Australia’s seasonally adjusted dwelling approvals rose 5.1% month-on-month to 17,948 units in September 2026, according to preliminary data. This marked a rebound from a revised 5.2% decline in August and the first increase since June.
The overall recovery was driven by a strong upswing in approvals for private-sector dwellings excluding houses, which jumped 16.6% after a 21.2% fall in August, reaching 6,579 units. In contrast, approvals for private-sector houses declined 5.3%, reversing a 3.7% gain in the previous month, to 10,432 units.
By state, total dwelling approvals increased sharply in New South Wales (37.3%) and Queensland (28.0%). Approvals fell in Victoria (-28.9%), Tasmania (-25.7%), Western Australia (-8.7%), and South Australia (-3.2%).
On an annual basis, total building approvals slipped 0.8%, following an upwardly revised 12.1% surge in August.
