WordPress website
A fast, lean WordPress site for a small business that wants to edit its own content.
- Lean custom theme
- Editable content fields
- Forms with spam protection
- SEO, sitemap and analytics
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WordPress development · Melbourne
WordPress development, without the page builder.
Custom WordPress themes for businesses that want the editing freedom of WordPress without the weight of Elementor, Divi or a bought theme. Hand-coded, fast and secure, with every section built as a field your team can edit.
Free, no obligation. A written quote within two business days.
- WordPress sites
- From $1,000
- Custom themes
- From $3,500
- Care plans
- From $79 a month
- Built with
- ACF Pro, WooCommerce, Git
Why custom
All of WordPress’s strengths. None of the bloat.
WordPress runs a huge share of the web for good reason: it is easy to edit, it is yours, and it is not locked to one company. Most of its bad reputation comes from how sites are built on it, with heavy page builders, bought themes and a plugin for every small job.
We build custom themes from scratch using Advanced Custom Fields for editing, a short list of trusted plugins, and version-controlled code. The result looks exactly like the design, loads quickly, and keeps working through updates.
Already on WordPress? We take over existing sites too, including ones we did not build: cleaning out unused plugins, fixing broken forms, removing malware and rebuilding slow pages without changing addresses that already rank.
Common WordPress problems
What we fix most often.
Every one of these has a straightforward fix. Most sites have three or four of them.
- 01
Page builder slowdown
Elementor, Divi or WPBakery loading heavy scripts on every page and dragging mobile speed down.
- 02
Plugin overload
Thirty or forty plugins, half unused, each one another thing to update and another way in for attackers.
- 03
Updates break the site
Nobody dares press update, so the site falls further behind and becomes less secure every month.
- 04
Hacked or redirecting
Spam pages, strange redirects or malware warnings in Google that appeared out of nowhere.
- 05
Abandoned theme
A bought theme that is no longer supported, with a layout nobody can change without breaking it.
- 06
Developer disappeared
The person who built it moved on, and nobody has the logins, the files or the know-how.
What we build
WordPress, done properly.
From a lean five-page site to a full platform with stores, members and integrations.
Custom theme rebuild
For businesses replacing a page builder or bought theme with something fast and solid.
- Custom page templates and sections
- ACF Pro flexible content
- Content migration and redirects
- Plugin clean-up and hardening
WooCommerce and integrations
For WordPress sites that sell, take bookings or connect to other systems.
- WooCommerce stores
- Memberships and bookings
- Custom plugins and APIs
- Payments, CRM and stock sync
Our WordPress standard
How every WordPress build is put together.
The same standard whether it is five pages or fifty.
- 01
Editing with ACF
Every section built as clear fields and flexible blocks, so content is easy and layouts stay intact.
- 02
Short plugin list
Only trusted, maintained plugins, with custom code where a plugin would add more weight than value.
- 03
Security hardening
Locked-down logins, file permissions, firewall rules and no unused themes or plugins left behind.
- 04
Version control
Theme code kept in Git with numbered versions, so every change is tracked and reversible.
- 05
Staging first
Changes and updates tested on a staging copy before they reach the live site.
- 06
Speed tuned
Image sizing, caching and lean templates so pages pass Core Web Vitals on mobile.
Custom theme vs page builder
Custom theme or page builder?
Both are WordPress. The difference shows up in speed, security and upkeep.
| Custom theme | Page builder (Elementor, Divi) | Bought theme | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page weight | Light: only what is used | Heavy builder scripts and styles | Heavy: every feature loaded |
| Editing | Clear fields, layout protected | Drag and drop, easy to break | Theme options, limited |
| Updates | Few plugins, low risk | Builder updates can break layouts | Depends on the theme author |
| Security surface | Small | Larger | Larger |
| Design | Exactly as designed | Close to the design | Close to the demo |
| Upfront cost | From $1,000 | Lower | Lowest |
Recent WordPress work
WordPress sites we have built and look after.
Custom themes, no page builders.
Cafe 1947
Brand identity and a custom WordPress website for a Boronia cafe.
Visit 1947cafe.com.au (opens in a new tab)150 Peel Street
Building website, thirteen resident request forms, lot owner login and contractor QR check-in, maintained monthly.
Visit 150peel.com.au (opens in a new tab)
Pricing
Clear starting points, fixed before work starts.
Every WordPress project is quoted in writing against a fixed scope. Prices exclude GST.
Essential
From$1,000
For a small business that wants a fast WordPress site it can edit.
- Up to five pages on a lean custom theme
- Editable content fields, no page builder
- Contact forms with spam protection
- On-page SEO, sitemap and analytics
- Hosting, SSL and backups configured
Signature
Most chosenFrom$3,500
For replacing a page builder or bought theme with a custom one.
- Up to fifteen custom page templates
- ACF Pro flexible sections for every layout
- Content migration from your old site
- Redirects, schema and Search Console
- Training and 30 days of support
Flagship
Priced to scopeCustom quote
For WordPress platforms with stores, members or integrations.
- Everything in Signature
- WooCommerce, memberships or bookings
- Custom plugins and API integrations
- Multisite or multilingual builds
- Performance and security hardening
How it works
From first call to launch, in four steps.
Everything agreed in writing, with the price fixed before work starts.
- 01
Discover
A call about your business, customers and goals, then a written scope and fixed quote.
- 02
Design
Page layouts designed in Figma and approved by you before a line of code is written.
- 03
Build
Hand-built, content loaded, every form tested, speed and SEO checked before launch.
- 04
Launch
Go live with redirects mapped and Search Console set up, then training for your team.
Where we work
WordPress developers across Melbourne.
Melbourne-based WordPress developers for businesses across Victoria and Australia, in person or online.
- Melbourne CBD
- Southbank
- Docklands
- North Melbourne
- Carlton
- Fitzroy
- Collingwood
- Richmond
- South Yarra
- St Kilda
- Brunswick
- Preston
- Coburg
- Northcote
- Footscray
- Essendon
- Hawthorn
- Camberwell
- Box Hill
- Doncaster
- Glen Waverley
- Clayton
- Dandenong
- Frankston
- Werribee
- Point Cook
- Craigieburn
- Epping
- Ringwood
- Boronia
- Geelong
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- and across Australia
Common questions
What people ask before they start.
Anything not covered here, send it through and we will answer it properly.
Why choose a custom WordPress theme over Elementor or Divi?
A custom theme only loads the code your pages need, so it is faster on mobile, has fewer things to update and fewer ways to be attacked. Editing is done through clear fields, so your team can change content without accidentally breaking the layout.
Can you take over an existing WordPress site you did not build?
Yes. We start with a free audit of the site, its plugins, hosting and forms, then tell you plainly whether to keep, repair or rebuild it. We then fix the urgent issues first and move it onto a care plan.
Can you fix a hacked WordPress website?
Yes. We remove the malware, close the hole it came through, clean up spam pages and Google warnings, change every credential and harden the site so it does not happen again. Ongoing monitoring is included in our care plans.
How much does WordPress development cost?
A WordPress site of up to five pages starts from $1,000, and a custom theme of up to fifteen page templates starts from $3,500. WooCommerce, membership and integration builds are quoted to scope. Prices exclude GST.
Is WordPress secure?
WordPress itself is well maintained and secure. Most hacked sites are caused by outdated or abandoned plugins, weak logins and cheap hosting. A lean custom theme, a short plugin list and regular tested updates remove most of that risk.
Will I be able to edit the site myself?
Yes. Every page is built from editable sections in the normal WordPress editor, with the layout protected. Every build ends with training and written notes for your team.
Do you build WooCommerce stores?
Yes. We build and maintain WooCommerce stores with Australian payments, shipping and GST set up, and connections to stock, accounting and email tools. See our e-commerce page for details.
Which hosting do you recommend for WordPress?
Fast, managed cloud hosting with daily backups and server-level caching. We can set up new hosting in your name, or work with your existing provider if it is up to the job.
Is your WordPress site holding you back?
Send us the address. We will review speed, plugins, security and forms, and send back a plain-English report with the fixes ranked by what matters most.