The short answer
You can adopt an Australian Terrier in Melbourne, though the purebred is uncommon, so cast a wide net and expect small terrier crosses more often. Set alerts across the main Victorian rescues and be application-ready. Adoption runs about $350 to $700 for an adult and $500 to $900 for a puppy, all-inclusive, against well into the thousands from a breeder, and the breed is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds. The honest part is the terrier in it: real energy, a love of digging and a prey drive, so it needs daily exercise and engagement. Give it that and a rescue Australian Terrier is an affectionate, plucky companion.
Why Australian Terriers reach Melbourne rescue
A purebred Australian Terrier is uncommon in rescue, but terriers and small terrier crosses reach Victorian rescue steadily, for a mix of reasons.
More terrier than expected. People take on a small breed expecting a quiet lap dog and get a bold, busy terrier that digs, chases and barks at the fence. Without exercise and engagement that energy becomes a problem, and the dog is surrendered.
Changing circumstances. A move to a rental, a new baby, illness or a financial change can all mean a much-loved dog needs a new home, through no fault of its own.
Backyard breeding. Small purebred terriers are valuable, so some are produced by backyard or puppy-farm breeders without health testing or socialisation, and rescues take in surrendered and ex-breeding dogs that make lovely pets in the right home.
Where to adopt an Australian Terrier in Melbourne
The purebred is uncommon, so a wide alert net and an open mind about small terrier crosses are essential. Set listing alerts on every rescue you would consider, and add small-dog and terrier networks. For a fuller directory, see our list of Melbourne rescues and shelters.
1. RSPCA Victoria
The state body runs adoption centres at Burwood East and RSPCA Peninsula at Pearcedale. Small dogs and terrier crosses come through regularly via owner surrender, and every adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping, a vet workup and a behavioural assessment. Apply at rspcavic.org.
2. The Lost Dogs' Home
Melbourne's long-established metro shelter, based in North Melbourne with a second facility at Cranbourne. Its large intake of stray and surrendered dogs means small terriers and crosses turn up regularly, always with a behavioural assessment. Adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping and a vet check. Listings at dogshome.com.
3. Lort Smith
Lort Smith runs an Adoption Centre at Campbellfield with a full vet workup behind every dog. A broad mix of breeds means small terriers and crosses feature regularly. More at lortsmith.com.
4. Save-A-Dog Scheme
A Melbourne-based no-kill rescue running since 1985, with a mix of shelter and foster placements. Because many dogs live in foster homes, the notes on a terrier's energy, temperament and behaviour with people and other animals tend to be detailed and honest, which is exactly what you want with a spirited small breed. More at saveadog.org.au.
5. Second Chance Animal Rescue
A Victorian foster-based rescue that takes a broad mix of dogs and crosses, including small terriers. Because dogs live in foster, you get a clear picture of the real temperament before you commit, and the application usually includes a home check. Listings at secondchanceanimalrescue.com.au.
Beyond these, Animal Aid at Coldstream and the Australian Animal Protection Society at Keysborough both rehome small dogs including terriers, and the fastest way to scan many Victorian rescues at once is PetRescue, a national aggregator that lists animals from hundreds of member rescues in one searchable place. Be wary of any group calling itself a terrier rescue that asks for money before you have confirmed a real address, a current adoptable-dog list and charitable status. Browse the current Australian Terriers and terrier crosses on the Melbourne Australian Terrier listings.
What an Australian Terrier costs: adopt versus buy
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee through a Melbourne rescue commonly runs about $350 to $700 for an adult, with puppies usually $500 to $900, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check.
A purebred Australian Terrier puppy from a breeder in Victoria, by contrast, typically runs well into the thousands, with none of that vet work done yet. So adopting is many times cheaper up front, and the dog arrives already vetted and, if you adopt an adult, with a known temperament.
The ongoing cost is a healthy small dog: modest food, weight-dosed preventatives, routine vet care, some coat grooming and the time for daily exercise and play. Council registration under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 is a modest yearly cost, reduced for a desexed and microchipped dog, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young is worth having.
Living with a spirited terrier, and the health picture
The Australian Terrier is bold, affectionate and intelligent, and in an engaged home it is a plucky, devoted little companion. But it is a true terrier, with real energy, a prey drive and a love of digging and alarm-barking, so it needs daily walks, play and mental work and consistent, reward-based training. The ones in rescue often got there because their terrier side was underestimated in a home that wanted a quiet lap dog.
On health the breed is generally hardy but prone to a kneecap condition (luxating patella), some hip problems, diabetes and skin allergies. A rescue Australian Terrier arrives vet-checked, so ask the rescue what the in-care assessment found, keep the dog lean, stay on top of dental care, and insure it while it is young.
Australian Terriers and Victorian breed law
The Australian Terrier is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds, which under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 are the pit bull terrier, dogo argentino, fila brasileiro, japanese tosa and perro de presa canario. An Australian Terrier is legal to own and rehome normally, and simply needs to be microchipped and registered with your local council from three months of age, re-registered each year. As with any dog, socialisation and training help a small terrier settle around children, other pets and visitors. Check Agriculture Victoria and your council for registration details.
Browse adoptable Australian Terriers in Melbourne
Purebreds are uncommon, so set an alert and keep an open mind about small terrier crosses. Browse live Victorian listings now.
See Available Australian Terriers →If you have been searching “Australian Terrier puppies for sale”
Plenty of people arrive here after searching for an Australian Terrier puppy to buy, and adoption has a real advantage: an adult rescue dog lets you see the temperament and energy you are taking on, where a puppy is a gamble. Small purebred terriers command high breeder prices, which attracts backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. In Victoria, any advertisement to sell or give away a dog must display the animal's microchip number and a Pet Exchange Register source number, so check that number on the Pet Exchange Register before you pay, and cross-check anything that feels off against Scamwatch.
Terrier crosses turn up in Victorian rescue regularly and cost a fraction of a breeder price, with a vet-checked dog into the bargain. If you want a busy, affectionate little companion, register your interest, set alerts, and be patient; the right dog does come up.
Adult or puppy, and is an Australian Terrier right for you?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice, because an adult shows you the real energy, temperament and how it is with people and other animals, where a puppy is a gamble. An adult also often has some training in place and a lower adoption fee, and small terriers settle quickly into a new home. A carefully matched, foster-assessed adult is the sensible way into the breed.
Be honest about whether this breed fits your life. An Australian Terrier is a bold, affectionate, plucky dog for an owner who will exercise and engage it and does not mind a bit of digging and barking. It suits active first-time owners and families with considerate children, but not a home wanting a calm, low-energy lap dog. If you can offer the activity and engagement it needs, a rescue Australian Terrier is a devoted companion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt an Australian Terrier near me in Melbourne?
Start with the live listings on this page, which pull Australian Terriers and terrier crosses from shelters and foster-based rescues across Victoria, then widen out. RSPCA Victoria, the Lost Dogs' Home, Lort Smith, Save-A-Dog Scheme and Second Chance Animal Rescue all rehome small dogs including terriers, and PetRescue aggregates many smaller Victorian rescues in one place. A purebred Australian Terrier is uncommon, so small terrier crosses appear more often, which is why a wide alert net helps. Set listing alerts and have your application ready.
Why do Australian Terriers end up in rescue?
Usually because of a change in the owner's circumstances rather than anything wrong with the dog, and sometimes because the terrier side was underestimated. The Australian Terrier is a small, bold, spirited breed with real energy, a prey drive and a love of digging and barking at the fence. In a home that expected a quiet lap dog it can be more terrier than planned, and a move, illness or financial change can also mean a surrender. Terrier crosses appear too. In an active, engaged home the breed is affectionate, plucky and devoted.
How much does it cost to adopt an Australian Terrier in Melbourne versus buying one?
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee through a Melbourne rescue commonly runs about $350 to $700 for an adult, with puppies usually $500 to $900, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A purebred Australian Terrier puppy from a breeder, by contrast, typically runs well into the thousands, with none of that vet work done yet. Whichever way you get one, budget for the exercise, grooming and enrichment a busy little terrier needs.
Are Australian Terriers a restricted breed in Victoria?
No. The Australian Terrier is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds, which are the pit bull terrier, dogo argentino, fila brasileiro, japanese tosa and perro de presa canario. It is legal to own and rehome normally and simply needs to be microchipped and registered with your local council from three months of age. As with any dog, socialisation and training help a small terrier settle around children, other pets and visitors. A rescue Australian Terrier arrives already desexed and microchipped.
Is an Australian Terrier a good first dog?
It can be a good first dog for an active household that understands terriers, but it is more dog than its size suggests. This is a spirited, energetic little breed that needs daily walks, play and mental work, and that will dig, chase and bark if bored. It is affectionate and trainable with consistent, reward-based handling. If you want a busy, plucky companion and will give it exercise and engagement, it suits first-time owners well. If you want a calm, low-energy lap dog, look at a different breed.
Are Australian Terriers good with children and other pets?
With early socialisation and in the right home they generally are. A well-raised Australian Terrier is affectionate and lively with its family and good with considerate children, though its prey drive means care around small pets like rabbits, birds and sometimes cats, and its boldness means it should be supervised around much larger dogs. A foster carer who has lived with the individual dog can tell you exactly how it is with children, other animals and visitors, which is the most useful thing to ask before you commit.
Should I adopt an adult Australian Terrier or a puppy?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice, because an adult shows you its real energy, temperament and how it is with people and other animals, where a puppy is a gamble. An adult also often has some training in place and a lower adoption fee. A vet-checked, foster-assessed adult Australian Terrier, matched to your household, is the sensible way into the breed, and small terriers settle quickly into a new home.
Are there free Australian Terriers in Melbourne, or ones under $500?
Be careful with free or very cheap terriers. A legitimate rescue charges an adoption fee, commonly $350 to $700 for an adult and $500 to $900 for a puppy, so the lower end lands under the $500 people search for, because that fee part-covers the desexing, vaccination, microchipping and vet check the dog has already had. A terrier advertised free to a good home, or well under a rescue fee, is a classic backyard-breeding or scam setup, and small dogs given away cheaply often come from puppy farms, so treat a bargain as a warning sign and check any seller against the Victorian rules below before paying anything.
I keep seeing Australian Terrier puppies for sale. Is adopting really an option?
It is, and adoption has a real advantage because an adult rescue dog lets you see the temperament you are taking on, where a puppy is a gamble. Small purebred terriers command high breeder prices, which attracts backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. In Victoria, any advertisement to sell or give away a dog must display the microchip number and a Pet Exchange Register source number, so check that number on the Pet Exchange Register before paying anything. Terrier crosses turn up in rescue regularly, so register your interest, set alerts, and be patient.
Keep reading
Adoptable Australian Terriers in Melbourne
Live listings with foster carer notes on energy and temperament.
Best Dog Rescues in Melbourne
The verified shelters and foster rescues to set alerts with across Victoria.
Registering a Dog in Melbourne
Council registration, microchipping and the Victorian rules for a new dog.
Melbourne Adoption Resources
Guides on adopting, costs, council rules and settling a rescue dog in Melbourne.