LORNE • SURF COAST • PROJECT CASE STUDY

Concrete Sleeper Retaining Walls on a Steep Lorne Site

A demanding retaining wall project on a clay-based site, with extreme changes in elevation and difficult weather conditions. Concrete sleeper wall runs step across the slope, bringing retaining wall construction and excavation together.

LocationLorne, Victoria
Wall systemEngineered concrete sleepers
Site conditionsClay ground and steep elevations
Key challengeDifficult weather during works

The Site Challenge

This Lorne job combined steep ground with a clay-based site and difficult weather conditions. The elevation changes meant the retaining walls needed to follow several different levels across the property, rather than a single straight wall on level ground.

The supplied site photographs show the relationship between the wall runs, excavated areas and existing buildings. They document the retaining works and surrounding earthworks at the photographed stage.

Concrete sleeper retaining wall runs stepping across a steep Lorne property above an existing stone wall
Concrete sleeper wall runs follow the changing levels of the Lorne site. Existing stonework is visible in the foreground.

Documented Project Scope

The project pricing workbook records approximately 93 linear metres of retaining wall sections, totalling 182.76 m² of scheduled wall face area. Section heights range from 0.4 to 3.0 metres. These figures describe the quoted wall schedule; they are not an as-built survey.

  • Plain natural concrete sleepers with steel retaining posts and concrete footings.
  • Excavation and auger work associated with the retaining wall construction.
  • A drainage scope specifying 100 mm socked agricultural drain, drainage aggregate, geofabric and membrane in accordance with the project drawings.
  • Material delivery and site establishment, with problematic site conditions identified in the scope.
  • Reuse of suitable site material for backfill where approved.

Post sizes, spacing and footing dimensions vary across the schedule. They are project-specific engineering details and should not be copied to another site without its own design assessment.

Retaining Walls and Excavation Working Together

The stepped wall layout demonstrates why retaining construction and excavation need to be considered together on a sloping property. Each wall run relates to the levels around it, with the earthworks forming part of the overall retaining wall package.

Stepped concrete sleeper retaining walls and excavated ground on the steep clay-based Lorne site
The wider site view shows the steep access, changing ground levels and multiple concrete sleeper retaining wall runs.

Planning a Retaining Wall on a Sloping Site?

Send your site address, photographs, survey levels and available engineering drawings. Include the proposed wall alignment, heights and access details so we can assess the retaining wall and excavation scope together.

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