Wollongong industrial market remains the most bouyant: HTW Industrial

The industrial sector continues to be the most buoyant of the three main commercial property classes, driven primarily by activity surrounding the port of Port Kembla, a profitable BlueScope steelworks, mining activity which has rebounded over more recent times and a strong Sydney industrial market, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White

The property valuation firm found, owner-occupiers and private investors are active while there is also an increased appetite for higher valued assets as illustrated by the June 2019 sale of 1 Darcey Road, Port Kembla to an owneroccupier for $8.6 million plus GST, reflecting rates of $965 per square metre of lettable area and $345 per square metre of improved land area.

Investment sales have been scarce due to the lack of properties available.

Analysed market yields are hovering between six and seven per cent and even lower for sub-$1.5 million properties in industrial precincts near the Wollongong CBD.

The valuers added, "agents are reporting some upward pressure on rents due to limited stock with gross face rents typically ranging from $100 to $150 per square metre and even higher for smaller modern style warehouses."