7 September 2026
Hundreds of new apartments have been approved or are under construction in Darwin's CBD.
Lending to investors to build new homes is highest in the Territory of any jurisdiction and well ahead of national trend.
Finocchiaro CLP Government restores investor confidence in the Territory housing market.
Hundreds of new apartments have been approved or are under construction in Darwin's CBD as the latest data shows the Territory is approving new home building applications at more than four times the national rate.
The Territory recorded its biggest month for residential building approvals in a decade in July.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics also found that while investor lending for residential building fell 8.6% nationally, it increased by 12.8% in the Territory in the June 2026 quarter - the strongest increase of any State or Territory.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said her CLP Government had restored investor confidence in developing new unit and housing dwelling options for Territorians.
"Under Labor, investors had no confidence in the economy and were not building units and now renters are facing low vacancy rates," the Chief Minister said.
"Our focus on rebuilding our economy has meant that there are currently nearly 230 apartments approved or under construction in the Darwin CBD which will make a direct impact on supply and demand.
"We are proud to be delivering more houses and apartments for home ownership and more properties for rent."
The current pipeline of apartments, serviced apartments, motel rooms and student accommodation currently approved includes:
• 228 apartments
• 108 serviced apartments
• 443 motel rooms
• 427 beds student accommodation.
"We recognise that the Top End needs to offer a mix of accommodation types to meet demand, including apartments in the city close to where people work," the Chief Minister said.
"My CLP Government is pulling every lever we can to increase supply - new homes, new apartments and more private investment."
In the past 12 months to July 2026, home approvals grew by 49.2% in the Territory, compared to just 11.7% across Australia, and well ahead of all other jurisdictions, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
There were 91 residential building approvals in the Territory in July 2026 - that is the highest monthly figure on record since October 2016, and just one shy of the all-time record for the Territory and almost 50% higher than a year ago.
The Chief Minister said: "We know the rental market is tight. This is about getting more homes into the market - helping Territorians build their own home, getting more apartments built and attracting the investment that provides rental properties.
"The fundamentals are moving in the right direction: more Territorians building homes, developers looking again at apartments and investors putting their money into the Territory housing market."
Under the Finocchiaro CLP Government, nearly 400 first home buyer grants of $50,000 each have been paid or are in the pipeline, as well as another 233 FreshStart New Builds grants of $30,000 each.
This is a total of more than $25m in home grants under the Finocchiaro CLP Government.
Among the recipients is Darwin's latest new homeowner, Thomas-James Marshall, who was joined by family, the Chief Minister, and his builder yesterday to celebrate his home in The Parks estate.
The FIFO worker said the grant was crucial in securing his property.
"The $50,000 grant got me over the line with a deposit and secured my house and it was a smooth process," he said. "It was a real weight off my shoulders to see it completed, and I'm relieved it's now done."
His Nana, Marilyn Clarke, was elated by his achievement. "I can't tell you how proud I am of Thomas and how far he has come, being the first person in our family to own a brand new home," she said.
"This is one of the best days of my life."
His mother, Yvette Armstrong, highlighted her son's role as a family inspiration.
"Thomas has always been a quiet achiever who worked hard for his house. He is a great role model for his siblings, showing what hard work and dedication can achieve," she said.
Builder Richard Dickinson of Beare Homes said that demand for house and land packages remains robust.
"My message to other first-home buyers is to take the leap because with more land being released, our books are wide open," he said.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the latest data showed that her Government was getting on with the job of meeting the demand for housing and accommodation.
"We have a booming economy, population growing faster than the national rate, more people in jobs than ever before - and the Territory leading the nation on a range of economic indicators," the Chief Minister said.
"We also have plenty of good jobs to fill, so it is important that we have the houses being approved and built to accommodate the workers coming to the Territory, where the Australian dream of owning your own home is still alive.
"We are cutting red tape and speeding up the process which is why we are seeing historically high home building approvals."
