High density housing approvals fall in February

Falling building approvals for higher density dwellings is contributing to the rental crisis, chief economist at Master Builders Australia said today.

Shane Garrett’s comments follow the release of Australian Bureau of Statistic data showing high density approvals had fallen by -9.5 percent during February. He said declining approvals in this sector will put further pressure on renters, as well as first homebuyers.

“The volume of new approvals on the higher density side is now at its lowest in over a decade,” Mr Garrett said. “The output of new higher density homes has been depressed since before the pandemic.

“Inadequate volumes of new supply are contributing to growing difficulties in our rental market. Rents are currently rising at their fastest pace in over a decade.”

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the Federal Government needed to take ‘necessary steps’ to ensure there were no further interest rate rises.

“There is no silver bullet; this will take a concerted effort by all levels of government working in collaboration with industry,” said Ms Wawn.

The seasonally adjusted falls in February are part of a downward trend in the high density sector, which has seen a -45.9 percent drop over the year. This compares with a 11.3 percent uptick in approvals for private sector housing, seasonally adjusted. This sector is down -13.6 percent of the yearly period.

Tasmania recorded the highest increase in overall approvals, up 122.1 percent in February, followed by South Australia at 28.5 percent, NSW (14.0 percent), and Victoria (8.5 percent), while Queensland (-13.7 percent) and Western Australia (-6.4 percent) decreased. Approvals for private sector houses rose in all states.

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has joined Archie Rose Distilling Co. as co-owner and strategic business partner as the Sydney spirits company prepares to enter the United States.

The partnership brings Hemsworth together with Archie Rose founder Will Edwards, with the pair aiming to build greater international recognition for Australian whisky.

Founded in Sydney in 2014, Archie Rose has developed a distinctively Australian range of whiskies, gins and other spirits using locally grown grains and native botanicals.

Hemsworth said his involvement grew from a long-standing admiration for the distiller and its use of Australian ingredients.

“I’ve been a fan of Archie Rose for a long time,” Hemsworth said.

“Wherever I am in the world, tasting an Archie Rose whisky immediately transports me right back home, to that feeling of sitting around a campfire in the Australian bush with my mates.

“Their ethos of only using Australian-grown malts to produce flavour-packed whiskies at their Sydney distillery is truly awesome. They’re a brilliant example of what Australia does best, and I can’t wait to share that with the world.”

Three new Australian whiskies

Three whiskies co-created with Hemsworth are scheduled to launch later in 2026.

Made using 100 per cent Australian-grown malts, the whiskies will be released nationally and introduced to the United States as Archie Rose enters that market for the first time.

Further releases are planned for Asia and New Zealand, followed by expansion into the United Kingdom and European Union in 2027.

Archie Rose will continue to oversee distillation and production, while Hemsworth will contribute to storytelling, creative direction, design and content development.

Edwards said the partnership would help introduce Archie Rose—and Australian spirits more broadly—to a larger international audience.

“Our approach has always been about championing local ingredients to create spirits that taste truly Australian,” Edwards said.

“Having Chris join the business as a co-owner allows us to bring that ambition to the world.

“We aren’t just making spirits; we are using Australia’s raw materials and ingenuity as the base for producing the world’s best whisky, gin and other spirits, telling the stories of the growers and the land beneath them.”

A distinctly Australian approach

Archie Rose works with Australian growers to source heirloom and drought-resistant grain varieties for its whiskies, as well as native botanicals for its gins.

Its whiskies are produced exclusively with Australian-grown malts, including rye and barley cultivated specifically for the distiller.

Each malt is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled and matured separately before the components are combined. The process is designed to retain the individual character of each grain.

For its gins, Archie Rose uses cold distillation to help preserve the character of individual botanicals.

The company says it has received more than 450 awards, including World’s Best Rye Whisky twice, Australia’s Best Single Malt Whisky five times and World’s Best Gin.

Archie Rose received B Corp certification in June 2026, recognising its stated commitments to social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

The company operates its distillery in Botany, Sydney, with a public bar and cellar door in nearby Rosebery.

Hemsworth’s arrival as co-owner marks a significant change for the previously family-owned company—and gives one of Australia’s most recognisable actors an active role in the effort to establish Australian whisky as a global category.

High density housing approvals fall in February

Master Builders Australia CEO has called on the Federal Government to put an end to further interest rate rises to relieve pressure on renters and first homebuyers

Three new Australian whiskies

A distinctly Australian approach