Nostra Homes almost doubles housing delivery following strategic shift to medium density
Almost 20 years after Nostra Homes began building homes across Melbourne, a strategic decision to increase its focus on townhomes and medium-density housing has helped shape a significant new phase of growth for the Australian family-owned builder.
While medium-density housing has always been part of Nostra Homes’ offering, the focus sharpened in 2019 and 2020. At the time, medium-density projects represented approximately 50 per cent of its building mix, alongside 45 per cent detached homes and five per cent knockdown rebuilds.
Today, medium-density housing accounts for approximately 90 per cent of Nostra Homes’ projects, reflecting broader changes in how and where Melburnians want to live.
Over a similar period, Nostra Homes has grown annual home deliveries from 215 in FY21 to 402 in FY26, an increase of 87 per cent, while expanding its team from 49 to 82 positions.
Now approaching its 20th anniversary, Nostra Homes is targeting 450 home starts in FY27 and plans to maintain annual volumes of between 400 and 500 homes, with townhomes and medium-density housing firmly at the centre of its future.
Nostra Homes Founder and Managing Director Anthony Caruana said the shift reflected changes in Melbourne’s housing market and what buyers were looking for.
“When we started Nostra Homes almost 20 years ago, the housing market looked very different. What people can afford, where they want to live and the types of homes they’re considering have all evolved.
“Medium-density was always part of Nostra Homes, but around 2019 and 2020 we made a conscious decision to focus more heavily on it. We saw an opportunity to create homes that gave people the space and quality they wanted while making better use of increasingly valuable land,” he said.
Anthony said perceptions of townhome living have also evolved as affordability and changing lifestyles reshape Melbourne’s housing market.
“Townhomes aren’t simply an alternative to a detached house. When designed properly, they can offer multiple bedrooms, generous living areas, private outdoor space and a genuine sense of home.
“For Nostra Homes, it’s about bringing the same level of thought and care to medium-density housing that people expect from a well-designed standalone home,” Anthony said.
Central to Nostra Homes’ foothold in Victoria’s property market is its relationships with trades, suppliers and development partners.
“We’ve always believed that if someone does the work, they should be paid properly and on time. Strong relationships with trades, suppliers and development partners create greater consistency across projects, and ultimately a better outcome for the customer,” Anthony said.
Remaining Australian family-owned and Melbourne-based has also shaped Nostra Homes’ approach to long-term growth.
“Being family-owned means we’re close to our people and partners and can make decisions based on what’s right for Nostra Homes and our customers over the long term,” Anthony said.
As Nostra Homes approaches two decades in business, Anthony said its evolution demonstrates the importance of changing alongside the market while staying true to the principles on which Nostra Homes was founded.
“Twenty years teaches you that the market will always change, and what people want from their homes will change too. Our job remains the same: understand what people need, build homes we’re proud to put the Nostra Homes name to and make decisions that allow us to keep doing that for the long term.”
Home designs by Nostra Homes in Victoria
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at iBuildNew, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country's most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the new home building industry. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia's evolving home building and construction landscape.
