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RLB CRANE INDEX®

Q1 2026 AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE
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RLB CRANE INDEX®

483
+50 (11.55%)

Adelaide’s RLB Crane Index® rose over the past six months to 483 points, with 29 cranes operating across the city, up from 26 last count. This is a record high for the Adelaide Crane Index.

Q1 2026

RLB CRANE INDEX®

ADELAIDE

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Q1 2026

Highlights

Residential projects lead the activity, with 13 cranes working on various developments (45% of all cranes). The commercial sector has 7 cranes (up from 5 cranes), with 6 health sector cranes (up from 5).

A record high crane count reflects a very strong construction industry in South Australia. Total construction work done in South Australia in 2025 was $20.7 billion, up 13.3% compared to 2024. Engineering increased by 11.6%, residential activity grew by 16.3%, and non-residential activity rose by 12.8%.

New additions:

  • Defence: Edinburgh RAAF Base (three cranes)
  • Commercial: Festival Tower 2, Adelaide; Adelaide Airport
  • Residential: Elegan Apartments, Glenside; Otello, Bowden; Valerie apartments, Adelaide; The Eaton, Glenelg; Crown & Anchor student accommodation, Adelaide
  • Education: Endeavour College, Mawson Lakes
  • Hotel: Wright Street Hotel, Adelaide

Removals were recorded at Kent Town, Adelaide CBD, Norwood, Modbury, Bowden.

Current activity by sector includes:

  • Commercial: Central Markets
  • Health: Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre Redevelopment, New Mount Barker Hospital Development
  • Hotel: Crystalbrook Sam
  • Residential: Junction Housing, Tonsley; Arc Bowden; Unley 108, Unley; 399 King William Street, Adelaide; Calibre apartments, Glenelg.

Q1 2026

Summary

Region Change
ADELAIDE 3
Sector Change
AGED CARE N/A
CIVIC N/A
CIVIL N/A
COMMERCIAL 2
DATA CENTRES N/A
EDUCATION 0
HEALTH 1
HOTEL 0
MIXED USE -1
RECREATION N/A
RESIDENTIAL 1
RETAIL N/A
Increase in number of cranes
Decrease in number of cranes
Crane numbers steady

Q1 2026

Crane Activity

By Region

OPENING / CLOSING COUNT COMPARISON

OPENING COUNT MOVEMENT CLOSING COUNT
Q3 2025 % NET Q1 2026 %
ADELAIDE 26 3.1% 14 -11 3 29 3.5%

By Sector

OPENING / CLOSING COUNT COMPARISON

OPENING COUNT MOVEMENT CLOSING COUNT
Q3 2025 % NET Q1 2026 %
AGED CARE 0 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0.0%
CIVIC 0 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0.0%
CIVIL 0 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0.0%
COMMERCIAL 5 19.2% 5 -3 2 7 24.1%
DATA CENTRES 0 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0.0%
EDUCATION 1 3.8% 1 -1 0 1 3.4%
HEALTH 5 19.2% 1 0 1 6 20.7%
HOTEL 2 7.7% 1 -1 0 2 6.9%
MIXED USE 1 3.8% 0 -1 -1 0 0.0%
RECREATION 0 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0.0%
RESIDENTIAL 12 46.2% 6 -5 1 13 44.8%
RETAIL 0 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0.0%
TOTAL 26 3.1% 14 -11 3 29 3.5%

RLB CRANE INDEX®

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