Historic development of Housing in Australia

Australia has seen several rapid housing growth periods. The evolutionary cycle of development for Western Australia in particular has seen periods of intensive development followed by slower steady growth.
During the late 19th Century a rural to urban migration following the end of the gold rush and external migration added to a period of huge urban population growth. The high demand for housing combined with buoyant economic conditions fuelled a housing boom which remained unequalled until after the Second World War.
There was a general slump in building activity until the end of World War Two. The post war climate of reconstruction and innovation was fuelled by soldier re-settlement, high rates of immigration and a huge backlog in housing demand.
There have been several schemes adopted regarding the growth of cities in Australia since. For example Perth adopted the Corridor Plan for Perth in 1970. This addressed the prospect of endless urban growth along major transport corridors and around a network of sub-regional centres. In 1987 Metroplan sought to consolidate existing and future urban development and facilitate growth in a new pattern of centres in the middle suburbs. 2004 saw the release of the Network City plan. It emphasized growth management in an effort to contain fringe urban growth and renew and regenerate the existing urban area with a network of activity centres connected by a series of corridors.

By 2031 future population forecasts predict that the Perth and Peel region will house a population of more than 2.2 million people. This is an addition 556,000 people on today’s population. To accommodate this level of growth a further 328,000 dwellings and approximately 356,000 jobs will be needed. (Directions 2031)
The growth of the population shows there will be a need for improvement in building design and specifically providing new methods and strategies for housing growth in Australia. The need for experimentation and innovation not only in dense urban dwelling prototypes but also the model of a single detached house will become increasingly important.