Spread from concrete to sustainable master planning communities

Over time, the shape of the Australian suburbs and how they can achieve their Australian dreams, modern homeowners prioritize livelihoods and community over prototype quarter acres.

Urban planning in Australia has developed significantly over the past century to adapt to the ever-changing real estate landscape and the changing ways homeowners relate to their communities.

Australia has been largely suburban for most of its history, and the birth of our urban center is consistent with the birth of modern suburbs around the world.

“If we think of Australian cities, it’s almost a sprawling story,” said Rea Group senior economist Anne Flaherty.

These suburbs often prioritize automotive dependency, and land on the land takes precedence over communities and public places, but that has changed.

“Today’s focus is on sustainability, connectivity with public transportation, green spaces and lifestyle-driven designs,” said Tony Gallagher, chief operating officer of PEET.

“In view of affordability and accessibility, more and more Australians are opting to opt for low-maintenance homes in connected, affluent communities instead of traditional large land.”

History of suburban Australian

For much of Australia’s history, ideal Australian homes have been set on a classic quarter acre block.

While a quarter of an acre isn’t always literally, the idea of ​​building urban planning around large homes with lots of private outdoor space has been a part of Australian history since the federal government.

The country’s low-density suburbs are designed around self-sufficient designs, with additional outdoor space initially dedicated to a kitchen garden that can feed a family.

With Australian culture relying on supermarkets, this self-sufficient mindset turns more of the mindset to leisure, with the large backyard used as a space for kids to play or pool and outdoor entertaining.

Especially after the surge in car ownership in Australia in the 1940s, these suburbs became increasingly dependent on cars, encouraging long-term commutes to work, schools and shopping in cities and business centres.

These daily distances have only become larger in recent years, as home buyers choose to work more farther from more affordable places of land.

Ms Flahti said: “If we look at the median home prices across Australia, it will be greatly improved, which is not possible for an increasing number of buyers in the interior of the capital city and in many suburbs in the Central region.”

While this means people may need more commuting, widespread work from home and larger local amenities mean homeowners can enjoy their community more.

The shape of new houses is constantly changing

Australia is the largest home in the world, and over the past six decades, the size of the home has doubled, which makes sense for a country that develops on a quarter-acre suburb.

The World Population Review reports that the average home size in Australia is 214 square meters, putting us ahead of New Zealand, the United States and Canada.

Homeowners are reevaluating how much land they actually need for their lifestyle, choosing to build these larger homes on lots that are more efficient in size.

In 2022, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that the average site size of new homes has dropped by 13% over the past decade.

Housing affordability and land supply are key factors in this change, especially in newer suburbs, as smaller plots allow more homes to be built in recently developed areas and create more active communities.

“Today’s homeowners prioritize lifestyle and affordability over land size,” Mr Gallagher said.

20 minutes of community

So when Australians rethink how big their homes need and what they should include, many look outward and expect more in their vicinity.

“The point is really to build a sense of community in the new suburbs, especially in the new suburbs of the pandemic,” Ms Flahti said.

According to Realestate.com.au’s 2024 new home research, homeowners are increasingly looking for suburbs to keep them in touch with their communities without relying on cars and long-distance commutes.

For many modern suburbs, this has seen the rise of the “20-minute community” as a key feature home buyers are looking for.

As Victoria Department of Transportation and Planning defines, a 20-minute community is a 20-minute community that allows people to “live locally” and meet most of their daily needs and meet most of their daily needs on a 20-minute return walk away from home.

Ms Flaherty said that with the increase in work commuting, road and public transport infrastructure have been challenged, and reducing transportation time outside of work is crucial.

“Whether it’s picking up kids from school or getting groceries, it’s very important to get these basic things to your quality of life,” she said.

Mr Gallagher said PEET’s Masters Program community is building around these changing priorities.

“At Peet, our community program reflects this transformation – allowing residents to enjoy parks, community spaces and major amenities within a 20-minute walk from home.”

Braham Manor: Modern Master Plan

Outside Perth, Peet is creating a new vision for the Australian community of Brabham Manor.

Brabham Estate has 130 years of creating an Australian community and is just one example of how Peet adapts and develops to meet the modern client lifestyle.

Mr Gallagher said: “Brabham Estate is a key example of PEET’s approach to community planning for the future, the integration of sustainability, innovation and livability.”

Even though the community is only 25 minutes’ train ride from Perth CBD, the community itself is designed to walk to all homes in the Future Town Center and local neighborhood stores.

Mr Gallagher also explained that Peet created the Brabham Estate with sustainability, and each home is eligible for $13,000 “Better Life Bunus” that includes features such as solar energy, heat pumps and home energy management systems.

“With the 6-star green star certification, Brabham sets new benchmarks for connected, resilient and sustainable living,” he said.

Brabham Estate’s even smarter technology in public places, including weather stations related to smart irrigation, Wi-Fi connectivity and solar charging stations, is an example of how Peet is committed to urban planning’s future.

“Our approach ensures that our community is prepared not only for the establishment of today, but for the needs of tomorrow,” Gallagher said.

For more information on Brabham Estate and how Peet can use its experience over a century to create a future community, please register your interests in the form below.