ABS building approvals June 2026: apartment approvals up 13%, Housing Accord shortfall widens

New dwelling approvals rose 7.2 per cent in June to 18,328, seasonally adjusted, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on 30 July 2026 — ending three consecutive months of decline.

The gain was led by higher-density housing. Private sector dwellings excluding houses — a category covering apartments, townhouses and semi-detached homes — rose 17.8 per cent in June to 7,138, following an 11.0 per cent fall in May. In original terms, apartment approvals alone rose 69.9 per cent in the month to 4,888, which the ABS said was 21.9 per cent above the 12-month average.

Private sector house approvals rose a more modest 0.4 per cent to 10,631, the sixth consecutive month above 10,000 and 15.8 per cent higher than a year earlier. Queensland recorded the largest rise in house approvals (up 2.9 per cent) and South Australia the highest level since August 2021 (up 2.8 per cent), while Western Australia fell 5.4 per cent after a 9.0 per cent rise in May.

For the 2025-26 financial year, 205,249 dwellings were approved in original terms, a 9.2 per cent rise on the 187,944 approved in 2024-25 and the highest annual total since 2020-21. Within that, apartment approvals rose 13.2 per cent for the year, to 48,778 from 43,079. ABS head of construction statistics Daniel Rossi said the average approval value for a new house also continued to climb, reaching $517,430 for the financial year, up 5.0 per cent on $492,931 in 2024-25.

Non-residential building approvals fell 24.7 per cent in June to $8.26 billion, after a record high in May, pulling the total value of building approved down 5.5 per cent to $20.00 billion for the month.

Master Builders Australia, reacting to the same release, said the annual approvals total left the country 47,750 homes short of what is required to meet the National Housing Accord target of 253,000 a year. “The big message from today’s figures is that 47,750 fewer homes were built over the year compared with what we needed, and marks two consecutive years of Accord target shortfall,” said Shane Garrett, the association’s chief economist. Garrett said the Reserve Bank governor had recently acknowledged the housing market was weaker as a result of higher interest rates and recent government policy changes.

Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn said cost pressures were central to the shortfall, arguing that building a new home is now “almost 50 per cent more expensive than it was before the pandemic,” and citing a Productivity Commission estimate that regulatory costs add around $320,000 to the price of a new house. Wawn called for governments to address construction costs, lift productivity and address workforce shortages.

A landmark beachfront home in Balgowlah Heights has sold for $17.5 million, setting a new residential record for the tightly held Northern Beaches suburb.

The six-bedroom residence at 30A Beatty Street changed hands on July 21 through Clarke & Humel Property, eclipsing its own previous benchmark by $5.7 million.

The property last sold for $11.8 million in October 2017, a result reported as a Balgowlah Heights record at the time. Its latest sale represents an increase of more than 48% in almost nine years and places it well ahead of other known sales in the suburb.

It is not the first time the address has reshaped local expectations. The home sold for $3.15 million in 2013 before extensive alterations and additions transformed it into the substantial trophy residence seen today. From that transaction to its latest sale, its recorded value has increased more than fivefold.

Occupying 1,074sqm in an exclusive no-through pocket, the property backs directly onto the golden sand of Forty Baskets Beach. A gate at the bottom of the garden opens to the beach and surrounding foreshore walks, creating the kind of direct harbour access rarely available on the Northern Beaches.

The home’s elevated, cascading design takes full advantage of its position. Walls of glass frame panoramic views across North Harbour, while a succession of indoor and outdoor living spaces follows the slope towards the water.

Arrival is suitably dramatic. The four-car garage—complete with harbour views—is connected to the residence by a lift. From there, a covered walkway leads through tropical gardens to an entrance framed by a koi pond, stone flooring and soaring ceilings.

At the centre of the home is an expansive living and entertaining level. A stone kitchen fitted with Miele appliances steps down towards the view, incorporating an integrated refrigerator and freezer and a built-in breakfast bar positioned to overlook the harbour.

The adjoining formal dining room opens through a bi-fold wall to a landscaped side courtyard. A substantial living room, anchored by a gas fireplace, also connects to the main terrace, creating a continuous relationship between the interior, gardens and water.

An electrically operated roof allows the terrace to be used in different weather conditions, while automated internal blinds and ducted airconditioning add to the home’s extensive technology and comfort features.

Outside, the entertaining areas continue around a swimming pool and spa. A built-in barbecue, steam room and generous terraces give the property the atmosphere of a private resort, with the beach only steps away.

The accommodation has been arranged to suit a large or multigenerational household.

Four bedroom suites occupy an upper level, while the main bedroom commands an entire floor. The private retreat includes sweeping harbour views, a large walk-in wardrobe and a luxurious ensuite.

On the lower level, a billiard room and bar are accompanied by two bedrooms and a bathroom. A separate self-contained studio provides further flexibility for extended family, guests or live-in staff.

The residence also includes a private home office, yoga room and extensive storage—features that allow it to function as both a secluded family home and a large-scale entertaining destination.

Sustainability and energy resilience have also been incorporated through solar panels and a Tesla battery.

Despite its rare waterfront setting, the property remains close to the conveniences of the lower Northern Beaches. Bus services are approximately 450 metres away, while Balgowlah Village, local schools and North Harbour Reserve are within easy reach. Manly is about three kilometres from the home.

The sale underlines the scarcity premium attached to Sydney homes combining substantial land, direct beach access and uninterrupted harbour views.

Balgowlah Heights has a median house value of about $4.23 million, according to PropTrack data displayed on realestate.com.au. At more than four times that figure, the Beatty Street result sits in a different tier from the suburb’s conventional prestige market.

Its price is also $6.65 million above the $10.85 million paid for neighbouring 30 Beatty Street in December 2025.

While conventional luxury features helped support the result, the defining asset is one that cannot be readily replicated: a private rear gate opening directly onto Forty Baskets Beach.