Data report · Latest release
Melbourne Building Market Report
Victoria approved 5,127 dwellings in December 2025, up 3.4% seasonally adjusted month-on-month and up 14.2% year-on-year, making it the strongest performing east-coast state, according to ABS Building Approvals Australia (Cat. 8731.0) Table 07.
How this report is compiled
Every figure on this page is drawn from a public authority release and linked to its primary source. The report is refreshed each time the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victorian Building Authority or Victorian Managed Insurance Authority publishes new data. No forecasts, no interpretation, no proprietary BuildPilot data. Journalists and analysts are welcome to cite these numbers with attribution to both BuildPilot and the underlying source.
Victorian dwelling approvals
Building approvals are the earliest signal of construction pipeline in the ABS statistical suite. A Victorian dwelling is counted as approved when the required Planning Permit (where one is required) and Building Permit from a Victorian Registered Building Surveyor have been issued. Figures below are drawn from the ABS monthly Building Approvals release (Cat. 8731.0) Table 07 Victoria row.
December 2025
VIC total dwellings approved
The strongest performing east-coast state in the ABS December 2025 release. Approvals include both detached houses and higher-density dwellings.
ABS Building Approvals Australia (Cat. 8731.0), Dec 2025Released: 30 January 2026
December 2025
VIC private sector houses approved
Detached houses component. Higher-density approvals (townhouses, apartments) drove the total increase.
ABS Building Approvals Australia (Cat. 8731.0), Dec 2025Released: 30 January 2026
12 months to Dec 2025
VIC approvals, calendar year 2025
Rolling 12-month calendar total. VIC accounted for approximately 30% of national dwelling approvals in 2025.
ABS Building Approvals Australia (Cat. 8731.0), rolling 12-month tableReleased: 30 January 2026
Dwelling commencements and completions
Commencements count dwellings where physical construction has started. Completions count dwellings that have received their Occupancy Permit. Both are drawn from the ABS quarterly Building Activity release (Cat. 8752.0) Victorian row. Because the release is quarterly, movements are typically reported against the equivalent quarter of the prior year.
September 2025 quarter
VIC dwelling commencements
Quarterly starts figure from the ABS building activity release. Strongest quarterly starts since Q2 2022.
ABS Building Activity Australia (Cat. 8752.0), Sep 2025 quarterReleased: 5 February 2026
September 2025 quarter
VIC dwelling completions
Quarterly completions figure from the ABS building activity release.
ABS Building Activity Australia (Cat. 8752.0), Sep 2025 quarterReleased: 5 February 2026
September 2025 quarter
VIC dwellings under construction
Total dwellings under construction (started but not yet completed) in Victoria. Signals pipeline depth for the next 12-18 months of completions.
ABS Building Activity Australia (Cat. 8752.0), Sep 2025 quarterReleased: 5 February 2026
12 months to Sept 2025
VIC annual completions
Rolling 12-month completions figure. Approximately 32% of the national annual completions total.
ABS Building Activity Australia (Cat. 8752.0), rolling 12-monthReleased: 5 February 2026
Victorian regulator activity
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) regulates domestic builders and building surveyors. The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) underwrites Domestic Building Insurance for all residential contracts over $16,000. The Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) regulates architects. Figures below are drawn from each regulator's most recent annual report or public register.
As at 30 Jun 2025
Active VBA-registered domestic builders
Domestic Builder Unlimited + Domestic Builder Limited combined. Public register searchable by name or registration number.
Victorian Building Authority - Practitioner RegisterReleased: Live register
2024-25 financial year
VBA disciplinary decisions issued
Decisions include cautions, fines, licence conditions and licence cancellations across all VBA practitioner categories.
Victorian Building Authority - Disciplinary decisionsReleased: 2024-25 annual report
2023-24 financial year
VMIA DBI claims paid (residential)
Domestic Building Insurance claims paid by VMIA in the year following the April 2023 collapse. Return-to-normal levels expected 2025-26.
VMIA Annual Report 2023-24Released: October 2024
As at 30 Jun 2025
ARBV-registered architects in Victoria
Total registered architects on the Architects Registration Board of Victoria public register. Includes practicing and non-practicing categories.
Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV)Released: ARBV annual report 2024-25
Where these numbers come from
Every figure in this report links directly to a public authority release. The list below is the full set of primary sources used to compile the current edition. Where a figure requires interpretation, refer to the source publication for its full methodology and caveats.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
Cat. 8731.0 Building Approvals + Cat. 8752.0 Building Activity, Victorian row
- Victorian Building Authority (VBA)
Practitioner register + disciplinary decisions + performance reports
- Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA)
Domestic Building Insurance eligibility + claims reports
- State Revenue Office Victoria (SRO)
First Home Owner Grant, stamp duty concession statistics
- Homes Victoria
Homebuyer Fund shared-equity scheme uptake and eligibility
- Department of Transport and Planning Victoria
Victoria in Future population projections, growth-corridor planning
- Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV)
Architect registration counts and annual reports
This report aggregates public authority statistics only. It does not forecast future building activity, does not provide investment or financial advice, and is not a substitute for statutory releases. All figures are subject to revision by their original publisher. For the most current figures, always consult the primary source URL cited on each metric card.
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