What an exposed aggregate driveway costs per square metre in Melbourne's south-east, what's included, what's extra, and how to avoid the cheap-quote trap.

Exposed aggregate is the most popular driveway finish in Melbourne's south-east growth corridor right now, and prices are all over the place. We've seen quotes range from $90 per square metre at the low end up to $250 per square metre for premium colour mixes. Here's what those prices actually mean in 2026.

Quick answer

Most residential exposed aggregate driveways in Melbourne's south-east land between $120 and $180 per square metre installed, on a standard mix with a properly engineered crushed-rock base. A typical new-build front driveway in Clyde North or Officer is 35 to 60 square metres, so quotes usually come in between $4,500 and $10,500 for the driveway alone.

What the price includes (or should)

A real quote covers all of:

Excavation to the right depth (usually 200 to 250mm for a residential driveway)
Geofabric and compacted crushed-rock base (typically 100 to 150mm of 20mm Class 2 or Class 3)
Edge formwork and any necessary expansion joints
Reinforcement mesh (SL72 or SL82 for residential, heavier for shared driveways)
The concrete pour itself, including the aggregate mix
Seeding and washing (the step that exposes the stones)
A topcoat sealer (acrylic or solvent-based) applied after curing

If a quote doesn't mention base prep, reinforcement or sealer, that's where the cracking, settling and tyre-mark problems come from in year two and three. The work nobody sees is what makes the work last.

What changes the price

Aggregate choice. A standard quarry mix (Lilydale Toppings, Castlemaine, river pebble) sits at the low end of the range. Premium imported mixes (Tuscan, Brunswick, charcoal basalt) sit at the top.

Aggregate	Look	Price band
Lilydale Toppings	Honey gold, classic look	$120 to $140/m²
River pebble mix	Earthy multi-colour	$130 to $160/m²
Castlemaine	Pinkish-grey, warm	$140 to $170/m²
Charcoal basalt	Dark, modern	$150 to $190/m²
Imported feature mix	Designer feel	$180 to $250/m²

Driveway size. Sub-30m² jobs (a path or small side driveway) carry a small-job premium of 15 to 25% per metre. Over 60m² you usually get the lower end of the range because mobilisation, setup and cleanup are spread thinner.

Falls and drainage. Driveways need to shed water away from the house. If your block needs grated drains, ag pipe behind the garage or significant earthworks to get the falls right, that adds $500 to $3,500 depending on what's required. New build estates almost always need at least some drainage work because builders leave the block level.

Access. A driveway in front of the house with kerb access is standard. A driveway down the side, behind the house or up a slope adds 10 to 20% because the concrete truck can't pump directly to the work.

Crossover. The bit from the road into your property (the council vehicle crossing) is usually a separate quote and a separate permit, typically $1,500 to $3,500 depending on your shire. Some quotes include it, most don't.

Where cheap quotes cut corners

If you see a quote at $80 to $100/m² for exposed aggregate in our area, ask these five questions:

What's the base depth and what crushed rock are you using?
Are you including reinforcement mesh?
Are expansion joints included against the house and at control joints?
Is the sealer included, and what brand?
What's your guarantee on cracking?

The honest answers will usually expose where the corners are being cut. Skipped base prep is the most common: a 50mm base on uncompacted clay will crack in the first wet winter. Skipped reinforcement is the second.

What we charge

For a typical 50m² front driveway in Pakenham, with a standard Lilydale Toppings mix, proper base, mesh and sealer, we usually quote $135 to $155/m² installed. That's a $6,800 to $7,800 job. Crossover quoted separately.

For a 40m² side driveway in Berwick on charcoal basalt with the same spec, we're usually at $170 to $190/m². So $6,800 to $7,600.

How long does it last

Properly installed exposed aggregate lasts 25 to 35 years before it needs replacement. The sealer needs reapplication every 3 to 5 years (a $300 to $600 job depending on driveway size) to keep the colour fresh and stop tyre marks from staining.

Cracks happen in any concrete driveway eventually. The point is making them small (hairline at control joints) instead of big (full slab cracks at random points). Proper base, proper mesh and expansion joints at the right spacing (around 3 metres) is what controls that.

Get a quote for your driveway

Driveway pricing depends on falls, drainage, access and finish so much that an online estimator can't get close to a real number. We measure on site for free and have a written quote in your inbox within 24 hours.

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Exposed aggregate driveway cost Melbourne (2026 prices per m²)