Queensland Booming Property Market

Retail investment in Queensland contributed the highest share nationally over F2011/12, according to Colliers International.

Colliers International’s National Retail Investment Review 2011/12 says that for transaction activity over $10 million, Queensland recorded 26 sales over the period – three of which were among the top 10 biggest sales nationally.

Major sales included Industry Superannuation Property Trust’s purchase of a 50 percent share in the Myer Centre Brisbane for $366 million, Australian Prime Property Fund Retail’s acquisition of 50 percent stake in the Cairns Central Shopping Centre for $261 million and the sale of Noosa Civic to Queensland Investment Corporation for $200 million.

The 50 percent stake in the Myer Centre Brisbane was the largest retail acquisition in Australia over the period.

Nationally Colliers recorded a total of 83 major retail investment transactions over the period, with a total value of $4.244 billion. This is an increase of 8 percent on the previous financial year.

Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria accounted for around 77 per cent of sales by number, Colliers says.

Stewart Gilchrist, Colliers International National Retail Director said investor demand for quality shopping centres was resilient over the 2011/12 financial year despite volatility in retail trade data.

“Investor demand for quality shopping centres was buoyant, but there was also strong interest in underperforming centres with repositioning potential,” Gilchrist says.

“There has been strong interest in prime regional shopping centre assets from institutional investors from Australia and overseas, with demand continuing to exceed supply.”

Neighbourhood centres led activity with 35 sales over the period, but a historically high number of regional centres were sold, with seven centres comprising 44 per cent of all sales by value.

Fifteen sub-regional centres sold, up from five the previous financial year. The sub-regional category saw the biggest jump in sales volume of all sectors.  Source:Property Ezine