Reimagining the Great Australian Dream is more than a documentary; it is a transformative planning research initiative that has redefined how complex housing and community challenges can be communicated, understood and addressed.

Combining rigorous multidisciplinary research, firsthand investigation of award-winning communities and innovative public engagement, the project translated technical planning evidence into a compelling national conversation. By connecting industry expertise with lived experience, it challenged conventional thinking about affordability, housing choice and liveability, while inspiring broader community understanding. As a practical and influential contribution to planning practice, it demonstrates the power of research, storytelling and collaboration to shape better communities and future housing outcomes.

The documentary itself humanised the issue of housing access and choice, presenting density as part of a broader conversation about affordability, opportunity and the future of Australian communities, not simply as an abstract planning metric. This approach helped challenge the common perception that alternative housing forms were an unattractive or inferior substitute for the detached house.

The project was designed as a research initiative and a practical framework for informing future planning, policy and development decisions. Implementation began with a national study tour of leading master planned communities, enabling the team to identify, test and compare successful approaches to housing diversity and community design across Australia.

The multidisciplinary team included: Therefor Group, Dennis Family Corporation, Fourfold Studio, Aspect Studios, Graham Nottle Architects and The National Property Research Co

Want to know more?

Head to the website to watch the documentary Home – Reimagining the Great Australian Dream Documentary