The total number of dwellings approved fell 3.4 per cent in April to 16,710, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Daniel Rossi, ABS head of construction statistics, said: 'The fall in total dwellings approved was driven by a 3.6 per cent fall in private dwellings excluding houses, after falling 25.7 per cent in March.
'Private sector house approvals fell 1.0 per cent, but remain at elevated levels. This is the third consecutive month with over 10,000 private sector houses approved. The last time this occurred was during the final three months of 2021'.
The total number of dwellings approved is 10.2 per cent higher in year-on-year terms.
| Total dwellings | Private sector houses | Private sector dwellings excluding houses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr-11 | 13,905 | 8,154 | 5,515 |
| May-11 | 12,800 | 8,025 | 4,514 |
| Jun-11 | 12,655 | 7,979 | 4,316 |
| Jul-11 | 13,118 | 7,680 | 4,991 |
| Aug-11 | 14,764 | 7,762 | 6,563 |
| Sep-11 | 12,367 | 7,786 | 4,332 |
| Oct-11 | 11,421 | 7,262 | 3,957 |
| Nov-11 | 11,693 | 7,611 | 3,870 |
| Dec-11 | 11,760 | 7,696 | 3,931 |
| Jan-12 | 11,279 | 7,817 | 3,241 |
| Feb-12 | 11,688 | 7,346 | 4,185 |
| Mar-12 | 11,781 | 7,514 | 4,085 |
| Apr-12 | 10,957 | 6,808 | 4,050 |
| May-12 | 13,938 | 7,288 | 6,545 |
| Jun-12 | 14,984 | 7,300 | 7,496 |
| Jul-12 | 11,808 | 7,694 | 3,873 |
| Aug-12 | 13,213 | 7,696 | 5,373 |
| Sep-12 | 15,438 | 7,921 | 7,329 |
| Oct-12 | 14,146 | 7,825 | 5,843 |
| Nov-12 | 13,968 | 7,722 | 5,999 |
| Dec-12 | 14,003 | 7,749 | 6,040 |
| Jan-13 | 12,648 | 7,803 | 4,642 |
| Feb-13 | 13,809 | 7,776 | 5,377 |
| Mar-13 | 13,343 | 7,975 | 5,128 |
| Apr-13 | 15,013 | 8,151 | 6,601 |
| May-13 | 14,220 | 8,371 | 5,433 |
| Jun-13 | 13,784 | 8,267 | 5,180 |
| Jul-13 | 15,016 | 8,540 | 6,227 |
| Aug-13 | 15,048 | 8,416 | 6,317 |
| Sep-13 | 18,609 | 8,672 | 9,621 |
| Oct-13 | 17,484 | 8,711 | 8,512 |
| Nov-13 | 17,346 | 9,261 | 7,769 |
| Dec-13 | 17,037 | 9,075 | 7,706 |
| Jan-14 | 17,735 | 10,208 | 7,174 |
| Feb-14 | 16,918 | 9,751 | 6,947 |
| Mar-14 | 16,059 | 9,364 | 6,420 |
| Apr-14 | 16,253 | 9,743 | 6,175 |
| May-14 | 16,813 | 9,783 | 6,805 |
| Jun-14 | 16,699 | 9,671 | 6,748 |
| Jul-14 | 16,928 | 9,758 | 6,948 |
| Aug-14 | 18,637 | 9,718 | 8,627 |
| Sep-14 | 16,499 | 9,555 | 6,704 |
| Oct-14 | 18,010 | 9,865 | 7,949 |
| Nov-14 | 20,339 | 9,835 | 10,254 |
| Dec-14 | 20,110 | 9,725 | 9,953 |
| Jan-15 | 20,050 | 9,930 | 9,636 |
| Feb-15 | 19,826 | 9,717 | 9,767 |
| Mar-15 | 20,831 | 9,630 | 10,873 |
| Apr-15 | 19,048 | 9,606 | 9,119 |
| May-15 | 20,838 | 9,558 | 10,980 |
| Jun-15 | 19,373 | 9,931 | 9,205 |
| Jul-15 | 19,652 | 9,742 | 9,046 |
| Aug-15 | 19,466 | 10,097 | 9,180 |
| Sep-15 | 20,256 | 9,815 | 10,135 |
| Oct-15 | 21,610 | 9,743 | 11,609 |
| Nov-15 | 18,835 | 9,668 | 9,085 |
| Dec-15 | 20,055 | 10,238 | 9,646 |
| Jan-16 | 18,802 | 9,830 | 8,664 |
| Feb-16 | 19,928 | 9,856 | 9,763 |
| Mar-16 | 20,536 | 10,209 | 10,116 |
| Apr-16 | 20,842 | 10,024 | 10,618 |
| May-16 | 20,279 | 10,015 | 9,951 |
| Jun-16 | 18,610 | 9,655 | 8,792 |
| Jul-16 | 21,384 | 9,605 | 11,562 |
| Aug-16 | 22,012 | 9,726 | 11,799 |
| Sep-16 | 19,265 | 9,778 | 9,319 |
| Oct-16 | 16,598 | 9,576 | 6,697 |
| Nov-16 | 18,398 | 9,639 | 8,449 |
| Dec-16 | 18,400 | 9,383 | 8,867 |
| Jan-17 | 17,042 | 9,161 | 7,657 |
| Feb-17 | 19,073 | 9,442 | 9,413 |
| Mar-17 | 16,476 | 9,314 | 6,923 |
| Apr-17 | 18,214 | 9,474 | 8,509 |
| May-17 | 16,928 | 9,809 | 6,962 |
| Jun-17 | 18,802 | 9,954 | 8,643 |
| Jul-17 | 19,205 | 10,230 | 8,665 |
| Aug-17 | 19,345 | 10,219 | 8,923 |
| Sep-17 | 19,668 | 10,124 | 9,295 |
| Oct-17 | 19,668 | 10,144 | 9,184 |
| Nov-17 | 23,063 | 10,053 | 12,841 |
| Dec-17 | 17,883 | 10,199 | 7,508 |
| Jan-18 | 19,413 | 9,857 | 9,265 |
| Feb-18 | 19,259 | 10,272 | 8,696 |
| Mar-18 | 19,815 | 10,494 | 9,152 |
| Apr-18 | 18,440 | 10,617 | 7,629 |
| May-18 | 17,807 | 9,879 | 7,775 |
| Jun-18 | 19,647 | 10,276 | 9,093 |
| Jul-18 | 18,505 | 10,112 | 8,173 |
| Aug-18 | 16,510 | 9,976 | 6,317 |
| Sep-18 | 16,736 | 9,610 | 6,792 |
| Oct-18 | 17,143 | 10,074 | 6,892 |
| Nov-18 | 15,150 | 9,339 | 5,677 |
| Dec-18 | 14,281 | 9,100 | 5,043 |
| Jan-19 | 14,512 | 9,237 | 5,036 |
| Feb-19 | 16,666 | 8,925 | 7,629 |
| Mar-19 | 15,263 | 8,594 | 6,431 |
| Apr-19 | 14,393 | 8,590 | 5,678 |
| May-19 | 14,395 | 8,770 | 5,394 |
| Jun-19 | 14,939 | 8,896 | 5,802 |
| Jul-19 | 13,409 | 8,618 | 4,575 |
| Aug-19 | 13,928 | 8,527 | 5,281 |
| Sep-19 | 14,634 | 8,780 | 5,705 |
| Oct-19 | 14,190 | 8,183 | 5,794 |
| Nov-19 | 14,986 | 8,504 | 6,300 |
| Dec-19 | 15,935 | 8,649 | 7,103 |
| Jan-20 | 13,370 | 8,561 | 4,662 |
| Feb-20 | 16,400 | 8,717 | 7,530 |
| Mar-20 | 15,502 | 8,657 | 6,620 |
| Apr-20 | 14,939 | 8,869 | 5,704 |
| May-20 | 13,408 | 8,812 | 4,303 |
| Jun-20 | 12,956 | 8,435 | 4,161 |
| Jul-20 | 15,062 | 9,147 | 5,661 |
| Aug-20 | 14,648 | 9,655 | 4,772 |
| Sep-20 | 16,147 | 10,544 | 5,062 |
| Oct-20 | 17,430 | 11,071 | 5,989 |
| Nov-20 | 17,847 | 11,534 | 5,914 |
| Dec-20 | 18,936 | 13,154 | 5,550 |
| Jan-21 | 17,190 | 11,992 | 4,796 |
| Feb-21 | 20,038 | 13,915 | 5,721 |
| Mar-21 | 23,099 | 14,335 | 8,302 |
| Apr-21 | 20,219 | 13,500 | 6,472 |
| May-21 | 20,708 | 13,746 | 6,700 |
| Jun-21 | 19,800 | 12,564 | 6,860 |
| Jul-21 | 18,609 | 12,158 | 6,209 |
| Aug-21 | 19,420 | 12,065 | 7,064 |
| Sep-21 | 18,339 | 10,752 | 7,369 |
| Oct-21 | 16,383 | 10,357 | 5,456 |
| Nov-21 | 16,447 | 10,399 | 5,824 |
| Dec-21 | 17,094 | 10,123 | 6,707 |
| Jan-22 | 14,314 | 9,634 | 4,456 |
| Feb-22 | 18,600 | 9,743 | 7,895 |
| Mar-22 | 15,022 | 9,726 | 4,962 |
| Apr-22 | 15,841 | 9,723 | 5,969 |
| May-22 | 16,387 | 9,582 | 6,487 |
| Jun-22 | 16,540 | 9,727 | 6,451 |
| Jul-22 | 14,196 | 9,576 | 4,430 |
| Aug-22 | 17,676 | 10,168 | 7,268 |
| Sep-22 | 16,351 | 9,339 | 6,843 |
| Oct-22 | 15,632 | 9,232 | 5,921 |
| Nov-22 | 14,926 | 8,957 | 5,616 |
| Dec-22 | 16,901 | 8,766 | 7,981 |
| Jan-23 | 13,071 | 8,526 | 4,421 |
| Feb-23 | 13,595 | 8,602 | 4,737 |
| Mar-23 | 13,389 | 8,381 | 4,696 |
| Apr-23 | 12,954 | 8,204 | 4,528 |
| May-23 | 15,185 | 8,182 | 6,789 |
| Jun-23 | 13,883 | 8,151 | 5,236 |
| Jul-23 | 12,870 | 8,078 | 4,589 |
| Aug-23 | 13,722 | 8,770 | 4,756 |
| Sep-23 | 13,695 | 8,347 | 5,122 |
| Oct-23 | 14,552 | 8,767 | 5,596 |
| Nov-23 | 14,488 | 8,693 | 5,606 |
| Dec-23 | 13,893 | 8,895 | 4,462 |
| Jan-24 | 13,896 | 8,470 | 5,204 |
| Feb-24 | 13,193 | 8,667 | 4,163 |
| Mar-24 | 13,631 | 9,181 | 4,283 |
| Apr-24 | 13,609 | 8,877 | 4,448 |
| May-24 | 14,361 | 9,144 | 5,056 |
| Jun-24 | 13,486 | 9,209 | 4,059 |
| Jul-24 | 15,182 | 9,447 | 5,478 |
| Aug-24 | 14,679 | 9,488 | 4,832 |
| Sep-24 | 14,955 | 9,699 | 4,630 |
| Oct-24 | 16,179 | 9,184 | 6,473 |
| Nov-24 | 15,358 | 9,185 | 5,426 |
| Dec-24 | 15,552 | 8,958 | 6,309 |
| Jan-25 | 17,362 | 9,137 | 7,929 |
| Feb-25 | 16,611 | 9,233 | 7,128 |
| Mar-25 | 15,833 | 9,065 | 6,403 |
| Apr-25 | 15,167 | 9,426 | 5,313 |
| May-25 | 15,486 | 9,316 | 5,918 |
| Jun-25 | 17,529 | 9,164 | 7,958 |
| Jul-25 | 16,167 | 9,533 | 6,034 |
| Aug-25 | 15,407 | 9,190 | 5,869 |
| Sep-25 | 17,221 | 9,497 | 7,385 |
| Oct-25 | 16,131 | 9,442 | 6,356 |
| Nov-25 | 18,535 | 9,569 | 8,456 |
| Dec-25 | 15,858 | 9,758 | 5,872 |
| Jan-26 | 14,728 | 9,911 | 4,443 |
| Feb-26 | 19,345 | 10,134 | 8,932 |
| Mar-26 | 17,307 | 10,189 | 6,640 |
| Apr-26 | 16,710 | 10,088 | 6,403 |
New South Wales drives fall in private sector houses
Private sector house approvals fell 1.0 per cent to 10,088 dwellings. Despite the fall, the April result is 7.0 per cent higher than one year ago.
'New South Wales was the driver of the overall fall, down 13.8 per cent. This comes off last month which had the highest number of houses approved since August 2022,' Mr Rossi said.
'Somewhat offsetting the New South Wales fall was South Australia rising 11.4 per cent and Victoria up 2.2 per cent.
'Private sector house approvals in Queensland rose 0.9 per cent, reaching the highest level since August 2021.'
Private other dwellings drop in April
Private sector dwellings excluding houses fell 3.6 per cent to 6,403 dwellings. Despite the fall, this is 20.5 per cent higher in year-on-year terms.
In original terms, apartment approvals rose 9.0 per cent to 4,108 dwellings, with New South Wales driving the overall rise in April. This is 4.5 per cent higher than the average of the prior twelve months (3,930 dwellings).
New semi-detached approvals fell 5.8 per cent to 2,901 dwellings. The April result is slightly above the twelve month average (2,893 dwellings).
| Private sector houses | Total dwelling units approved | |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 2,025 | 4,030 |
| Victoria | 2,906 | 4,911 |
| Queensland | 2,303 | 3,946 |
| South Australia | 896 | 1,317 |
| Western Australia | 1,607 | 1,984 |
(a) Seasonally adjusted estimates are not published for NT and ACT for all dwelling types. Private sector houses are not published for Tasmania.
Non-residential building drives approval value rise
The value of total building approved rose 10.2 per cent (to $18.64 billion), after falling 19.5 per cent in March.
Approved total residential building value dropped 0.3 per cent (to $10.89 billion), comprised of a flat movement in new residential building ($9.56 billion) and a 2.5 per cent fall in alterations and additions (to $1.32 billion).
The value of non-residential building rose 29.4 per cent (to $7.75 billion), after a 26.3 per cent March fall.
