The Highgate Village Streetscape Upgrade along Fullarton Road is now well into construction — Stage One kicked off May 2025 and runs through 2026, with new paving, kerbing, and road entries at Cheltenham Street, Carlton Street, Invergowie Street, and Ferguson Avenue. That's a lot of ground disturbance near older service connections. The mid-May rain — 14mm on the 2nd, another 15mm two days later — will have pushed water through any cracks in aging stormwater systems, especially on the flatter southern allotments where drainage fall is marginal at best. Meanwhile, the Highgate Park redevelopment at 103 & 123 Fisher Street (the old Julia Farr Centre) got planning approval late last year for a multi-stage retirement and residential precinct — that's serious new load coming onto sewer infrastructure that's been serving character homes since the 1950s. If you're in a villa or terrace anywhere near Fullarton Road or Fisher Street and you've noticed slow drains, gurgling, or wet patches in the yard, don't wait for it to back up. Call us and a plumber we dispatch will get to you fast — Highgate's old pipes don't give you much warning.
City of Unley notes
“City Infrastructure Projects Status Update 2025/26 FY (March Quarter) — Resolution No. C0038/26. Highgate Village Streetscape Upgrade along Fullarton Road, Stage One construction commenced May 2025, includes new paving, kerbing, garden beds, and paved road entries at Cheltenham Street, Carlton Street, Invergowie Street, and Ferguson Avenue intersections.”
City of Unley
Ground disturbance at four key intersections means older sewer and water connections in these streets are at risk of joint displacement, cracked clay pipes, and pressure fluctuations — expect more emergency calls from properties fronting Fullarton Road through 2026.
“Draft 2026-27 Annual Business Plan and Budget endorsed for community consultation — proposed Capital Renewal Program requiring net funding of $13.18M, including ongoing asset renewal across the City of Unley.”
City of Unley
Continued capital renewal means more excavation and infrastructure work across Unley suburbs including Highgate — older service connections near any renewal site are vulnerable to disturbance, especially where clay or cast iron meets modern PVC.
“Highgate Park redevelopment at 103 & 123 Fisher Street (former Julia Farr Centre) — planning approval granted 28 October 2025 for multi-stage retirement, residential, and townhouse precinct.”
City of Unley
A major new residential load connecting to sewer infrastructure that's been serving 1950s–70s housing stock — downstream properties on Fisher Street and surrounds may see increased sewer pressure and flow issues as the development comes online.
●Source: City of UnleyLast updated April 2026
Highgate profile
Highgate is a quiet pocket of Unley with older housing stock — which means ageing clay pipes, cast iron connections, and hot water units that have been running on borrowed time. Council is currently looking at infrastructure changes along Greenhill Road, which cuts close to the suburb and can put pressure on older services nearby when the digging starts. There's also arborist work approved for Carlton Street — tree roots and old pipes in the same street is a combination worth knowing about.
Carlton Street and Invergowie Street are the worst for root intrusion — big established street trees, shallow clay sewer lines laid in the 50s and 60s, and joints that were never designed to resist root pressure. The southern end of Highgate toward Avenue Road sits flatter with less drainage fall, so stormwater pools against foundations instead of running off. Fisher Street's about to cop new load from the Highgate Park redevelopment, and properties downstream on older clay mains will feel it first. If you're in a villa or terrace built before 1975 and you haven't had a camera down your sewer line, you're guessing about what's growing in there.
When calls come in: Highgate calls cluster in the early evening — 5pm to 8pm — when residents come home, run showers and dishwashers, and discover the slow drain they ignored this morning is now backing up. Weekend mornings are also common, especially after Friday night rain when stormwater's had time to find the cracks.
Highgate emergency callouts
Emergency Plumber — Burst pipe — water off, flooding riskHighgate, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Blocked drain — slow or backing upHighgate, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Hot water failure — no heat or pressureHighgate, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Sewer backup — sewage at floor wasteHighgate, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Leaking tap or fitting — urgent repairHighgate, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Gas fitting emergency — isolation requiredHighgate, SA · 30–60 min
Highgate Plumber FAQ
The works along Fullarton Road involve excavation for new kerbing and paved road entries at Cheltenham, Carlton, Invergowie, and Ferguson Avenue intersections. If your property's sewer or water connection runs under or near the footpath in these areas, ground movement and vibration can shift old clay joints or stress corroded galvanised lines. Watch for new slow drains, pressure drops, or discoloured water — these are signs your connection's been disturbed. A plumber we dispatch can run a camera inspection to check for cracks or displacement before a minor issue becomes a full blockage.
Slow drains in Highgate usually mean roots have started infiltrating your sewer line or silt has built up in the clay pipes. The problem with waiting is that roots grow fast once they find moisture — what's a partial blockage now can become a complete backup within weeks, especially after rain. If you're hearing gurgling from floor wastes or noticing the toilet water level fluctuates, that's the line venting poorly because something's restricting flow. Call before it backs up into the house — a plumber we dispatch can clear the line and camera it to show you exactly what's happening.
Galvanised steel pipes in Highgate's older homes corrode from the inside out, so you won't see rust on the outside until it's too late. Early signs include reduced water pressure at taps furthest from the meter, brown or orange-tinged water first thing in the morning, and pinhole leaks appearing at joints or elbows. If you're getting sediment in your aerators or the hot water runs rusty while cold stays clear, the galvanised section is likely between the meter and your hot water unit. A plumber we dispatch can pressure-test the line and advise whether spot repairs will hold or if repiping is the only fix.
Houses from this era typically have vitrified clay sewer lines, cast iron vent stacks, galvanised water supply, and copper hot water connections. The sequence of failure usually runs: sewer roots and cracks first (clay's brittle and joints weren't rubber-sealed), then galvanised supply corrosion (internal rust restricts flow), then hot water unit failure (tanks rust out or elements fail after 12–15 years). Cast iron vents last longest but eventually corrode at the roof flashing. If you haven't had a camera inspection of your sewer line or checked your hot water unit's age, those are your first two priorities.
A blocked line usually clears with a jet or electric eel — water flows again and stays flowing. A collapsed line clears temporarily but blocks again within days or weeks because the pipe's physically broken and debris re-accumulates at the collapse point. The only way to know for sure is a CCTV drain camera. A plumber we dispatch will run the camera after clearing the blockage to check pipe condition. If you see a belly (sagging section), offset joint, or actual break on the footage, that's a collapse — and it means excavation or relining, not just another clear.
Electric storage units in Highgate's older homes should be inspected every 3–5 years once they pass the 10-year mark — that's when anode rods are typically exhausted and tank corrosion accelerates. Gas units need annual servicing for the burner and flue, plus anode checks. If your hot water's taking longer to heat, running out faster, or you're seeing rusty water from the hot tap only, the tank's likely failing internally. A plumber we dispatch can test the sacrificial anode and advise whether replacement buys you more years or if the unit's past saving.