Adelaide is leading the nation in crane activity, with almost double the activity of the next best performing capital city, signalling a record boom in residential and commercial construction in South Australia and a vote of confidence to the state’s economy.

According to the latest RLB Crane Index, Adelaide has recorded its highest ever level of crane activity since the index was started and is leading the nation in growth amongst all other state capital cities.

There are more cranes across Adelaide than there ever has been before, with the Index reporting that Adelaide now has 26 cranes operating across major projects – a record for the city and a powerful signal of ongoing confidence and investment in the state’s economy.

Adelaide’s Crane Index has surged to 433 points, the highest in its history, reflecting steady expansion across multiple sectors from residential and health to commercial and education developments.

It means Adelaide sits as the standout performer nationwide among the capital cities, with our score of 433 sitting above Sydney at 228, Melbourne at 172, Brisbane at 100 and Perth at 91.

Since the last Crane Index Report, Adelaide’s crane activity has grown 73.2%, completely outpacing the other capitals where Melbourne has remained stagnant (0% growth), and Sydney (-1%) and Perth (-4.2%) went backwards.

The cranes currently across the city according to the report are:

Residential: East Rundle (Kent Town), Hungarian Club of SA (Norwood), Junction Housing (Tonsley Park), Monde Apartments (Kent Town), Parkline (Kent Town), Student Accomodation (Mawson Lakes), Uniting on Second (Bowden), 399 King William (Adelaide), Arc Bowden (Bowden), Calibre Apartments (Glenelg), Dusk Glenelg (Glenelg), Unley 108 (Unley)

Health and Education: Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Adelaide, two cranes), Flinders Medical Centre redevelopment (Bedford Park, two cranes), new Mount Barker Hospital redevelopment (Mount Barker), St Aloysius College (Adelaide)

Commercial: Central Markets (Adelaide, four cranes), Modbury Hospital Carpark (Modbury)

Hotels: Little National Hotel (Adelaide), Crystalbrook Sam (Adelaide)

Mixed Use: Lot 6003 (Bowden)

RLB noted that South Australia’s balanced mix of residential, commercial and health-sector cranes provides a strong indication of a sustainable diverse mix of growth.

Housing projects account for nearly half of Adelaide’s total cranes, while commercial and health accounts for another 10 cranes combined.

The state government is delivering $27.3 billion in total public sector infrastructure funding over four years.

The RLB Crane Index is just another national scorecard that South Australia leads, with the Business Council of Australia describing South Australia as the best place to do business and the Housing Industry of Australia ranking SA’s housing industry and planning system as the nation’s best.