MESH MADE IN ORANGE NSW
Exclusion fencing: inspect all four routes through a boundary
A tall mesh roll is one component of an exclusion fence. The system is only as continuous as its gates, bottom edge, corners and crossings.
The short answer
Assess how the target animals could go through, under, over or around the fence. Use that inspection to specify the mesh, assemblies and any top or ground protection. No generic design is guaranteed to exclude every species in every setting.
Follow the four possible routes
Through
Read the actual opening pattern and inspect damage, joins and transitions—not only the nominal height.
Under
Look for hollows, digging, washouts, loose apron edges and gate clearances.
Over
Consider the required finished height and any designed top treatment for the target animals.
Around
Check gateways, creek crossings, ends and connections to other structures or fences.
This framework gives you a useful site walk before buying. It does not tell you the correct dimensions or treatment for a particular species. Use a competent, site-specific design for those decisions.
Make the fence continuous at the difficult places
| Place | What needs a decision |
|---|---|
| Gate | Opening, support design, operation and all clearances |
| Drain / watercourse | Water and debris behaviour, access and specialist crossing requirements |
| Corner / change of grade | Assembly design and mesh continuity |
| Existing fence tie-in | Condition, height, openings and attachment |
| Apron or top treatment | Compatible product, connection, extent and maintenance |
A product description may talk about exclusion uses while still leaving these details to the installer. That is not unusual; it is a reason to quote the complete boundary rather than assuming the roll purchase includes a finished exclusion system.
Use the calculator for what it can count
Outback’s Fixed Knot page includes an exclusion materials planner. Enter the measured length and selected options, then read its assumptions. It separates pickets required from packs supplied and identifies items it leaves out of the cart.
Treat pricing for posts or protection as what the planner says it is. A planning line for a bare strainer post is not automatically a complete assembly. A materials subtotal does not include installation or delivery unless those items are explicitly included.
Keep a boundary exception list
Exclusion boundary record
Print this page and fill in the blanks. Keep it with your photos and quote.
- Target animals and observed approach routes
- ________________________________
- Each run length and existing fence condition
- ________________________________
- Through / under / over / around findings
- ________________________________
- Gate, drain, corner and tie-in photos
- ________________________________
- Mesh and designed top / ground treatment
- ________________________________
- Complete assemblies and installation details
- ________________________________
- Calculator exclusions still to price
- ________________________________
Before you leave this guide
An exclusion order should describe a continuous system, including its difficult transitions. Do not let the mesh roll become shorthand for the whole fence.
Plan the exclusion materials together
The Fixed Knot page includes the exclusion planner. Check the assumptions, required versus supplied quantities and the items left outside its cart estimate.
Open Fixed Knot & the exclusion plannerSources & scope
- Waratah — exclusion fence planning
- Waratah — designing your fence
- Waratah — Stocksafe-T integrated apron
This is an Outback planning guide, not a site-specific installation specification. Manufacturer references explain the subject; their branded product dimensions and methods are not automatically specifications for Outback products.
Editorial review: September 2026. Outback links identify our own product information. External sources are independent references, not endorsements. Product prices, availability and order quantities are shown on the current listings or your written quote.