RLB CRANE INDEX®

The RLB Crane Index® provides a snapshot of construction activity by tracking cranes on major sites across Australia.

Australia’s construction market is strong, with crane numbers falling slightly but remaining at a high level. From Q3 2025 to Q1 2026, the national crane count fell from 845 to 838. Crane numbers are now 5% below the 2023 peak.

ABS data shows that the volume of work done in 2025 was a record $318b, up 3.8% from 2024.

This edition highlights some major shifts: record crane counts in Adelaide and the Gold Coast, a continued shift in Melbourne towards civil and data centre construction, stabilisation in Perth, while Sydney crane numbers continue to fall.

Adelaide hit a new record high with 29 cranes (+3; +11.5%), led by residential activity and rising commercial and health activity.

The Gold Coast reached a new record of 75 cranes (+8; +11.9%), with residential projects accounting for 93% of activity. For the first time, there are now more cranes in the Gold Coast than in Brisbane (75 to 64).

Sydney and the Central Coast softened further. Sydney fell to 346 cranes (-24; -6.5%), while the Central Coast eased to 8 cranes (-5; -38.5%).

Melbourne’s activity continued to pivot from residential to civil and data centre construction. Residential cranes now account for 41% of the total, down from over 50% in recent years. There has been a surge in civil activity. There are now 72 cranes just on two major projects, the North East Link and Suburban Rail Loop, which accounts for 35% of Melbourne’s total. Construction of data centres has also grown strongly, particularly in Melbourne’s west. Canberra rebounded to 22 cranes (+10; +83.3%).

ABS data shows that residential construction activity has risen, up 7.3% in 2025, with apartment construction growing particularly strongly. Engineering activity has also picked up, driven by energy and water infrastructure. Non-residential activity growth was more subdued, but work in some segments, notably data centres, hospitals and aged care, grew strongly.

Leading indicators of activity suggest a strong near-term pipeline of work, with building approvals up 15.9% in 2025 compared to 2024. The number of commercial cranes fell from 48 to 39 over the past six months.