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International Property
Business

Australia’s property market ignores China snub as Singapore, US funds rush for prized commercial assets

  • Commercial property investment has reached A$35.4 billion (US$26 billion) to date, a 70 per cent increase from a year ago
  • Singapore-to-Australia was the most active route in capital flows, while Hong Kong investors have made their presence felt

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An aerial view of Sydney, with the harbour bridge connecting the central business district to the wealthy suburbs in North Shore. Photo: Shutterstock
Cheryl Arcibal
Investors are snapping up commercial properties in Australia with the rare support of Hong Kong buyers despite lingering Canberra-Beijing tensions, pushing the market Down Under towards its busiest in six years.
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Commercial property investment involving deals above A$10 million has reached A$35.4 billion (US$26 billion) to date, a 70 per cent increase from a year earlier, according to Colliers International. The volume is within 17 per cent of the A$41.3billion recorded in 2015.

The surge in transactions follows Canberra’s move to ease pandemic curbs as governments around the world decided to “live with Covd-19” to revive economic growth. The decision appears to be aiding the real estate market, which has suffered from the withdrawal of mainland Chinese buyers as diplomatic relations deteriorated.

“Border closures have not dampened demand,” said John Marasco, managing director of capital markets and investment services at Colliers in Sydney. “These investors had already decided to place capital in Australia and the local property industry was quick to adapt to allow this investment to continue, particularly this year.”

An aerial view of Canberra, the seat of government, looking south toward Lake Burley Griffin and Commonwealth Bridge on a sunny afternoon. Photo: SCMP Handout
An aerial view of Canberra, the seat of government, looking south toward Lake Burley Griffin and Commonwealth Bridge on a sunny afternoon. Photo: SCMP Handout
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The uptick suggests investors at home and abroad have gotten over the lethargy caused by the diplomatic tensions of the past two years. Various high-profile deals announced recently included surprise buyers from Hong Kong, while Singapore-based investors provided the biggest source of capital inflows.

Link Reit, Asia’s largest real investment trust, last week agreed to pay A$538.2 million for the Queen Victoria Building, the Strand Arcade and The Galeries in Sydney. Hong Kong-based JY Group joined with Haben Property Fund last month to buy Wollongong Central in New South Wales for A$402 million.
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