What's Included in the Price
- Supply of cornice in the chosen profile (standard cove, decorative stepped, ornate heritage, or custom-matched)
- Cutting mitres at internal and external corners
- Fixing with CSR Gyprock Cornice Cement (~$55 per 20kg bag, covering 60–80 linear metres) and mechanical fasteners
- Filling, sanding, and finishing all joins to a paint-ready surface per AS/NZS 2589:2017 Gypsum Linings (Level 4 for standard cornice, Level 5 for square-set junctions)
- For square-set: removing existing cornice (if applicable) and finishing the wall-ceiling join to Level 5
Ceiling roses are priced separately, typically $250–$470 per piece for decorative plaster plus $80–$150 for installation. Painting after installation is a separate scope. Cornice joints and mitres need filling and sanding after installation, which means the cornice should always be painted after it goes up, not before.
What Affects the Cost
- Profile complexity. Standard 55mm cove cornice (supply ~$3/m, install ~$5–$8/m) is quick to cut, fit, and finish. Ornate profiles with multiple steps and curves (supply $15–$40/m, install $15–$25/m) take significantly longer to mitre and join cleanly. Gyprock Symphony and Canto profiles ($8–$10/m supply) sit between the two as a decorative option without requiring specialist skills.
- Heritage matching. In a period terrace where you are repairing a section or extending cornice into a new room, matching the existing profile is the challenge. If the profile is still manufactured by CSR Gyprock or Knauf, it is straightforward. If it has been discontinued, a custom mould needs to be made ($200–$500 for mould creation, plus $40–$80+/m for the run), which adds significant cost per metre.
- Square-set conversion. Removing cornice and creating a clean right-angle finish looks simple but is actually more labour-intensive than installing cornice. The join needs Level 5 finishing to look right ($12–$20/m versus $8–$15/m for cove), and the prep work after removing old cornice is substantial.
- Number of rooms. One room is a minimum-charge job ($250–$400 minimum). Multiple rooms reduce the per-metre cost as setup and travel are spread across more work.
- Ceiling height. Standard 2.4m is step-ladder territory. The 3m+ ceilings in many Sydney terraces need taller access equipment or scaffolding.
- Old cornice removal. Pulling off old cornice damages the junction underneath. Budget an additional $3–$6 per linear metre for removal and junction repair before new cornice goes on.
Standard cove cornice in a single modern room with no removal work sits toward $150. Heritage ornate cornice across multiple rooms in a period terrace, with old cornice removed, custom profile matching, ceiling roses, and high ceilings pushes toward $1,500.
Sydney-Specific Considerations
Sydney has two distinct cornice markets running in parallel, and which one your project falls into determines both the cost and the type of plasterer you need.
Heritage cornice in the inner suburbs. Paddington, Balmain, Glebe, Newtown, Surry Hills, and Woollahra are filled with Victorian and Federation terraces that have elaborate plaster cornices and ceiling roses as part of their architectural character. These homes often feature multi-part cornice assemblies with egg-and-dart motifs, acanthus leaf detailing, and deep stepped profiles that were hand-run in situ when the house was built. When these homes are renovated, matching the existing cornice throughout is a common requirement, especially if only one or two rooms are being updated. Sydney-based firms like Silver Cornices and Bailey Interiors (with over 70 years of heritage restoration experience) can take a mould from existing cornice and custom-run new sections. The cost per metre is significantly higher than off-the-shelf profiles, but it is the only way to achieve a seamless match in a contributory heritage building.
Square-set and shadowline in modern stock. Across the newer apartment developments in Zetland, Mascot, Waterloo, and Green Square, square-set has become the default ceiling finish. For homeowners renovating older apartments (1960s to 1980s stock in Bondi, Neutral Bay, and Randwick), converting from dated cove cornice to square-set is a popular update that gives a cleaner, more contemporary look. Shadowline finishes (a recessed 10mm negative detail) are appearing in architect-designed renovations across Rozelle, Marrickville, and Dulwich Hill, sometimes with integrated LED strip lighting. Both square-set and shadowline cost more in labour than cove cornice due to the Level 5 finishing required at the junction.
Heritage overlay zones. If your home is heritage-listed or in a heritage conservation area (common across inner-west and eastern suburbs), check whether the cornice is noted as a contributory element. Removing or altering heritage cornice without council approval can result in orders to reinstate it at your expense. The City of Sydney, Woollahra Council, and Inner West Council all maintain heritage registers with specific guidance on interior plaster features.
Hiring a Licensed Plasterer in NSW
NSW has separate licence classes for wet and dry plastering. Cornice work falls under the dry plastering scope. NSW Fair Trading requires a contractor licence for work valued over $5,000 (including GST).
Worth checking:
- Examples of completed cornice installations, particularly mitred corners (internal and external mitres are where quality shows)
- For heritage matching, confirmed experience with custom profiles and mould-making
- For square-set or shadowline, demonstrated understanding of Level 5 finishing requirements under AS/NZS 2589
- Public liability insurance and a current NSW dry plastering licence (verify on the NSW Fair Trading licence check)
- A written quote that separates supply from labour and specifies the profile, number of rooms, linear metres, and whether old cornice removal is included
A well-installed cornice makes a room. A badly mitred corner is noticeable every time you look up. Quality matters more than speed on this job.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current plasterer rates in the Sydney metropolitan area, adjusted for property age and typical cornice styles in NSW. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential cornice installation including supply, fitting, and finishing to a paint-ready surface. Heritage restoration with custom-moulded profiles may exceed these ranges.