Demolition.

If you're going with a builder that offers demolition as part of the tender make sure you take on their services.
Wisdom unfortunately does not do this and so the headache of the demolition.

A few things to note if your doing this on your own (as in organising demolition) get a quote as soon as possible and find yourself a demolisher. Make sure to get a quote on removing everything, tree stumps, footpaths, driveway, anything that will be a pain to remove. Also ask if they will provide a temporary fence and toilet as per council requirement.. if not then you will have to organise it or just ask them to include.

Once you have decided on a demolisher he will have to provide you with the councils requirements such as how they are going to demolish the house, waste management etc.. (we were lucky to find a demolisher considering we left it too late, we had no idea of the council requirements) Submit to council all relevant materials.

Once you recieve your DA approval for demolition here are a few things you need to keep in mind. You will have to get GAS(licensed plumber required) , Electricity disconnected from supplier and then by a level 3 electrician from the grid.

Here are some photos of the demolition which took 3 days.

Everything on the land was removed including a tree stump concealed under our above ground pool.. lucky demolisher got caught on it.