The building and construction industry employs some 800,000 people and is a major driver of activity in Australia’s economy, with total turnover in excess of $84 billion in 2005. (Source: Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources)

Australia’s building and engineering services are highly regarded internationally and have undertaken many high-profile construction and infrastructure projects across the globe. 

Building products have also established a global reputation for quality and durability and are a significant contributor to Australia’s export market.

Industry activities include the construction of:

• Residential buildings (houses, flats, units and alterations to existing dwellings)
• Non-residential buildings (shops, offices, hotels, factories, educational facilities and hospitals)
• Engineering construction (roads, bridges, airports, sewerage, energy, telecommunications, etc)
• Architectural/consulting services

The industry is highly regulated and extremely diverse, with employment in firms ranging from a few people in family owned enterprises to thousands in major companies.

Export activities
Building products
In 2005, exports of Australian building products were worth some $2.9 billion (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Exported building materials include structural metal, cement, lime, concrete slurry, wood products, glazing and sheeting products.

Major export destinations include New Zealand, the US, China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Building services
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia exported building services worth some $720 million in 2005. However, that figure may be understated due to the difficulty of tracking service transactions.

Exported services include building trades, such as bricklaying, roofing, concreting, plumbing and electrical, as well as technical services, such as project management, engineering and architecture.

Among the world’s 60 biggest architect firms, seven are Australian, a significant achievement for a country of just 20 million. Per capita, Australia has produced more global architect firms than the US, Canada, Germany, Japan, India and China.

Australian consulting and construction engineers provide feasibility and environmental studies and project design and management.

Australia’s biggest export markets for building services include New Zealand, South East Asia, Middle East, USA, North East Asia and Europe.

Export projects
Australia’s unique building and infrastructure experience in harsh environmental conditions has been valued across the world for decades. 

Our roads, rail, telecommunications and other utilities have to cover huge distances and diverse climates to reach thousands of small, remote communities.

Over the past 30 years, Australia’s building and engineering consultants have undertaken major project work both domestically and internationally in areas such as ports and harbours, road and rail networks, communication networks, oil and gas pipelines, regional airports, water purification and recycling facilities and commercial and residential construction.

Engineering firms such as Leighton, Multiplex, Baulderstone, John Holland, Lend Lease and Transfield regularly capture engineering and non-residential building contracts across the globe.

Examples of international projects include:

• Australian engineering construction expertise and technology contributed to developing innovative building solutions at Hong Kong's Chep Lap Kok Airport and the UK’s largest shopping centre at Bluewater, Kent.
• The $180 million contract for work on the Taipei to Kaohsiung Taiwan High Speed Rail project. At the time, this was the largest infrastructure project of its kind in the world, with an estimated cost of US$15 billion.
• Australian engineers were involved in the construction of the 2006 Wembley stadium in England, assisted in the planning and organising of the 2004 Athens Olympics and supplied flooring products for the 2003 South Pacific Olympics.

Success story
The Australian Turntable Company has taken what was once a small family-owned business across the world and is now a global leader in rotating movement technology. The Victoria-based engineering firm recently designed, built and installed a revolving restaurant at the top of a 47-storey building on the Qatar peninsula.

It’s just one of several contracts the company has completed for property developments, hospitals, museums, theatres, showrooms, exhibitions, and restaurants around the world. Other recent commissions include:

• A revolving bar in a Dubai shopping mall
• A revolving antiques display in a Muscat castle, Oman
• A revolving display for Ford at the Thai International Motor Show in Bangkok

(Sources: Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, IbisWorld Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics, World Trade Atlas)

For more information please visit:
www.industry.gov.au – Department of Industry Tourism Resources
www.gbcaus.org – Green Building Council of Australia
www.masterbuilders.com.au – Master Builders Australia