What are Bollards?

A bollard is a short vertical post used to control access, protect assets and define space. In fencing and landscaping work they do the jobs a fence cannot: stop vehicles entering a reserve while letting pedestrians walk straight through, protect a building corner from a delivery truck, or mark the edge of a car park without building a wall.

Timber and plastic are the two common materials for landscaping and traffic-control applications. Timber is the default for parks, reserves and streetscapes where the bollard has to look like it belongs.

Timber bollards

Timber bollards are used across landscaping, parks, car parks, pedestrian areas and fencing systems. They provide physical demarcation or protection while reading as a natural material rather than an engineered barrier.

Common sizes

• Length: 1.2m to 1.5m as standard, with lengths up to 6m available
• Cross-section: 125mm, 150mm and 200mm square — or dressed to 115mm and 140mm
• Custom: sizing available up to 300mm square

Note that "dressed" sizes are smaller than nominal: a 125mm bollard dressed becomes 115mm. Confirm which you are quoting when matching to an existing sleeve or an existing run.

Timber species

• Cypress Pine — the most commonly used. Naturally termite-resistant, Class 2 durability below ground, and low shrinkage, which means it holds its shape and its collars over time
• Spotted Gum — dense hardwood with a strong grain figure
• Ironbark — very dense and highly durable hardwood

Detailing options

Top shapes

• Chamfered — typically a 20mm chamfer to the top edges
• Pyramid — typically cut at 35°
• Custom — machined to project specification

Beyond appearance, a chamfered or pyramid top sheds water rather than holding it on the end grain, which extends the life of the timber.

Collars

A collar is a decorative groove machined around the bollard near the top. Standard is 18mm wide x 10mm deep. Collars can be manufactured from 4mm to 110mm wide and up to 25mm deep. Shapes are usually square but can be customised.

Drilled options

Bollards can be drilled to carry chain, pipe or cable between them, forming a continuous barrier line.

• Holes up to 85mm diameter
• Recommended clearance: +5mm for pipe, +3mm for chain or cable

Getting clearance right matters — too tight and the chain binds or the pipe cannot be threaded through on site; too loose and the line rattles and wears the hole.

Safety features

• Impact protection holes — for roadside and reserve applications
• Delineators — red/white reflective markers, recessed 10mm into the timber so they sit flush and resist being knocked off
• Chamfered edges — reduce splinter risk and make the bollard safer to handle and to brush against

Bollard sleeves

Sleeves let a bollard be installed in-ground or as a removable unit. They are used wherever access has to be opened occasionally — service vehicles, maintenance, event access — without digging the bollard out each time.

In-ground sleeves

Concreted 400mm below ground with a flush finish at surface level. The bollard drops into the sleeve and can be lifted out when access is needed. A locking tag with padlock option secures it in place.

Collapsible sleeves

Bolt-down only — no excavation required. The bollard hinges down flat to the ground and locks in the upright position using pre-installed tags. Useful on existing concrete or asphalt where cutting in a sleeve is impractical.

Standard sleeve sizes

• In-ground: 125mm and 150mm square
• Collapsible: 190 x 90mm and 140 x 90mm, bolt-down

Timber vs plastic

Timber suits parks, reserves, streetscapes and heritage settings where appearance matters and the bollard should read as a natural element. Plastic suits environments where rot, splintering and repainting are the problem to solve, and where a uniform manufactured finish is acceptable or preferred.

For high-impact vehicle protection — loading docks, building frontages exposed to traffic — neither timber nor plastic is a substitute for a concrete-filled steel bollard rated for impact.

Specifying a bollard

1. Length above ground, plus embedment or sleeve depth
2. Cross-section, and whether nominal or dressed
3. Timber species
4. Top shape — chamfered, pyramid or custom
5. Collar detail, if any
6. Drilling — hole diameter and position, with clearance for chain, cable or pipe
7. Delineators or impact protection holes, if required
8. Fixed, in-ground sleeve or collapsible sleeve

Common questions

What length bollard do I need?

Standard is 1.2m to 1.5m overall, which allows for embedment or sleeve depth below ground. Lengths up to 6m are available for special applications.

Which timber lasts longest in the ground?

Cypress Pine is the most commonly specified — termite-resistant with Class 2 below-ground durability and low shrinkage. Ironbark is denser and very durable.

Can bollards be removed for vehicle access?

Yes. In-ground sleeves let the bollard lift out; collapsible sleeves let it fold down flat. Both offer padlock options.

How deep do in-ground sleeves go?

Concreted 400mm below ground, finishing flush with the surface.

Can bollards be drilled for chain?

Yes, up to 85mm diameter. Allow +3mm clearance for chain or cable and +5mm for pipe.

What is a collar for?

A machined decorative groove near the top, standard at 18mm wide x 10mm deep, customisable from 4mm to 110mm wide.