Adelaide’s skyline is busier than ever at the moment, with the city smashing its own crane record for the second time in a row.
The latest RLB Crane Index shows Adelaide is now home to 29 cranes, its highest number on record, and a score of 483, making it the most active construction city in the nation. That puts it ahead of Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, making a name for South Australia as a leader in development.
Since the last count, three new cranes have popped up across the city, spanning major projects in defence, housing, commercial builds, education and hotels. And the momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
A key addition is a new crane at Wirra Mikangka in Eastwood, a major housing development now under construction on the edge of the CBD. The $85 million project will deliver 151 apartments across two buildings, with the majority set aside for low and moderate-income residents.
Delivered by Housing Choices South Australia and built by Hindmarsh Construction, the development will replace older housing with modern, energy-efficient homes, alongside ground-floor retail and hospitality to bring the area to life. Residents are expected to move in from late 2027.
Housing continues to dominate Adelaide’s construction boom, with nearly half of all cranes, 13 in total, working on residential projects. Commercial activity is also on the rise, alongside growth in the health sector.
The figures reflect a construction industry firing on all cylinders, with total building activity in South Australia reaching $20.7 billion in 2025, up more than 13 per cent from the previous year.
“This is yet another scorecard that demonstrates that there is no other capital city in the country that is seeing this kind of momentum,” shared Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion. “Adelaide is open for business and the cranes across our skyline are the proof.”
Industry leaders say the project is a clear example of how this growth is being translated into real outcomes.
“Adelaide’s record-breaking 29 cranes show the city’s construction momentum, and Wirra Mikangka is proof of Housing Choices turning that momentum into homes for South Australians,” added Executive Group Director at Housing Choices Australia, Mark Hayward. “With 151 homes, mostly for low- and moderate-income residents, we are building vibrant, inclusive communities close to the city.”
So with cranes rising across suburbs from Bowden to Glenelg and the CBD, Adelaide’s development pipeline shows no signs of slowing, pointing to a city that’s not just growing, but building at a pace unmatched anywhere else in Australia.
