Best 4 Types of Retaining Walls for Adelaide Homes – Square Gardens

When you’re planning a retaining wall in Adelaide, it’s important to know which type will best suit your block, soil, and design goals. Retaining walls aren’t just functional—they can be a stunning feature that adds value to your home.

Here are the four most common structural retaining wall types used in residential landscaping.

1. Gravity Retaining Walls – Simple & Sturdy

Best for: Small to medium wall heights, garden beds, and decorative terraces.

Gravity walls rely on their own weight to hold back soil. They have a thicker base and often lean slightly backwards into the backfill—a technique known as battering.Commonly made from stone, concrete blocks, or brick, these walls are cost-effective and simple to build.

Things to note for Best Type Retaining Walls:

• Over time, poorly constructed gravity walls may shift or lean.

• Best suited to low-height walls without excessive soil pressure.

2. Anchored Retaining Walls – Maximum Holding Power

Best for: Steep slopes, heavy soil loads, and high retaining walls.

Despite the name, Anchored Walls have nothing to do with boats. They use steel cables or rods driven deep into the ground, with bulb-shaped concrete anchors at the ends to resist movement.This method is ideal when you need extra strength in areas with heavy earth pressure.

Advantages:

• Perfect for tall or narrow walls.

• Can be combined with other retaining wall types for additional stability.

3. Sheet Pile Retaining Walls – Slim Profile Strength

Best for: Tight spaces, waterfront areas, or soft soil conditions.

Sheet pile walls use long, thin planks (often steel, vinyl, or timber) driven vertically into the ground.Like anchored walls, they can be reinforced with tie-backs for extra stability.

Why choose them:

• Great where space is limited and a wide base isn’t possible.

• Works well in clay, sand, or soft soils.

4. Cantilever Retaining Walls – Strong & Efficient

Best for: Medium to tall walls where a sleek profile is preferred.

Cantilever walls use an L-shaped or T-shaped footing that extends under the soil. This footing, often made of reinforced concrete, uses the weight of the backfill to stabilise the wall.

Key benefits:

• Requires less material than gravity walls for the same height.

• Very strong when properly engineered.

Which Best Type Retaining Wall is Best for You?

The right wall depends on:

• Your soil type

• Height and length of the wall

• Drainage needs

• Local council approval requirements

• Your budget and desired aesthetic

At Square Gardens, we build and design all four types—tailored to your property, engineered for safety, and built to last in Adelaide’s climate.

📞 Call Square Gardens on 0425 015 911 for a free consultation and retaining wall quote.