“The Australian QSR sector demonstrated remarkable strength in 2025, despite rising cost-of-living pressures,” said Toby Wooldridge, GapMaps associate director, research and insights.
“It was the strongest year of net growth we have recorded, driven by the second-highest number of openings on record and the lowest number of closures in the past decade.
Wooldridge said QSRs were aggressively targeting suburban mortgage belts where high-density housing was growing.
The rising number of QSRs in inner suburbs and outer-urban areas, and consumers’ clear preference to spend more time dining and socialising in their own neighbourhoods, are major factors driving demand for commercial sites suited to cafes, restaurants and fast-food chains.
The sale of a freehold restaurant investment in the heart of Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs is expected to test the area’s commercial property market when it goes to auction.
On the market for the first time in four decades, 49-51 Moncur St, Woollahra, is leased to Big Mama’s restaurant. The building includes two floors of restaurant space, an outdoor terrace, balcony areas and side-lane access.
Colliers senior executive for Sydney metro sales Charles Raine is co-managing the sale alongside Paul Grasso.
Raine describes Woollahra and the iconic Moncur Street retail and dining village as a “true set-and-forget” precinct for investors.
Developments
Commercial property appetite jumps, but rate fears cloud recovery
The power of local is no longer a lingering byproduct of the pandemic; it has reshaped the Australian economy.
In the past five years, suburban neighbourhoods have become the centre of our daily lives. While 36 per cent of Australians regularly work from home, even more of us avoid the commute to the CBD, preferring to dine, spend and socialise locally.
Drawing on millions of transactions and a national consumer survey, The Neighbourhood Nation report, produced by Square last September, captured our growing loyalty to neighbourhood retailers, restaurants and service providers.
It revealed that only 9 per cent of Australians felt more connected to the CBD than they did five years ago, while 54 per cent felt more connected to their neighbourhood. The sentiment was reflected in the report’s visitation data: two in five visited the CBD less than once a month, and almost one in five avoided it altogether.
Date
20 May 2026
Author
Carolyn Cummins
Photos
via realcommercial.com.au
One of the major winners of this consumer shift is suburban dining venues. The Neighbourhood Nation report revealed Australians spend 73 per cent of their monthly dining budget in local venues, compared to 27 per cent in the CBD.
“You become part of people’s weekly rhythm when you are their go-to-barista, baker or neighbourhood favourite,” said Square business development lead Colin Birney.
“The sellers building the strongest businesses today are those that invest in long-term, local relationships.”
Square transaction data showed suburban food and beverage sales peaked on weekends, while CBD venues peaked at weekday lunchtimes, highlighting the difference between leisure in the suburbs and transactional visits in the city.
“You become part of people’s weekly rhythm when you are their go-to-barista, baker or neighbourhood favourite. The sellers building the strongest businesses today are those that invest in long-term, local relationships.”
One of the major winners of this consumer shift is suburban dining venues. The Neighbourhood Nation report revealed Australians spend 73 per cent of their monthly dining budget in local venues, compared to 27 per cent in the CBD.
“You become part of people’s weekly rhythm when you are their go-to-barista, baker or neighbourhood favourite,” said Square business development lead Colin Birney.
“The sellers building the strongest businesses today are those that invest in long-term, local relationships.”
Square transaction data showed suburban food and beverage sales peaked on weekends, while CBD venues peaked at weekday lunchtimes, highlighting the difference between leisure in the suburbs and transactional visits in the city.
