovate. Energy Safe Victoria says a house more than 30 years old should have its wiring checked by a licensed electrician, and that homes built before the 1980s should be checked before you move in. Our electrical safety inspections cover the board, the wiring and the fittings.
- Safety switches on every circuit. A safety switch only protects the circuits it is connected to. Many older boards have one, or none.
- Care around old meter panels. Panels installed before 1990 can contain asbestos and should never be drilled or sanded. We look at the panel before we quote.
- Rental checks. Owners and property managers book safety checks for the suburb's rented homes, with the report sent to whoever booked.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
Does an older Newtown house need a full rewire?
Not always, and nobody can tell by looking at the outside of the house. The answer comes from testing. We test each circuit for earthing continuity, insulation resistance and polarity, then tell you which circuits pass and which do not.
In many period homes the sensible order is the switchboard first, then any circuits that fail their tests. When a switchboard is replaced, the wiring rules require safety switch protection on every final circuit, and old cable sometimes shows its faults once that protection is in place. Those circuits have to be repaired before they go back on. A full rewire is only worth quoting when most of the cable is at the end of its life, or when walls and ceilings are already open for a renovation.
Lighting and renovations in period homes
Lighting is our most common Newtown job, and most of it is replacement rather than new work: halogen downlights swapped for LED, dimmers matched to the new fittings, and tired switches replaced. In houses with original ceilings we plan the cable route first, so that as little plaster as possible is disturbed.
Renovations and extensions make up a steady share of the rest. We rough in before the plaster goes on and return to fit off. Kitchens have their own rules: every cooktop needs an isolating switch that is visible and easy to reach, and no switch or power point may sit within 150 mm of the edge of the cooking surface. If you are adding an EV charger or other large appliance, we check the switchboard and supply before anything is ordered.
Mains work, defect notices and what gets inspected
Mains work makes up a bigger share of our jobs in Newtown than it does across Geelong as a whole. Some of it follows a Powercor defect notice. Powercor names a defective or loose fused mains box, a missing service hook and a damaged meter box among the common defects. The repair is the owner's responsibility. We fix it, issue the Certificate of Electrical Safety and send it to Powercor.
Work on consumer mains, the main earthing and the main switchboard is prescribed work under Victorian law. An independent licensed electrical inspector must inspect it, and it cannot be switched on until that is done. We arrange the inspector. Lights, power points and safety switches are not inspected this way, but they still come with a certificate.
Changing your supply capacity or moving to three-phase is an application only a registered electrical contractor can lodge. Powercor says most of these works take 3 to 8 weeks.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Electrician Newtown: how booking works
- Call or send the form. Phone 1300 025 555 or use the quote form on this page. Tell us what is happening and how old the house is. A photo of the switchboard helps.
- We book a time. For larger jobs we look at the site before quoting.
- The electrician checks first. We confirm the cause or the scope and explain it before starting.
- Work and testing. Every job is tested before the power goes back on.
- Paperwork. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety. Keep it with the house records.
For urgent faults we answer the phone around the clock. If you feel a tingle from a tap or appliance, do not touch it again and call Powercor on 13 24 12. If anyone is in danger, call 000.
All electrical services available in Newtown
Everything on our services list is available in Newtown:
- Power and safety: switchboards, safety switches, circuit breakers, surge protection, power points, smoke alarms, rewiring and safety inspections.
- Lighting and fans: downlights, pendants, outdoor lighting, ceiling fans, exhaust fans and bathroom heaters.
- Appliances: ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, electric hot water and EV chargers.
- Data and security: data cabling, TV points and wall mounting, CCTV, doorbells and smart home wiring.
The links at the bottom of this page go to the services Newtown customers ask about most. We take on small business work too.
Nearby suburbs we also cover
Our Newtown work often runs across the suburb boundary. The same electricians cover Manifold Heights and Herne Hill to the north, Fyansford to the west, Highton across the river, and Geelong West and central Geelong. We are based in North Geelong and work across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast and Golden Plains.
Recent jobs in Newtown and nearby Geelong suburbs
Frequently asked questions
Is there an emergency electrician Newtown, Geelong residents can call after hours?
Yes. CabledIN takes 24/7 emergency call-outs in Newtown, weekend fault finding included, and answers the phone around the clock on 1300 025 555. If life or property is at risk call 000, and report fallen powerlines to Powercor on 13 24 12.
Do you work on heritage and period homes in Newtown?
Yes. Much of our Newtown work is in older houses: lighting, switchboard upgrades, fault finding and mains repairs. We plan cable routes before we start so that original ceilings and walls are disturbed as little as possible.
Does my old Newtown house need rewiring?
Only testing can answer that. We test each circuit and tell you which ones pass. Often the switchboard and a few failed circuits are replaced, and the rest of the wiring stays.
How do I know if the wiring in my Newtown home needs checking?
Energy Safe Victoria lists warning signs including old or broken switches and power points, flickering lights, sparks from a switchboard, switch or power point, and an old switchboard without a safety switch. If you notice any of them, stop using that switch or outlet and have a licensed electrician test the circuit.
My house still has an old fuse box. Should it be replaced?
A fuse box protects the wiring but not people, and a board that old rarely has a safety switch on every circuit. Have it checked by a licensed electrician. We can inspect it and quote an upgrade if one is needed.
Can you replace halogen downlights with LED?
Yes. It is one of the most common jobs we do in Newtown. We replace the fittings, check the existing cabling and change any dimmers that will not work with LED.
Will I get a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
Yes. In Victoria a certificate must be provided for all electrical installation work, whatever the size of the job. Keep your copy, because the electrician is only required to keep theirs for three years.
I have a Powercor defect notice. Can you fix it?
Yes. The repair is the property owner's responsibility and has to be done by a registered electrical contractor. We carry out the repair, issue the certificate and send it to Powercor. The date to fix it by is printed on your notice.
Do you do electrical safety checks for Newtown rental properties?
Yes. A licensed electrician checks the switchboard, wiring and fittings, and you receive a written record showing the date, the results and any repairs needed. We arrange access with the renter.
Should I get the wiring checked before buying a house in Newtown?
Energy Safe Victoria advises that homes built before the 1980s should have their wiring checked before you move in. An inspection before settlement or before a renovation tells you what the board and wiring will need.
Can you install an EV charger at a Newtown home?
Yes. In an older Newtown house the switchboard and the mains are often what need attention before a charger can go in, so we check those first. Powercor lists EV chargers among the common reasons a home needs a supply upgrade, and if yours does, we lodge the application.
How do I check that an electrician is licensed?
Search Energy Safe Victoria's public register for the contractor's registration number. A registered electrical contractor must show that number in its advertising. Ours is REC 30925.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.