The problems faced by urban Australia have become more prevalent in recent years. They spring from the public cost of urban growth, the negative environmental impact of cities, the importance of global competitiveness, tensions between the three tiers of government and declining standards of living in our cities. This book, written by a team of leading authors, offers a fresh exploration of key issues in the debates about cities. Incisive and up-to-date, it will be an important contribution to discussion about urban planning and policy.

This collection of essays is the first systematic attempt to explain the social, administrative, technical and cultural history of "European" housing in Australia. Written by a collaborative team of scholars it explains how Australian housing has evolved from the ideas brought by the first settlers, and what makes Australian housing distinctive in social terms. The book will be invaluable for students of urban affairs and those engaged in housing and the design professions, as well as policy-makers and analysts in the public and private sectors.