The Life and Death of the Australian BackyardA substantial backyard has long been considered an iconic feature of the Australian suburb. Nevertheless, during the 1990s, a dramatic change occurred: substantial backyards largely disappeared from new suburban houses in Australia. Whatever the size of lot, the dwelling now covers most of its developable area. Although the planning system does not actually promote this change, it does little to prevent it. It appears to be a physical expression of the way that Australian lifestyles are changing for the worse, in particular longer working hours. This in turn raises issues about health and wellbeing, especially for children. Vegetation surrounding the dwelling plays an important role in microclimate, storm drainage and biodiversity, irrespective of whether the residents use their backyard. Its loss has serious ecological implications, a deficit rendered permanent by the changes to the housing stock. The Life and Death of the Australian Backyard is based on a detailed quantitative study of this increasing, but previously unstudied, problem. It discusses the nature, uses and meaning of the traditional backyard, presents an understanding of the changes that have been happening and suggests possible remedies. All professionals working in the landscape and development industries, local government, consultancies and in universities should read this unique study of an issue of increasing significance to urban sustainability. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Chapter 2 The meaning of the backyard | 27 |
Chapter 3 The death of the backyard | 41 |
Chapter 4 Why is the backyard shrinking? | 73 |
Chapter 5 Why does the planning system notprevent the shrinkage? | 95 |
Colour plates | 123 |
Chapter 6 What should be done to preservethe backyard? | 139 |
Conclusion | 147 |
| 151 | |
| 159 | |
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Common terms and phrases
20th century activities aerial view aesthetic AMCORD amenity Australian suburbs average back gardens backyard area biodiversity Blakeview Brisbane City Brisbane City Council building Caringbah characteristics children’s play city centre codes Colour Plate described in Chapter dwelling footprint examples described fences floor area front gardens front setbacks Hebersham Hendra higher densities house footprints important increase integral garage Jannali Kew East land landscape large backyards lawns layout lifestyle lot area lot coverage lot sizes low-density Mead microclimate minimum dimension Mount Druitt newer older suburbs planning planted private open space Queensland rear boundary rear setback recreational reduced requirements road reservation Rooty Hill seen shown in Figure significant single-storey Smithfield Plains South Wales Spearwood specified standards storey street scene studies suburban development suburban form Sydney Table Tony Hall trees trend urban consolidation urban form useability vegetation Western Australia yard space