Jul 31, 2026 – 3.59pmA decade ago, developer Don O’Rorke built 300 apartments a 25-minute drive from Brisbane’s central business district for $205,000 each – and sold them for $395,000.To build that same unit in Coopers Plains today, construction costs alone top $650,000. To break even, O’Rorke would need to sell each apartment for $900,000. To turn an industry-standard 15 per cent profit, he would need $1.3 million.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Lucy SladeProperty reporterLucy Slade covers real estate for The Australian Financial Review, based in the Sydney newsroom. She was previously the breaking news reporter.Fetching latest articles
There’s one reason we can’t build enough homes: Not enough tradies
The cost to build a Sydney mid-rise unit now tops $1 million, driven largely by high labour expenses and a nationwide deficit of skilled workers.
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