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$7b splurged on Melbourne, Sydney assets

Investors poured close to $7 billion into Melbourne's and Sydney's office and retail markets in the past year as they looked to increase exposure to the eastern seaboard.
By · 3 Apr 2013
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3 Apr 2013
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Investors poured close to $7 billion into Melbourne's and Sydney's office and retail markets in the past year as they looked to increase exposure to the eastern seaboard.

The assets ranged from larger shopping centres to medium-sized offices, and the funds came from a mix of domestic super funds, Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITS) and overseas property securities investors.

Jones Lang LaSalle Victoria managing director Andrew Wood said Melbourne's investment market sprang into action in November after being subdued for six months, and had enjoyed strong activity through the first quarter of this year.

"Investment activity was revived over the last quarter of 2012, with five sales recorded for a total of $193.8 million," he said. "This brought the total investment figure for 2012 to $872.9 million."

Jones Lang LaSalle NSW head of sales and investments Paul Noonan said investment in Sydney's CBD reached $4.29 billion last year - the highest since the company began recording in 1988 - and significantly above the $2 billion achieved in 2011.

He said the sales figure reported in the group's latest Sydney CBD Investment Market Review and 2013 Outlook was inflated by the $2 billion capital commitment to International Towers Sydney at Barangaroo South as well as the deals recorded as part of delisting the Sydney proportion of the Charter Hall Office Trust.

The remaining $3 billion was in retail asset sales in both states.

CBRE's head of research for Australia Stephen McNabb said sales activity increased significantly even during the past three months, with about $3.5 billion in property priced at more than $5 million changing hands - up 15 per cent on the corresponding quarter last year.

In the list for coming sales are the assets of GE Capital, which include 210-220 George Street in Sydney and 636 St Kilda Road in Melbourne.
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Investors poured close to $7 billion into Melbourne's and Sydney's office and retail markets in the past year, as they increased exposure to the eastern seaboard.

The purchases ranged from larger shopping centres to medium-sized office buildings across both Melbourne and Sydney.

Funds came from a mix of domestic super funds, Australian real estate investment trusts (A‑REITs) and overseas property securities investors.

Jones Lang LaSalle’s Victoria MD Andrew Wood said Melbourne’s market sprang into action in November after six subdued months; five sales in the last quarter totalled $193.8 million, bringing 2012 investment to $872.9 million.

Jones Lang LaSalle reported $4.29 billion of investment in the Sydney CBD last year — the highest since recordings began in 1988 — a figure boosted by a $2 billion capital commitment to International Towers Sydney at Barangaroo South and deals tied to delisting the Sydney portion of Charter Hall Office Trust.

About $3 billion of the recent investment was in retail asset sales across New South Wales and Victoria.

CBRE’s head of research for Australia, Stephen McNabb, said sales activity rose significantly in the past three months, with roughly $3.5 billion of properties priced over $5 million changing hands — up about 15% on the same quarter the previous year.

The article lists GE Capital assets as coming to market, including 210–220 George Street in Sydney and 636 St Kilda Road in Melbourne.