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 reaching a record high. From Q1 2026 to Q3 2026, the national crane count rose from 840 to 896. Over the past six months, 370 cranes were added and 314 removed.

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

This edition highlights major shifts: record crane counts in Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Wollongong; strong growth in Canberra, Perth and the Sunshine Coast; and a further decline in Sydney.

Adelaide remained close to its record high, with 28 cranes (-1; -3.4%). Residential activity increased, while commercial and health activity declined.

The Gold Coast reached a new record of 82 cranes (+7; +9.3%), with residential projects accounting for 88% of activity. The Gold Coast continues to have more cranes than Brisbane (82 to 80).

Sydney softened further, falling to 336 cranes (-10; -2.9%), while the Central Coast remained steady at eight cranes.

Melbourne reached a record 224 cranes (+21; +10.3%). Residential cranes now account for 48% of the total, up from 41% in Q1 2026. Data centre and industrial activity also grew strongly, particularly in Melbourne’s west and north. The North East Link and Suburban Rail Loop together account for 42 cranes, or 19% of Melbourne’s total. Canberra rose to 28 cranes (+6; +27.3%).

ABS data shows that construction activity remained strong in 2025–26. Residential construction rose 8.1%, with apartment and townhouse activity increasing particularly strongly, up 13.2%. Non-residential construction increased 9.3%, supported by strong growth in data centres and health. Engineering construction eased by 0.6%, as growth in energy and water infrastructure was offset by declining public-sector engineering work. Leading indicators continue to point to a solid near-term pipeline of work, particularly across residential, defence, health and data centres, although conditions remain uneven across states and some private-sector projects continue to face feasibility and financing constraints.