The number of cranes across Australian city skylines indicates that the construction sector is still performing well, according to the latest Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index.

In the first quarter of 2025, it identified 840 cranes in operation.
Rider Levett Bucknall, Oceania Director of Research and Development, Ewen McDonald, says for the past six quarters there has consistently been more than 800 cranes in operation.

While it considers the number of cranes in operation to be strong, it is down from the record high of 882 cranes recorded 18 months ago. Sydney has the largest number of cranes in operation, 373, followed by 199 in Melbourne, 65 in Brisbane, and 59 on the Gold Coast.Perth has 41 cranes in operation, Canberra, 22, Adelaide, 19 and Darwin, 2. “The increase in crane activity aligns with broader construction growth across Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, total construction activity in 2024 rose by 2.7%, or $7.6 billion, compared to 2023,” Ewan says.
“Residential construction saw a 2.7% increase, while non-residential construction experienced a slight decline. The civil engineering sector, however, showed robust growth with a 5.8% increase.”