The value of building approvals indicates trends in construction investment and activity over time.

Data are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication Building Approvals, Australia.

A building is a rigid, fixed and permanent structure with a roof.

The data include approvals for the construction of new buildings, alterations and additions, and non-structural renovations. They exclude construction not classified as buildings (for example, roads and bridges).

The value of building work approved reflects the estimated value of construction when completed, as reported on approval documents provided to local councils and other approval authorities.

From July 1990, the data include residential building valued at $10,000 or more and non-residential building valued at $50,000 or more. Estimates are rounded.

See the ABS publication for more information and data quality notes. Data for this visualisation are drawn from the Building Approvals, Australia data downloads (Value of building approved, tables 30–38).