Wood vs Gas vs Electric Fireplaces: Which is Right for Your Victorian Home

If you have started looking at fireplaces for your home, the first decision is usually the hardest. Wood, gas, or electric. Each one has people who swear by it. Each one has people who regret their choice. The honest answer is that the right fireplace depends on your home, your lifestyle, and what you actually want from it.

This guide cuts through the marketing and lays out exactly what you get with each fuel type. We have been fitting fireplaces across regional Victoria for years, so the trade-offs discussed here are the same considerations we walk customers through every week in our showrooms.

Important: All pricing and running-cost figures in this guide are indicative only and should be treated as general estimates. Fireplace pricing, installation costs, fuel costs, supplier pricing, and labour rates can change over time and vary between homes. We recommend confirming current pricing with Evolution Fires before making a purchase decision.

The Quick Comparison 

Before getting into the detail, here is what each option typically looks like for an average Victorian home. All costs below are indicative estimates only and should be verified before publication, as supplier pricing, installation requirements, fuel costs, and labour rates can change.

Upfront unit cost 

• Wood: $2,500 to $7,500 

• Gas log fire: $3,000 to $9,000 

• Electric: $800 to $4,500 

Typical installation cost in Victoria 

• Wood: $1,500 to $4,500 (flue, hearth, licensed plumber) 

• Gas: $1,500 to $3,500 (gas line, flue, licensed gas fitter) 

• Electric: $0 to $800 (plug-in or wall-mounted by an electrician) 

Running cost per hour 

• Wood: $0.40 to $1.20 depending on firewood prices 

• Gas: $0.70 to $1.40 at current Victorian gas rates 

• Electric: $0.45 to $1.20 depending on your tariff 

Heat output 

• Wood: 5 to 25 kW (heats whole homes) 

• Gas: 4 to 9 kW (heats one large room or open-plan area) 

• Electric: 1 to 2 kW (heats one small room) 

Maintenance 

• Wood: Yearly flue clean, ash removal after most burns, firewood storage 

• Gas: Annual service by a licensed gas fitter ($150 to $300) 

• Electric: Dust occasionally, replace LED bulbs if they fail 

Best suited for 

• Wood: Larger homes, regional properties, anyone who wants real flame and serious heat 

• Gas: Suburban homes with mains gas, busy households that want instant warmth 

• Electric: Apartments, rentals, second living spaces, anyone who wants ambience without a flue 

Costs vary significantly depending on fireplace type, installation requirements and home configuration. Because installation is one of the biggest cost differences between wood, gas and electric fireplaces, it's worth understanding what's involved. Read our detailed fireplace installation cost guide for a complete breakdown.

Wood Fireplaces: The Real Deal 

Wood is where most Victorian regional buyers start. There is a reason for that. A good modern wood heater puts out more heat than gas or electric, the running cost stays low if you have access to affordable firewood, and the radiant warmth from a real fire is something the other options cannot fully replicate. 

What you actually get with wood 

Modern slow-combustion wood heaters are nothing like the open fires people grew up with. The Australian Home Heating Association confirms that all wood heaters sold in Australia now have to meet an emission limit of 1.5 grams per kilogram of wood burned and a minimum efficiency of 60 percent. Most quality units we sell sit between 70 and 85 percent efficient, which means very little of the heat goes up the flue. The Victorian EPA provides guidance on wood heater emissions, smoke reduction and responsible operation.

Heat output is measured in kilowatts. A 10 kW heater will comfortably warm 150 to 200 square metres of well-insulated open-plan living space. A 15 kW unit can heat most three-bedroom homes from a single living room, especially if your layout lets the heat move through the house.

The downsides nobody mentions until after you buy 

Wood needs storage. A tonne of firewood is about three cubic metres of stacked space, and you need it somewhere dry and accessible. A tonne typically lasts a Victorian household around three months in winter.

Wood needs work. Loading the heater, cleaning out ash, splitting kindling, dealing with the smell of smoke on your clothes occasionally. None of this is hard, but it is daily work for the months you are using it.

Wood has regulations. In Victoria, your installer has to be a licensed plumber registered with the Victorian Building Authority. The unit has to meet AS/NZS 4013, the flue has to meet AS 2918, and some councils have additional rules around urban use. If you're unsure about installation rules, emissions standards or council requirements, read our complete Victorian Wood Heater Regulations Guide. 

Wood heaters are ideal for 

• Homes over 150 square metres 

• Properties outside the gas mains network 

• Anyone who wants real flame, real heat, and is happy to feed the fire 

• Households where someone is home during the day to load it 

• Buyers who prioritise low ongoing fuel cost over upfront convenience 

If wood sounds like the right fit for your home, browse our collection of modern wood heaters to compare sizes, heat outputs and installation styles. 

Gas Log Fires: Convenience Wins

Gas log fires have come a long way. The flame on a modern unit looks close enough to a real wood fire that most people cannot tell at a glance. You get instant heat at the press of a button, no firewood storage, no ash, no flue cleaning. For a lot of busy households this is the obvious choice.

What you actually get with gas 

Most quality gas log fires run between 70 and 90 percent efficient. Heat output usually sits in the 4 to 9 kW range, which is plenty for one large living area or an open-plan zone.

Running cost depends on your gas rate and how much heat the unit produces. Victorian households typically pay around 3.5 to 4 cents per megajoule of gas, which is one of the lowest rates in the country. A medium gas log fire rated at 25 to 35 MJ per hour will cost roughly $0.70 to $1.40 per hour to run at full output. Most modern units have thermostats that throttle the gas back once the room is warm, so the real average is often lower. 

Natural gas vs LPG 

Connected to the mains? Natural gas is the cheaper option by a margin. Outside the mains network you can still run a gas log fire on LPG, but you will pay more per megajoule and you will need bottles delivered. For rural Victorian properties without natural gas, wood is usually a better fit than LPG gas. 

The downsides 

Upfront cost is real. A good gas log fire installed and connected typically lands somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000 once you include the unit, the gas line work, and the flue. If your home does not already have a gas connection, the cost climbs further.

You still need yearly servicing. Budget $150 to $300 for an annual check by a licensed gas fitter, plus carbon monoxide detector replacement every few years.

Smaller heating footprint. Gas log fires are great for one large room. They will not heat a 200 square metre house from a single unit the way a 15 kW wood heater can. 

Gas log fires are ideal for 

• Homes connected to mains natural gas 

• Open-plan living rooms up to about 80 square metres 

• Busy households that want one-button warmth 

• Renovation projects where you want real flame without a flue penetration through the roof 

• Anyone who wants ambience but does not want the work of wood 

Want to compare available models? Explore our range of gas log fires to see different styles, heat outputs and installation options.

Electric Fires: Ambience Without the Flue 

Electric fireplaces are the misunderstood option. Most people dismiss them because they associate electric with cheap radiant heaters from Bunnings. The reality is that modern electric fires are designed for ambience first and supplementary heat second. If that matches what you want, they are a brilliant choice.

Today's electric fireplaces provide impressive flame realism with simple installation and minimal maintenance requirements. Browse our range of electric fireplaces to compare wall-mounted, inbuilt and freestanding designs.

What you actually get with electric 

Most electric fireplaces top out at around 2 kW of heat output. That is enough to take the chill off a single room of around 25 to 30 square metres. It is not enough to heat a whole house or a large open-plan area.

The flame effect on premium units is convincing. LED projection, mirrored surfaces, holographic flame technology, even crackling sounds. Some models let you run the flame visual with the heat off, so you get the look year-round without the warmth.

Installation is a different category to the other two. Plug-in units literally plug into a power point. Wall-mounted and inbuilt units need an electrician to wire them in, but there is no flue, no gas line, no compliance plumbing. A typical install runs $0 to $800. 

The downsides 

Heat is limited. If you want a fireplace that does serious heating, electric is not it. It works best alongside a reverse-cycle air conditioner that handles the main heating job.

Running cost depends on your electricity tariff. At Victorian rates of around 30 to 35 cents per kilowatt-hour, a 2 kW electric fireplace running at full heat costs roughly $0.60 to $0.70 per hour. That is broadly comparable to gas, but only because the heat output is so much smaller. 

Electric fires are ideal for 

• Apartments and rentals where flues and gas lines are not options 

• Bedrooms, studies, second living rooms where you want supplementary warmth 

• Anyone who wants the look of a fire without the maintenance 

• Properties already well-heated by reverse cycle that just want a focal point 

• Year-round ambience users who want flame effect without heat in summer 

Which Fireplace is Right for Your Home 

Here is how we usually steer customers in our showrooms once we know a bit about their home. 

Choose wood if 

• Your home is 150 square metres or larger 

• You live outside the mains gas network 

• You want one heater to warm most of the house 

• You have somewhere dry to store firewood 

• Someone is home during the day to keep the fire fed 

• You want the lowest possible running cost 

Choose gas if 

• You are connected to mains natural gas 

• You want one-button warmth without the work 

• Your main heating zone is a single large room or open-plan space 

• Annual service costs do not bother you 

• You want the look of a real flame without the firewood 

• Your renovation timeline cannot accommodate a wood heater flue penetration 

Choose electric if 

• You live in an apartment or rental 

• You want a focal point in a bedroom, study, or second living space 

• Your home is already comfortable with reverse cycle and you want ambience 

• Installation simplicity matters more than maximum heat 

• You want flame effect year-round without summer heat 

For more advice on choosing an energy-efficient heating solution and reducing household energy use, Sustainability Victoria provides practical guidance on efficient home heating and cooling.

Common Questions We Get In The Showroom 

Can I have a real wood fire in suburban Geelong, Ballarat, or Traralgon? 

Yes, but check with your local council first. Some Victorian councils have restrictions on wood heater use in dense urban areas, especially on high-pollution days. Outside the suburban centres, wood heaters are common and largely unrestricted. 

Are gas fireplaces being phased out? 

There are policy conversations in Victoria about gas in new builds, but existing homes can continue to install gas log fires. If you are building new and gas is uncertain for your area, talk to us about wood or electric alternatives that will future-proof your decision. 

Can I convert my old open fireplace? 

Often yes. Inbuilt wood heaters and gas inserts can both be fitted into existing masonry fireplaces, often at lower cost than a freestanding install. Bring a photo into one of our showrooms and we can usually tell you on the spot what is possible. 

How long does a fireplace last? 

A quality wood heater installed properly typically lasts 20 to 30 years. Gas log fires usually run 15 to 20 years before major service work. Electric fireplaces run 10 to 15 years depending on use. 

Pricing and Installation Disclaimer

The pricing, installation, and running-cost figures included in this guide are indicative estimates only. Actual costs vary based on fireplace model, supplier pricing, flue requirements, site conditions, fuel prices, electrical work, gas connection requirements, and regional labour rates. Contact Evolution Fires for current pricing and a tailored recommendation for your home.

Talk to Us About Your Home  

304 Melbourne Rd, North Geelong

Phone: (03) 5272 2587 

845 Howitt St, Wendouree 

Phone:  (03) 5338 2586