In brief
In September, Australian dwelling approvals climbed 5.1% to 17,948, largely due to a 25.6% jump in apartment approvals, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Private‑sector house approvals dropped 5.3% but were still up 9.6% year‑on‑year, with non‑residential building approvals surging 45.9%.
In Canberra on Monday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced that total dwelling approvals rose 5.1 percent in September to 17,948, with the sharpest gains coming from apartment permits.
According to the bureau, approvals for private‑sector dwellings excluding houses increased 16.6 percent to 6,579 in September, after a 21.7 percent fall in August. Nevertheless, these approvals remained 20.5 percent lower than a year earlier. Daniel Rossi, head of construction statistics of the ABS, said in a statement.
Approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses increased 16.6 percent to 6,579 in September, following a 21.7 percent fall in August, but remained 20.5 percent lower than a year earlier.
The rise in apartment approvals was the most significant contributor, growing 25.6 percent to 4,129 in unadjusted terms. New South Wales led the expansion, with permits jumping from 901 in August to 1,995 in September.
Private‑sector house approvals fell 5.3 percent to 10,432, marking the largest single‑month decline since August 2025. Despite the drop, the figure was still 9.6 percent above the same month last year and had surpassed 10,000 for the ninth consecutive month.
Townhouse approvals also gained momentum, increasing 8.3 percent to 2,792 in original terms after a 19.4 percent drop in August.
Financially, the value of total building approvals rose 13 percent to 19.02 billion Australian dollars (about 13.37 billion U.S. dollars). Non‑residential building approvals were the biggest driver, climbing 45.9 percent to 7.96 billion Australian dollars. In contrast, the value of residential building approvals fell 2.8 percent to 11.06 billion Australian dollars.
These figures indicate a mixed housing market: while private‑sector house approvals dipped, overall dwelling approvals increased due to the surge in apartment and townhouse permits.
The ABS data suggest strong growth in new units despite some declines, reflecting shifting preferences toward multi‑unit dwellings amid ongoing demand for housing in Australian cities.
