I would approach the local Council first.....their records should show when the shed was built which in turn would tell you how likely it is that there is asbestos.

As long as it is not broken or damaged in any way it should not be a problem and even less so if it is painted.

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

I would approach the local Council first.....their records should show when the shed was built which in turn would tell you how likely it is that there is asbestos.

 

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 Putting a lot of faith into Council records.

A lot of Italians  immigrants  people in those days didn't believe in permits

And who is to say the Council does not have a record of when it was built?

It may even have been built at the same time as the house in which case it should be on the records.

If you don't ask you will never know.

Almost certainly asbestos cement sheet. 

I shudder when I remember neighbours kids (out of control lol) kicking the back out of their old garden shed. I now realise it was asbestos.

I believe it was 1984 they stoped using asbestos and started using Fibre cement sheeting, so if it pre dates 1984 it will be asbostos.

Google the date change over as I have been wrong before 

Thanks for all the response.  It is just a small area in the back of the shed, 2m x2m.  The rest of the shed has been clad in corrugated iron.  It is intact, so I am not too worried about it, but one day it will have to be taken down.  I just wondered if there is any way asbestos looks differently from hardiplanks. 

The shed was not built with permit, and it has been there for ever, but when the cement sheeting was done is anybody's guess.  Asbestos sheets were stopped being manufactured in 1981, but that does not mean they were not used; people could have them sitting somewhere.  I cannot see any writing on it. 

if I remember rightly asbestos has a slight grey color to it

one side of the sheet is very smooth and the other has a dimpled effect

I might spray paint it to seal it, just in case.  I think Hardie's used the same dimply molds for a while after phasing out asbestos.

Just in reference to the mention of cost up there somewhere ^^^^^^^^^

We are about to start a reno/extension and have asbestos sheeting that has to be removed.  Our builder told us there is very little extra expense in getting it professionally removed.  The important part being professional.  He told us they would be the only people allowed on site that day, but other than that it would all be fine.