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Retail Property Operators in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Kathrina Gonzales Kathrina Gonzales Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2024 ANZSIC L6712b

Revenue

$42.7bn

2024-25

$42.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

55,612

Businesses

62,087

Wages

$X.Xbn

Retail Property Operators in Australia industry analysis

Retail property operators have endured highly volatile trading conditions in the past five years. Online shopping’s immense popularity has constrained demand for traditional bricks-and-mortar locations. This reduced demand for physical shopping has presented an issue for retail property operators despite a boost in overall demand for retail trade. With lower in-person sales, some retailers have reduced their instore presence and opted for an increased digital presence. This strategy minimises rent costs for these companies and minimises wage costs, as they no longer need to keep as many retail assistants on the books.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue has recovered from a down point in 2020 but faces competition from online shopping. Revenue for retail property operators has returned to pre-pandemic levels but with much higher profit margins.
  • Fears that the work-from-home revolution would devastate CBD trading look to be subsiding. Foot traffic in the major cities is returning to 2019 levels, with Melbourne recently recording its highest daily average since 2015.
  • Retail property operators seek out central business district locations. These properties are located in dense areas and benefit from high foot traffic, making them very attractive to potential tenants.
  • The rise of online shopping has lowered interest in retail property spaces. Widespread adoption of online shopping has come at the expense of bricks-and-mortar locations.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $42.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Commercial property investors have become more risk-averse amid cash rate boosts and low business confidence

  • Increases in the cash rate in response to inflationary pressures have raised the cost of borrowing, softening property investments by retail property operators. This has lowered the supply of retail space available in the market, contributing to reduced industry revenue through fewer tenants.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Retail Property Operators in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Changes in business confidence and the cash rate are set to improve retail property supply

  • Business confidence is on track to recover as dampened trading conditions related to the pandemic and subsequent inflationary pressures begin to ease. This improved business confidence supports new retail property construction and investment, enhancing the supply of available retail spaces for property operations to purchase and lease.

Biggest companies in the Retail Property Operators in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Scentre
2,694.4
Vicinity Centres
1,226.2
Stockland
1,033.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Retail Property Operators in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Regional retail premises, Sub-regional retail premises and Neighbourhood retail premises. Regional retail premises is the largest segment of the Retail Property Operators in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Regional retail premises have suffered from a reduction in tenant interest

  • Regional properties are the largest market for the Retail Property Operators industry and include well-known shopping centres like Chadstone in Melbourne's outer suburbs or Westfield Chermside in Brisbane’s north.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Retail property managers primarily lease retail property.

What's included in this industry?

Regional retail premisesSub-regional retail premisesNeighbourhood retail premisesLarge format retail premisesStrip retail premisesCBD retail premisesStandalone retail premisesMarket premisesOutlet premises

Companies

ScentreVicinity CentresStockland

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

VACANCY RATEFAST FASHIONANCHOR TENANT

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 6712 - Retail Property Operators in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue has recovered from a down point in 2020 but faces competition from online shopping. Revenue for retail property operators has returned to pre-pandemic levels but with...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Fears that the work-from-home revolution would devastate CBD trading look to be subsiding. Foot traffic in the major cities is returning to 2019 levels, with Melbourne recent...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Retail property operators seek out central business district locations. These properties are located in dense areas and benefit from high foot traffic, making them very attra...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The rise of online shopping has lowered interest in retail property spaces. Widespread adoption of online shopping has come at the expense of bricks-and-mortar locations.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Acquisitions are critical for retail property operators to gain and develop an extensive portfolio. As operators acquire and rent out more retail properties, their rental yie...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Scentre's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Vicinity Centres's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Stockland's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Scentre, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Vicinity Centres, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Stockland, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Strong online shopping activity has lowered foot traffic in bricks-and-mortar retail stores. Online shopping alternatives have reduced tenant interest in retail locations, li...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wage costs have increased overall but slower than revenue. Total employment has risen, but the average employee per enterprise has decreased, leaving more room for profit mar...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia is $42.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Retail Property Operators in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 62,087 businesses in the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 4.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Retail Property Operators market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Retail Property Operators market in Australia are Scentre, Vicinity Centres and Stockland

What does the Retail Property Operators in Australia include?

Regional retail premises and Sub-regional retail premises are part of the Retail Property Operators industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Retail Property Operators in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Scentre.

How competitive is the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Retail Property Operators industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.