22nd OF SEPTEMBER, PERTH WA Western Australia remains one of the nation’s strongest-performing economies, but the next phase of its property cycle will require investors, developers and occupiers to look more closely at where growth is translating into genuine, sustainable demand.
That was the central message delivered by Colliers Director of Property Economics, Jake Lynch, at Colliers’ WA in Focus: Growth, Change + Opportunity client event, which brought together economic, demographic, behavioural and property market insights to explore the forces shaping Western Australia in 2026 and beyond.
My Lynch said WA was entering its next phase from a position of strength, supported by a healthy labour market, investment above historical norms and a significant export engine.
Colliers’ analysis highlighted that WA’s recent population growth has been exceptional and while projections point to a more moderate pace ahead, continued growth will add substantial demand for property and services, alongside existing shortfalls. The presentation illustrated how that growth could translate into significant annual requirements across retail, industrial, childcare and health – each year.
Colliers State Chief Executive WA | Richard Cash said the difference between buyers assessing the same asset often came down to the assumptions underpinning their investment case.
“Several buyers can review the same shopping centre and the same headline information but arrive at very different conclusions on value,” Mr Cash said.
“The difference is often how they interpret the asset’s catchment, competition, customer behaviour, future supply and capacity for repositioning or growth."
“Confidence comes from testing those assumptions at an asset-specific level. The buyer who understands where the demand is coming from, how resilient it is and where the risks sit can form a stronger view and act with greater conviction.”
Colliers Associate, Civil Engineering & Design, Natalie Naidoo said the strength of the forward pipeline would continue to place pressure on delivery capacity.
“Population growth is generating a significant requirement for new homes, infrastructure and community services, but demand can move much faster than supply,” Ms Naidoo said.
“The challenge is not simply whether projects are planned. It is whether the sector has the labour, materials, approvals, infrastructure coordination and construction capacity to deliver them alongside the existing pipeline.
“Early consideration of servicing requirements, staging and deliverability will be critical. A strong demand case does not automatically translate into a viable project if the infrastructure and delivery pathway are not understood.”
The event also explored the operational fundamentals underpinning specialised property investments, including childcare centres.
For childcare, the discussion highlighted the importance of understanding local family demographics and competing centres when assessing demand, alongside the operating conditions that support a sustainable business.
Colliers Director, Valuation & Advisory Services, Zane Gil said population growth alone was not enough to support a childcare investment.
“A childcare property still requires an operator capable of running a sustainable business from that location,” Mr Gil said.
“When assessing the rent, we need to consider the depth of demand within the catchment, local competition, occupancy potential, fee levels, staffing costs and the operator’s overall economics.
“A lease can provide investors with certainty around term and income, but it does not always reveal whether the rent is sustainable. The strength of the covenant and the operator’s ability to absorb rent reviews and cost pressures are just as important as the lease documentation itself.”
Colliers’ analysis concluded that WA’s momentum continued to support property opportunities, but market averages alone were no longer enough to identify them.
The greatest opportunities could emerge from recognising a mismatch between demand and deliverable supply before it became widely understood, giving investors and developers greater scope to act through acquisition, design, staging, repositioning or changes to asset composition.
