Melbourne industrial a hit with interstate investors: Savills
A growing number of interstate syndicates, funds and private investors are lining up to buy Melbourne’s industrial property assets spurred by Victoria’s leading growth status and the lack of comparable prime investment opportunities in rival capitals, according to Savills.
Enquiries from interstate buyers is at their highest post-GFC, accounting for 30 to 50% of all enquiries for individual properties in the sub $20 million market, say Savills divisional director(s), investments, Chris Jones and Ben Hegerty.
"We have sold 17 properties in this category since March and eight of those have sold to interstate buyers from WA, SA, Queensland and New South Wales, for more than $150 million," Jones said.
He said a lack of comparable investment stock at home, particularly in Sydney and Perth, had been the critical factor, while attractive long-term capital growth and rental prospects, Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s leading industrial city, and Victoria’s nation-leading population growth and economic performance, provided a very positive future market assessment.
"Victoria has long held the title of Australia’s most attractive industrial destination based on the availability of relatively cheap and easily serviceable land, its superior freeway network and port facilities movements.
"More recently a dearth of quality investment properties in interstate markets, particularly Perth and Sydney, and the ability to acquire assets with high underlying land values, and in many instances higher and better future uses, have swung the investment spotlight firmly towards Melbourne,’’ he said.
Hegerty said several of the deals had been off-market, underscoring the demand for Victorian assets. A majority were investor driven, he added.
In the latest off-market deal, Adelaide-based commercial property syndicator, Harmony Property Syndication, paid $10.75 million on a yield of 7.1% for an industrial property at Hallam.
The 1-5 Siddons Way property, a 9,574 square metre office and warehouse facility on a 15,300 square metre allotment, was sold subject to a long-term lease till 2026 to national tenant Pakcentre Marketing Services.
The current rental is $765,920 per annum net.
Hegerty said latest ABS data revealing annual economic growth (gross state product) in Victoria had bounced back to 2.5%, stronger than NSW and Queensland and all other states bar NT and WA, should provide investors with further confidence that Victoria was a sound investment destination.
One of the key aspects to the GSP turnaround has been population. Victoria had the fastest national growth rate of all capitals in the year to March of 1.7% and has led the national average since 2013, ABS data showed.