Over Christmas and New Year, thousands of construction sites, yards, warehouses and workshops across Australia sit empty for two to four weeks. Quiet sites attract trespassers, thieves and curious kids, and the hazards don't go away just because the crew has. Good signage is one of the cheapest ways to protect an empty site: it deters people, shows you have taken reasonable steps, and tells anyone who does enter what they're walking into.
Use this checklist before you lock the gates for the break.
1. Every gate: keep out and no unauthorised entry
Each entry point should have a clear keep-out message. A Private – Keep Out Sign or a no-unauthorised-entry sign on every gate tells people the site is closed. Add your company name and emergency contact so neighbours and police know who to call.
2. Fence lines: private property and no trespassing
Long fence lines on street frontages need repeated signs, not just one at the gate. As a rule of thumb, put a private property or no trespassing sign every 20–30 metres where the fence faces a street or public land.
3. Cameras and alarms: CCTV signs
If the site has cameras or monitored alarms, say so. CCTV signs are a strong deterrent, and in some states you need a notice where surveillance is in use. Options include Warning: These Premises Are Under 24 Hour CCTV and 24 Hour CCTV Surveillance with your own text. Check your state's surveillance laws for any specific wording.
4. Hazards: leave the warnings up
Open excavations, scaffolds, plant and stored materials are still hazardous over the break. Make sure danger signs and warning signs are still in place, readable and facing the right way before you leave.
5. Dogs and patrols
If you use a guard dog service or security patrols, a Guard Dog on Patrol Sign or security company sign adds another layer of deterrence.
6. Site contact and emergency details
Your site entry sign should still show a 24-hour contact number. If the number changes over the break, update it. Our custom construction site signs let you add your logo, builder licence and contact details.
Popular shutdown signs
Site closed, no access after hours (your phone number) · Closed for Christmas with your dates · Construction site, keep out · Danger, construction site, unauthorised persons keep out · Private property, 24 hour CCTV, trespassers will be prosecuted · This area is under 24 hour surveillance · Security patrolled premises · Security patrols active · Guard dog on patrol · After hours emergency contacts · Danger, open trench, keep out
More wording options are in our restricted area signs guide.
Materials that survive the break
Corflute is light and quick to cable-tie to temporary fencing, and is the most popular choice for builders' fence panels. For permanent gates and fences, aluminium or ACP will last for years. A reflective finish keeps signs visible to patrols and passing headlights at night.
For temporary fencing, choose eyelets on corflute. Larger corflute signs (450mm x 600mm and up) can be ordered with 4, 6 or 8 eyelets for extra hold in the wind.
Order in time for the break
Every sign is made to order and dispatched in 2–3 business days. For Christmas delivery, order by Wednesday 16 December for NSW, VIC, QLD and SA, or by Wednesday 9 December for WA and NT. Shipping is a flat $20 Australia-wide, free on orders over $500, and all signs are 30% off until 31 December.
Need a full set? Buying 25 or more of the same sign saves an extra 5% (50+ save 10%, 150+ save 15%), applied automatically at checkout.
Shop Christmas shutdown and site security signs
Related guides
Looking for something else? Browse every guide in our Sign Guide Library.