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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationHunter home building hotspots revealed
Hunter home building hotspots revealed
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HIA recently revealed Australia’s strongest markets for home building in the 2026 edition of the HIA Population and Residential Building Hotspots Report. The Report identifies Australia’s fastest-growing suburbs and regional ‘hotspots’ based on population growth and also indicates areas with high levels of building activity and, therefore, employment for the building industry.
The National Hotspots list is determined if an area (Statistical Area Level 2) recorded at least $200 million in new residential building approvals in 2024/25, and its population grew faster than the national growth rate of 1.5 per cent.
The Hunter Region Hotspots list uses the same minimum population growth rate of 1.5 per cent and a threshold in approvals of $50 million.
Locally Branxton - Greta - Pokolbin topped the Hunter list for the third year in a row, recording 6.8 per cent annual population growth and $140.9 million in residential building approvals.
The largest value of residential approvals in the Hunter list was recorded in Newcastle - Cooks Hill, with $326.9 million in approved residential building work and population growth of 2.4 per cent. This locality was one of only two non-Sydney locations to make it onto the NSW list in the national report.
Other leading Hunter hotspots included Redhead, with 5.3 per cent population growth and $51 million in approvals, Thornton - Millers Forest with 4.6 per cent growth and $131.4 million in approvals, and Morisset - Cooranbong with 3.5 per cent growth and $97.8 million in approvals. On the Central Coast, Warnervale – Wadalba with 2.8 per cent growth and $91.4 million in approvals, was once again a hotspot.
“HIA’s Hotspots Report shows that families are continuing to seek out areas where new housing supply can be delivered, including greenfield communities across the Hunter,” Mr Jennion said.
“At the same time, infill markets are becoming more prominent. Areas such as Newcastle - Cooks Hill, Warners Bay - Boolaroo and Redhead show that multi-unit approvals and renewal in established suburbs are also contributing to the region’s housing pipeline.”
“This reflects a national trend. The HIA Population and Residential Hotspots Report 2024/25 showed the importance of greenfield sites, with 19 of the National Top 20 Hotspots located in the greenfield growth areas of Sydney, Melbourne, South East Queensland, Adelaide and Perth.”
“These remain areas of strong population growth and point to the housing preference of many families for a standalone detached home.”
“Infill has also been appearing more prominently, with multi-unit approvals in existing suburbs continuing to pick up. Planning changes aimed at encouraging multi-unit developments appear to be supporting this shift.”
“The message for the Hunter is clear: governments need to maintain a steady supply of shovel-ready land, support infrastructure delivery and ensure planning systems can respond to demand for both detached homes and medium and higher-density housing,” concluded Mr Jennion.
Download our latest HIA Population and Residential Building Hotspots
Below are a table and map detailing the 13 HIA Hunter Region Building and Population Areas.
For more information please contact:
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