Private investors and offshore groups have swooped on more than A$300m worth of office buildings and retail centres in Brisbane and Sydney, with retail billionaire John van Lieshout among those involved in the shopping spree.

At least two major Sydney commercial office towers - the Village Greater Union Hoyts Centre and an office tower at 20 Hunter Street - are understood to be under offer in deals estimated to be worth up to A$200m. Mr van Lieshout is believed to have purchased GPT Group's Homemaker centre at Mt Gravatt in Brisbane, which was last valued in December by the listed property trust at A$22m.

Separately, industry sources say Stockland's 12-storey commercial office building at 234 Sussex Street in Sydney is under offer in a deal believed to be worth around $40m.

The Australian