In brief
Australia’s dwellings approvals increased 5.1 % in September to 17,948, with apartments up 25.6 % and apartment approvals in New South Wales doubling. Private‑sector house approvals fell 5.3 % but remained 9.6 % above the same month last year, and non‑residential building approvals surged 45.9 %. The data illustrate a mixed housing market with strong growth in new units amid some declines.
Australian dwelling approvals rose 5.1 percent in September to 17,948, according to Xinhua reporting on data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Monday. The rise was largely driven by a sharp increase in apartment approvals, while private‑sector house approvals slipped 5.3 percent, though they still exceeded a year‑ago level by 9.6 percent.
ABS head of construction statistics Daniel Rossi explained that approvals for private‑sector dwellings excluding houses increased 16.6 percent to 6,579 in September, following a sharp 21.7 percent fall in August. However, they remained 20.5 percent lower than a year earlier, he said in a statement.
Approvals were 20.5 percent lower than a year earlier, but they still rose by 16.6 percent from the previous month, indicating a rebound after August’s decline.
Apartment approvals posted the most significant jump, rising 25.6 percent to 4,129 in original, unadjusted terms. The state of New South Wales recorded the largest increase, with approvals climbing from 901 in August to 1,995 in September — more than double the previous month.
Private‑sector house approvals saw a 5.3 percent drop to 10,432, marking the largest monthly decline since August 2025. Despite the decline, approvals remained 9.6 percent above the same period last year and surpassed the 10,000‑house mark for the ninth straight month.
Townhouse approvals increased by 8.3 percent to 2,792 in September, following a 19.4 percent fall in August. The mixed performance across dwelling types indicates a market that is still adjusting after the August retrenchment.
On the value side, the total value of all building approvals rose 13 percent to AUD 19.02 billion (approximately USD 13.37 billion) in September. This growth was supported by a 45.9 percent surge in non‑residential building approvals, which reached AUD 7.96 billion. In contrast, the value of residential building approvals fell 2.8 percent to AUD 11.06 billion.
Key Development by Type
• Apartments: up 25.6% to 4,129 approvals, with NSW approvals doubling from the previous month.
• Private‑sector houses: down 5.3% to 10,432 approvals, but 9.6% above year‑ago levels.
• Townhouses: up 8.3% to 2,792 approvals.
• Non‑residential buildings: approvals surged 45.9% to AUD 7.96 billion in value.
• Residential building value: fell 2.8% to AUD 11.06 billion.
The ABS notes that while the overall dwelling approval count has gained, the sector remains uneven, with apartment approvals buoying the total figure amid a temporary dip in private‑sector house and townhouse activity. The spike in non‑residential building approvals and the overall rise in construction value point to continued investment confidence across the country, although the decline in residential approval value signals a modest slowdown in residential demand. Combined, the data portray a housing market that is experiencing a mixed trajectory: growth in new units and commercial construction tempered by a modest retreat in private residential approvals set against a backdrop of year‑on‑year gains.
