Choosing the Right Fencing to Protect Your Commercial or Urban Farm

For many Australians, fencing serves as a boundary between their property and their neighbours’. They may even use it for privacy, security, safety and style. But for farmers – hobbyists and professionals alike – as well as a boundary, a farm fence serves a more pronounced need. It directly supports the functionality of the farm itself.

When farm and rural fencing is selected and mapped in consideration of the farm’s design, it becomes more than just a barrier. The right fencing can improve livestock management, protect crops, streamline day-to-day operations, and even contribute to the long-term value of the land. Strong, resolute fencing helps guide movement across the property, separates different land uses and creates a safer, more efficient working environment for both people and animals.

Here at Outback Fencing, we source, supply and deliver fencing for all kinds of Aussie properties. Throughout the years, we’ve come to know the needs of various land uses, from suburban backyards to commercial sites requiring strength and security, through to rural and farming properties where durability and functionality are essential. Today, we’re focusing on the latter, diving into the most suitable fencing products, what to consider when choosing your farm fence, farm fence ideas for urban farms and a little about how to build a farm fence in Australia.

The Farm Fencing Fundamentals

Farm fencing is an indispensable asset for all agricultural properties. It serves as a foundation for land and livestock management, directly impacting the farm’s productivity and safety and boosting the value of your rural property. So, when determining how to fence a farm, it’s key to know these key functions and operations of farm fencing:

• Containment: The role of fencing that stands out first is to keep livestock within designated areas. A farm fence prevents animals from entering neighbours' properties, straying onto roads or damaging environmentally protected zones – avoiding penalties or conflicts. If you have a farm with livestock, effective containment is vital for controlling grazing patterns and safeguarding crops.
• Protection: A rural fence also stops threats from entering your property. From feral and wild animals like kangaroos, foxes, wild dogs and deer. These intruders can harm livestock, damage pasture and infrastructure and even spread disease. An effective farm fence promotes biosecurity and acts as a frontline defence against disease, supporting quarantine and movement control.
• Subdividing your land: Internal fencing allows large paddocks to be broken into smaller sections. This is crucial for farm operations like rotational grazing, segregation and land management.
• Safety & value-adding: Fencing improves on-farm safety and is a major asset to an urban or commercial farm, reflecting a responsible and efficient farm that new owners can easily picture and mobilise their integration into.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Farm Fence

Every farm is different, and so are its fencing needs. Before you start building or replacing fences, it’s important to think about what purpose the fence will serve. So, start from the start.

Your Farm 101

What are you trying to protect or segregate? Are you keeping livestock in or keeping pests and predators out? Do you need to protect crops, orchards or vineyards? Or is the fence mainly there to establish boundaries and improve the security of your property?

If you have a commercial or large farm, perform an analysis across your whole farm. During your analysis, separate each section and list out its purpose and interaction with other areas of the farm – for example, do the pastures sit adjacent to public property? Do they need to connect to barns or crops? Think about access points, gates, machinery movements, and how fencing will integrate into your overall farm. This will give you an in-depth understanding of the needs of your farm and how it varies from one section to another, and which durable fencing style will work best.

Conditions vs materials

Beyond the function of the farm, take a look at the conditions it experiences. Given we’re in Australia, your fencing material needs to be able to withstand the harsh Australian climate, from extreme sun to rain and high winds and sometimes even fire. How are your soil conditions? If they’re particularly soft and prone to mud, more durable materials with longer posts may be needed. There are some fantastic, popular fence materials that are designed to endure rural climate conditions – steel posts, PVC fencing, and treated timber are common choices for their endurance in both muddy and dry terrain and Australian weather. Deciding between these requires you to weigh up other factors, like cost, maintenance requirements and more nuanced fencing needs.

Some materials, like PVC and coated steel, require little upkeep to keep clean compared to traditional timber. However, timber will rot, warp and lose panels much faster than steel and PVC, meaning more severe repairs and maintenance are needed in the long run. Cheaper fencing may save money upfront, but could mean higher replacement and maintenance costs down the track.

Farm Fence Styles

Different farm setups demand different fencing solutions. And within one farm, it’s unlikely that one fencing style and material will be totally suitable for all land purposes and farm operations. Typically, your rural fencing needs will be well-suited to one of these styles.

PVC Post & Rail Fencing

PVC post and rail fencing is perfect for agricultural properties. Thanks to its three horizontal rail design, it offers fantastic containment and is super effective for keeping livestock, horses and other large animals in designated areas. Their three horizontal rails cover a large surface area that restricts animals from passing through. They’re also great as perimeter fencing because they can be measured and installed along precise lines, and won’t move once installed.

Beyond their design, the PVC material in PVC fencing offers high strength and durability that perfectly complements the secure design. PVC is a material used in outdoor materials, designed as an alternative to timber. The difference between PVC and timber fencing is that the composite material in PVC won’t rot, rust, warp or fade over time, and you won’t need to replace it as frequently as wood. It’s also resistant to termites and UV damage, and you won’t have to paint or seal it. They’re low maintenance and are very close to the appearance of wood, which is why they’re great for functional landscaping in both hobby farms and lifestyle blocks, as well as for defining paddocks and property boundaries and adding value.

Star-Picket Fencing

Star-picket fencing is a versatile and cost-effective option, widely used across large and sprawling Australian farms. The system is simple: steel star pickets are driven into the ground at regular intervals, with wire strands strung tightly between them. This makes it ideal for quickly enclosing large areas of land, dividing paddocks or creating temporary boundaries. While our star pickets come with secure wiring, farmers often also use barbed wire or mesh, depending on whether they’re containing livestock or keeping pests out.

What makes star-picket fencing so practical is its ease of installation and adaptability, and it is one of the best low-maintenance fencing styles. The posts are lightweight yet strong and can be installed without heavy machinery. They’re also easily adjusted, making this type of fencing suitable for uneven terrain or where farm layouts change frequently. While it may not have the polished look of PVC, star-picket fencing is valued for its functionality, durability and affordability.

Colorbond Steel Fencing

For commercial farms, urban farms or rural properties that value privacy and security, Colorbond steel fencing is an undeniably strong and stylish choice. Made from coated steel, it’s strong, weather-resistant and built to handle Australia’s tough conditions. Unlike traditional wire fences, Colorbond panels create a complete, solid barrier that keeps livestock safely contained while also protecting from wind and intruders. It works great for smaller urban farms that can easily be damaged by winds, debris or pedestrians.

Another major benefit of Colorbond fencing is its aesthetic appeal. Available in a range of colours, it blends seamlessly with both rural and urban environments, offering a modern and professional look. It also requires little to no maintenance – no painting, sealing or replacing rotted posts – making it a smart long-term investment for farmers who want durability and style in one. But it looks so nice; it also makes a good investment for your home area.

Electric Fencing

Electric fencing is one of the most flexible and efficient solutions for farm management. It works by delivering a safe but sharp electric pulse when touched, training livestock to stay within boundaries without the need for heavy-duty barriers. This makes it ideal for rotational grazing systems, protecting specific crops or reinforcing existing fences as a secondary layer of containment.

The biggest advantage of electric fencing is its adaptability and certainty in containment. It can be installed as a permanent fixture or as a temporary, movable boundary, depending on your farming needs. Modern electric fencing systems are reliable, easy to repair and designed to run off mains power or solar, making them highly suited to remote rural environments.

Secure Fences, Strong Farms

At the end of the day, the right fencing does far more than mark out boundaries. A farm fence protects, supports and powers the operations of your farm. This is true whether you’re running a commercial property, managing an urban farm or simply tending to a hobby block. Choosing fencing that matches your land, livestock, surrounding environment and lifestyle is an investment in productivity, resale value and peace of mind.

From PVC post and rail for durability and style, to star-pickets for versatility, Colorbond for security and electric fencing for adaptable control – every farm has a fencing solution that fits. The key is planning with purpose and investing in materials that will stand the test of time and the Australian climate.

At Outback Fencing, we’re here to help you choose the right fence by making that choice easier. With quick delivery, industry-leading products and expert advice, we help Aussie farmers put up fences that work just as hard as they do.