An outdoor fireplace turns a backyard into a room you use through the cooler months. Below are 10 outdoor fireplace ideas for Australian homes, from a freestanding masonry fireplace against the fence line to a built-in alfresco design and a flue-free bioethanol option for smaller courtyards. Browse the full range of outdoor fireplaces as you plan.
Short answer: the most popular outdoor fireplace for an Australian home is a rendered masonry wood-burning fireplace with a chimney, set against a boundary wall or the back of an alfresco. Where a flue or a fire ban is a problem, a bioethanol fireplace gives a real flame with no smoke and no chimney.
A wood-burning outdoor fireplace gives the crackle, radiant heat and cooking option, but needs a chimney, clearance and firewood, and cannot be lit during a total fire ban. A bioethanol fireplace burns clean plant alcohol with no smoke or flue, so it suits decks and courtyards. Gas sits between the two, with instant control but a gas connection. For most Australian yards with room for a chimney, wood-burning remains the first choice.
Each idea below suits a different space, budget and level of building work. Use them to picture the fireplace that fits your own yard.
A freestanding fireplace against a boundary wall gives a seating circle its focal point without taking a wall of the house. The Ochre Living Ossa is a complete rendered fireplace kit at $3,200, delivered ready to install, so a paved corner of the yard becomes an outdoor lounge. It is the most affordable way into a permanent masonry fireplace.
A fireplace with wood storage below the firebox keeps split logs dry, close and part of the design. The Ochre Living Hotham is a rendered fireplace kit with a chimney and lower wood cavities at $4,490, so the fuel becomes a feature rather than a pile in the corner. It suits a household that will burn wood regularly through winter.
On a larger terrace, a taller fireplace becomes the architecture of the space. The Ochre Living Perisher is a complete rendered fireplace kit at $6,490, with a proportioned chimney designed to anchor an open entertaining area. Choose it where the fireplace is meant to be seen from the house and read as a built structure.
Set into the wall of a covered alfresco, an outdoor fireplace extends the living room straight outside. Under a roof, the fire draws through its flue while the seating stays dry, so the space works in rain as well as cold. Confirm the flue clearance to timber ceiling framing with your installer before building in.
Tucked into a corner, a fireplace uses space that furniture cannot, and turns two boundary walls into a defined outdoor room. The angled placement throws warmth and light across the whole courtyard from a single point. It suits a compact yard where a central fireplace would crowd the paving.
A see-through fireplace built into a dividing wall warms a lounge on one side and a dining area on the other, and lets the flame be seen from both. It is a larger build that needs a freestanding masonry wall, but it does the work of two fireplaces. Plan the flue and clearances with a licensed builder.
Set a fireplace beside an outdoor kitchen and the cooking bench gains a lounge end for guests. The two structures read as one built zone, and the fire holds people in the space after the food is done. Keep the fireplace clear of gas appliances and combustible joinery per the maker's clearances.
Run a low rendered bench out from each side of the fireplace and it seats a crowd without loose furniture. The benches tie the fireplace into the paving and give the corner a permanent, designed look. Finish the render to match the fireplace and the house for a cohesive result.
Where a chimney is impossible, on a deck, balcony or tight courtyard, a bioethanol fireplace gives a real flame with no smoke, ash or flue. It burns clean bioethanol fuel in a stainless-steel burner and can be wall-mounted or freestanding. A bioethanol unit is the answer for apartments and rentals where a masonry chimney will never be approved.
If a full fireplace is more than the space needs, a fire table delivers flame and gathering at coffee-table height with no build. The EcoSmart Base 40 combines a concrete table with a central burner from $2,595, ships ready to use, and moves if the layout changes. It is the flexible middle ground between a fire pit and a built fireplace.
Outdoor fireplaces in Australia run from around $2,600 for a fire table to $6,500 for a large rendered masonry kit. The table below sets out where each option sits.
| Type | Example | From (AUD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire table | EcoSmart Base 40 | $2,595 | Decks, no build, flexible |
| Freestanding masonry | Ochre Living Ossa | $3,200 | Seating circles, fence line |
| Masonry with wood store | Ochre Living Hotham | $4,490 | Regular wood burning |
| Statement masonry | Ochre Living Perisher | $6,490 | Large terraces |
Two Australian factors shape where an outdoor fireplace goes. A wood-burning fireplace needs clearance from fences, eaves and overhanging trees, and cannot be lit during a total fire ban, so a bioethanol or gas appliance is the fallback on ban days. Near the coast, choose corrosion-resistant components and a sealed render that tolerates salt air. Confirm setback and approval rules with your council and, in strata, your body corporate before building.
A masonry fireplace kit arrives ready to install on a prepared slab, while a bioethanol unit or fire table needs only unpacking. Keep the flue swept, store firewood dry, and wipe concrete and stainless down each season. Every outdoor fireplace at My Acre ships with free delivery, our price-match promise, and owner after-care: a fit check before you buy, a shepherded delivery, and a follow-up within a week. Compare the full range of outdoor fireplaces and fire tables.
A built masonry outdoor fireplace may need council approval, as it is a permanent structure, and rules vary by council and setback. A portable bioethanol fireplace or fire table is treated as an appliance and generally needs no approval. Always check your local council and, in strata, your body corporate before building.
A wood-burning outdoor fireplace needs clearance from combustible fences, eaves and overhanging trees, with the exact distance set by the maker's instructions and your council. Site the fireplace so the chimney discharges well clear of the house and boundary. Follow the installation guide and confirm setbacks locally before pouring the slab.
A wood-burning outdoor fireplace cannot be used during a total fire ban, as any solid-fuel fire is prohibited. A bioethanol or gas appliance may be permitted at the owner's discretion, though rules differ by state and day. Always check the current declaration with your state fire authority before lighting.
An outdoor fireplace is worth it for households that entertain outdoors through the cooler months, as it extends the usable season and anchors a seating area. A masonry fireplace also adds a permanent feature to the yard. The trade-off is the cost and, for wood-burning, the need for firewood and a fire-ban fallback.
Rendered masonry is the most common material for an outdoor fireplace in Australia, as it handles heat, weather and salt air when sealed. A complete rendered kit gives the look without custom bricklaying. For a flue-free option, a stainless-steel bioethanol burner in a concrete or steel surround suits decks and courtyards.
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