Australia has long been synonymous with world-class education and its main cities have consistently ranked among the most liveable in the world. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, and Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, are among some of the best student cities globally.

Their appeal has led to an influx of foreign students into the cities annually. This, coupled with the cities’ liveability factor, has boosted population numbers and net overseas migration. Compared with other capital cities in the country, Melbourne recorded the largest growth in population, up by 167,500 people, followed by Sydney (146,700) from 2022 to 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

These factors have driven up demand for properties in these cities over the years, resulting in rental vacancies hitting new lows in recent years. To tackle the significant housing shortage, the Australian government has also set a target for 1.2 million houses to be built in five years.

Leveraging the numerous opportunities both cities have to offer, Malaysia’s leading real estate developer S P Setia Bhd has set its sights on developing three prime real estate projects, one in Sydney and two in Melbourne. These developments are covered in this special report on Pages 6 to 8.

The special report also provides market analyses and insights by Colliers, Knight Frank and CBRE on Pages 8 to 10. On Page 9, Fender Katsalidis co-founder Karl Fender and Cox Architecture director Philip Rowe talk about how high-rise, high-density living can be an enriching experience. Pages 10 to 12 cover some of the best universities in Sydney and Melbourne as well as some must-visit spots — from sunny beaches to historic quarters and options to wine, dine and chill — to experience what both cities have to offer.

Download pdf here.