Taking out an old or overgrown shrub can open up a garden. A few checks first make sure the job is allowed, safe and doesn't leave you with a bigger problem.
Is it protected?
Some native vegetation is protected by planning controls, even on residential blocks. If the plant is a native that wasn't obviously planted as part of the garden, or the property has a vegetation or environmental overlay, check with Mitchell Shire Council or Hume City Council before removing it.
What's underground?
Shrub roots often grow around irrigation, stormwater and service pipes. Before You Dig Australia is a free service that shows where underground assets run, and it's worth checking before any digging. Find out where garden irrigation lines run too.
Cut down, then dig out.
Removing the top growth first makes the roots easier to reach and gives you leverage. Dig around the root ball and cut through the larger roots rather than pulling. Smaller shrubs usually come out with the main roots intact; large tree stumps are a different job that needs grinding equipment.
Weedy shrubs.
Plants such as privet, cotoneaster and boneseed are environmental weeds in Victoria, spread by birds that eat the berries. Remove them before they fruit if you can, and don't compost the berries or seed heads.
Plan what comes next.
Once a shrub is gone, the soil underneath is often dry and full of fine roots. Loosening it, adding compost and mulching straight away gives the next planting a better start.
Want a hand with it? See shrub & small plant removal in Wallan, Beveridge and Kalkallo.
Also worth reading: How to get an accurate garden maintenance quote, Regular gardener or one-off tidy-up: which makes more sense?.