Australian Dream

For other uses, see Australian Dream (disambiguation).

The Australian Dream or Great Australian Dream is, in its narrowest sense, a belief that in Australia, home ownership can lead to a better life and is an expression of success and security. The term is derived from the American Dream, which describes a similar phenomenon in the United States also starting in the 1940s, although they are differentiated from each other in that the American Dream is more concerned with the abstract notion that upward social mobility in general is achievable for all while the Australian Dream is more invested specifically in home ownership as a means of prosperity. [1] Although this standard of living is enjoyed by many in the existing Australian population, commentators have argued that rising real house prices have made it increasingly difficult to achieve the "Great Australian Dream", especially for those living in large cities and the Millennials.[2]

It is also noted as having led to urbanisation (or more specifically suburbanisation), causing extensive urban sprawl in the major cities.[3] In contrast to the Australian Dream, some modern urban planners have emphasised "urban consolidation" and "urban sustainability".[4] This "smart growth" or "iGrowth" involves living in a small apartment instead of a detached home, and using public transport instead of driving a car.[5] The key to enforcing "urban consolidation" on an Australian populace who still desire the freedom of their own home and backyard has been planning laws which ban or heavily restrict greenfield development;[6] however some have criticised this as leading to extreme house prices.[7]

The term has also been used to apply to broader issues. It was given a different slant by journalist Stan Grant, first in a 2015 address which went viral,[8][9] followed by a 2016 essay entitled "The Australian Dream: Blood, History And Becoming",[10] and lastly his 2019 documentary film The Australian Dream, which examines the role of racism in Australia, past and present, and questions of national and Indigenous identity, using the racial abuse of footballer Adam Goodes as a starting point.

Miriam Margolyes, in a 2020 three-part TV documentary entitled Almost Australian, interrogates what the Australian Dream means to a variety of people across the country.[11]

  1. ^ "The year the Australian Dream died". BBC News. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Get rich or die trying". this. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. ^ ""The Adelaide Review [Issues] Sprawl consumes all". Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2006." Sprawl Consumes All. adelaide.com.au 29 October 2004. URL accessed 5 September 2006.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "consilidation". www.sage.unsw.edu.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Data" (PDF). www.be.unsw.edu.au.
  7. ^ "Sydney: From World City to "Sick Man" of Australia - Newgeography.com". www.newgeography.com.
  8. ^ Davey, Melissa (24 January 2016). "Stan Grant's speech on racism and the Australian dream goes viral". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Stan Grant: Racism and the Australian dream". The Ethics Centre. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  10. ^ "The Australian Dream: Blood, History And Becoming". Quarterly Essay. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  11. ^ Enker, Debi (13 May 2020). "Miriam Margolyes holds up a critical mirror to Australia in new doco Almost Australian". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 May 2020.