Automatic Swing Gates in Sydney

When a swing gate is the right call

Swing gates suit properties where the ground behind the gate is close to level and the driveway is long enough for the leaves to open fully without hitting a parked car. On wider frontages, a pair of leaves often looks better than one very long sliding panel, and there is no track across the driveway to keep clean.

They are also the natural choice when there is simply no side run for a slider. If your front fence is short on both sides of the driveway, because of a garden bed, a neighbouring driveway or a retaining wall, a swing gate may be the only option.

The checks that matter

Inward opening only. Under the NSW exempt development rules for fences, gates must not open outwards. Swinging a gate over the footpath is not an option, so the leaves need room to swing into your property.

Ground in the swing arc. If the driveway rises behind the gate, the bottom of the leaf will hit the ground partway through its arc. Installers can sometimes raise the gate, step the bottom rail or use rising hinges, but a steep rise usually means a slider is the better fit.

Wind. A solid swing gate acts like a sail. On exposed blocks near the beaches or on high ground, a slatted or semi-open design reduces the load on the motor and the hinges.

Pillars and posts. A swing gate motor pushes against whatever the gate is hung from. Old brick pillars on older homes are not always strong enough, and an installer may suggest steel posts or reinforcing first.

Motor types

There are two common styles of swing gate motor:

• Ram (linear) motors mount between the post and the gate leaf. They suit most residential gates and are the usual choice when the pillar is not too deep.
• Articulated arm motors fold like an elbow and cope better with thick pillars or gates hung well back from the face of the post.
• Underground motors sit in a box beneath the hinge and are almost invisible, though they need good drainage and more groundwork.

Installers in Sydney commonly fit brands such as BFT, Centurion, Nice, FAAC and DACE. The right choice depends on leaf weight, width, how often the gate runs and how the pillars are built.

Safety around swing gates

A swinging leaf sweeps a large area of driveway, which is where children, pets and visitors tend to be. The Australian and New Zealand safety standard for electric gate drives is AS/NZS 60335.2.103. Ask your installer how the setup handles obstruction detection, where safety beams will be placed, and how the manual release works if the power goes out.

Getting a quote

Tell us your suburb, the driveway width and whether the ground is level behind the gate. We pass your enquiry to an independent local installer who visits and quotes directly. If you already have a manual swing gate you like, read about motorising an existing gate instead of replacing it, or compare options in our guide to sliding versus swing gates.