A bayonet is a plug-in gas point with a valve that seals itself
A gas bayonet works a bit like a power point for gas. The wall or floor fitting contains a spring loaded valve that stays sealed shut until you push in and twist the matching plug on the appliance hose. Connect the hose and gas flows; pull it out and the valve snaps closed automatically. That self-sealing design is the whole point: you can connect and disconnect a portable gas heater or barbecue yourself, safely, without tools and without any licensed work, because the licensed work was done once when the bayonet was installed.
You will find two common uses on the Gold Coast. Indoors, a bayonet low on a living room wall feeds a portable flued or unflued gas heater over winter. Outdoors, a bayonet on the patio or alfresco wall runs a barbecue off the house natural gas supply, which ends the swap-the-bottle routine for good.
Only a licensed gas fitter can install one in Queensland
Installing a bayonet means teeing into your gas line, running new pipe, fitting the outlet, pressure testing the whole system and issuing a compliance certificate. Every part of that is licensed gas work under Queensland law. There is no DIY version of this job, and hardware stores selling bayonet fittings over the counter does not change that. Unlicensed gas work risks fines, voided insurance and, more to the point, a gas leak inside your wall cavity.
One licensing note worth understanding: gas work in Queensland is authorised under a gas work licence, which is separate from a QBCC plumbing licence. When you check credentials, ask specifically about the gas work licence for gas jobs.
What a bayonet installation costs
| Job | As of 2026, Gold Coast | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New gas point including bayonet outlet | $480 to $820 plus compliance certificate | Price varies with pipe run length and access |
| Gas cooktop like-for-like swap (for comparison) | $260 to $480 plus compliance | Same licensed work class |
| Annual or two yearly gas appliance service | $150 to $200 | Good time to check bayonet condition |
| Hose and appliance connection accessories | Quoted on inspection | Depends on appliance and hose standard |
| Relocating or removing an existing bayonet | Quoted on inspection | Involves pipe alteration and retest |
The main cost driver is the pipe run. A bayonet on the wall directly behind the gas meter is at the bottom of the range. A point on the far side of the house, under a slab edge or up through a two storey wall cavity, sits at the top or needs a quote on inspection. When we quote, we also check your gas line has capacity for the extra appliance, because a barbecue added to a line already feeding continuous flow hot water and a cooktop can push the system past its sizing.
Natural gas and LPG homes can both have bayonets
Bayonets are not limited to homes on the natural gas network. If your Gold Coast or hinterland property runs on LPG bottles, we can run a bayonet point off the bottle installation in exactly the same way, and the licensing, testing and compliance certificate requirements are identical. One practical difference is worth planning for: appliances are jetted for a specific gas type, so a barbecue set up for bottled LPG needs conversion before it runs off a natural gas bayonet, and vice versa. Tell us what appliance you intend to plug in when you book and we will make sure the point, the hose and the appliance all match, rather than discovering a mismatch on installation day.
Safety habits once your bayonet is in
The fitting itself is very reliable, but the hoses and appliances plugged into it deserve attention. Check the hose for cracks or kinks each season before first use, keep the male plug clean of dirt and insect nests, and if you ever smell gas at the connection point, unplug the appliance and call us. Never use an indoor bayonet to run an outdoor rated appliance like a patio heater or barbecue inside; the bayonet supplies the gas, but the appliance still has to be rated for where you use it.
Sources: Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (Qld); Resources Safety and Health Queensland gas work licensing guidance; AS/NZS 5601 gas installations standard.
Get a bayonet point installed properly
If you want your barbecue plumbed to natural gas or a heater point added before winter, we install bayonet fittings across the Gold Coast with fixed pricing and a compliance certificate on completion. Gas work is carried out under a Queensland gas work licence; plumbing and drainage work is covered by QBCC licence 15243081. Call 0472 657 042 or book through our gas fitting service page.