Talking Property with CBRE

Large Format Retail (LFR) has come a long way from its early “big box” beginnings. Once considered a more volatile, discretionary retail asset class, the sector is now attracting stronger attention from investors, landlords and retailers - supported by resilient consumer demand, low vacancy, constrained new supply and more than $100 billion in annual retail sales.

CBRE’s National Director of LFR Leasing, Shane Cook, and CBRE’s Pacific Head of Retail Property Management, Sheree Griff, unpack what’s driving the sector’s momentum in this latest episode of Talking Property.

They discuss why LFR is increasingly becoming a convenience and lifestyle story, how tenant demand is evolving across wellness, pet, entertainment and home categories, and why new concepts such as Kmart Home and Restoration Hardware point to the next phase of growth.

They also explore the sector’s investment appeal, the impact of planning and supply constraints, and why physical retail remains highly relevant in categories where consumers still want to see, touch, compare and experience products in person.

If you want to know more, you can read CBRE’s new Large Format Retail Outlook report.

What if art could do more than just decorate an office - what if it could boost productivity, strengthen culture, and make people want to come to work?

In this episode of Talking Property with CBRE, we explore the growing role of art as a strategic tool in modern workplaces. With organisations under pressure to “earn the commute,” art is emerging as a powerful way to transform offices into engaging, human-centred destinations.

Host Kathryn House is joined by Shehan Wijayawardana from Mallesons, Emilya Colliver from Art Pharmacy, and CBRE’s Jenny Liu to unpack how thoughtfully curated art collections are influencing everything from employee wellbeing and creativity to client experience and brand identity.

Drawing on real-world insights from Mallesons’ Sydney office transformation, the conversation reveals how art can:
Enhance workplace culture and storytelling
Create more memorable and engaging client experiences
Support talent attraction and retention in a competitive market

The key takeaway? Art is no longer a finishing touch. It’s becoming a core part of how organisations design spaces that perform.

This episode of Talking Property, we explore how commercial real estate lenders are navigating Australia’s shifting market conditions.

Host Kathryn House is joined by CBRE’s Andrew McCasker and Nuveen’s Dugald Marr to unpack the latest findings from CBRE’s H1 2026 Lender Sentiment Survey. Together, they discuss lender appetite, evolving sector preferences, interest rate expectations, and the growing impact of construction costs and global uncertainty.

Dugald also shares insights into Nuveen’s strategy and where the firm sees opportunity across the region.

Australia is becoming a nation of long-term renters - but the housing system isn’t keeping up.

In this episode of Talking Property, we explore the growing disconnect between strong rental demand and the limited supply of new homes drawing on fresh research from CBRE and REA Group, and insights from the Property Council of Australia’s recent National Housing Solutions Summit.

Assemble CEO Carolyn Viney, REA Group Senior Economist Anne Flaherty and CBRE’s Pacific Head of Living Sectors Capital Markets Andrew Purdon discuss how renters are staying longer, facing greater affordability pressures, and making deeper compromises as well as the roadblocks to developing more rental housing in Australia.

From planning constraints and rising construction costs to shifting renter preferences and evolving investment strategies, the conversation examines the key “frictions” holding back supply. The episode also highlights where opportunity lies, including the growing role of build-to-rent, co-living and mixed-tenure developments in meeting demand.

Australia is in a global race for AI infrastructure — but are we moving fast enough to compete?

In this episode of Talking Property with CBRE, host Kathryn House is joined by Belinda Dennett, co‑founder and CEO of Data Centres Australia, and Matt Madden, CBRE’s Senior Managing Director of Data Centre Solutions for Asia Pacific, to unpack the rapid evolution of the data centre sector and what’s at stake for Australia.

As capital accelerates, demand intensifies and AI reshapes the digital economy, the conversation explores whether Australia can attract and retain AI workloads — or risks falling behind regional competitors.

The episode also delves into the rise of neocloud operators and why data centres are no longer just “warehouses” of the digital economy, but factories creating intelligence, jobs and long‑term economic value.