What this site is
Southern Tree Care is a local enquiry line for tree work in Wollongong, the Illawarra and down the South Coast. You describe the tree, somebody comes out and looks at it, and you get a written quote from an independent contractor who does that kind of work in that kind of terrain.
That last part matters more here than in most places. A crew that spends its week on flat suburban blocks is not the crew you want rigging a forty-metre blackbutt off a benched block below the escarpment, and the reverse is also true — paying crane rates for a front-yard removal in Dapto is money thrown away.
Being straight about the arrangement
This is a referral website. Enquiries go to independent tree contractors; the site owner does not swing the saw and does not employ the people who do. The disclaimer sets that out in the terms it needs to be set out in, and the practical consequence is on you: confirm insurance, qualifications, scope and price with the contractor who turns up, before work starts.
We would rather say that plainly on the about page than bury it. A referral is worth something when the contractor is right for the job and worth nothing when nobody checked.
What we think good tree work looks like
Remove what has to go and keep what does not. Most trees presented for removal in the Illawarra do not need removing — they need a dead limb out, a crown lifted off a roof, or a one-sided canopy thinned before summer. A contractor who quotes removal on everything is quoting the biggest invoice, not the right job.
Tell the owner about the council position before the work, not after. Wollongong City, Shellharbour City and Kiama all protect trees on private land, and the penalty for cutting a protected tree without approval falls on the owner. Any decent quote raises it.
Put the whole scope in writing. Whether the stump is included, whether the timber stays, whether the brush is chipped and carted, and who is responsible for the permit. Most disputes in this trade are scope disputes.
What actually gets arranged
Removals, lopping and crown reduction, pruning, stump grinding and full stump removal, palm work, clearance around power services, storm and emergency call-outs, land clearing and seasoned firewood. The complete list with what each one covers is on the services page.
Where
From Helensburgh in the north, through the Wollongong suburbs and the escarpment villages, down past Lake Illawarra to Shellharbour, Albion Park, Kiama and Gerringong. The service areas page goes suburb by suburb, and the South Coast page covers the country further south.
Ring (02) 4210 5885, or use the contact page and someone will call back.
Frequently asked questions
Is Southern Tree Care a referral service?
Yes. Enquiries made through this website are passed to independent tree contractors working across Wollongong, the Illawarra and the South Coast. The site owner does not carry out the work. That is set out in full on the disclaimer page, and it is why you are asked to confirm licensing, insurance and price directly with the contractor who attends.
What should I check before letting anyone start?
Public liability insurance, in date and in the name of the business attending. Relevant arboriculture qualifications. A written quote that states what is being removed or cut, what happens to the timber and brush, whether the stump is included, and whether council approval is the owner's responsibility. Anyone unwilling to put that in writing is telling you something.
Do you charge for quotes?
No. Quotes across the service area are free and carry no obligation, including the ones where the answer turns out to be that the tree is protected, healthy, or simply not worth spending money on yet. A quote that ends in advice not to do the work is still a useful quote.
Do you offer a pensioner discount?
Yes, ten per cent across the tree services listed on this site. Raise it when you first ring so it is built into the written quote rather than negotiated on the day, and have the concession card available when the crew arrives.