Introduction
A suburb is a term that is used to describe a residential area mainly located in urban areas (Faulkner et al, 2007). It may be a residential area or separate communities divided by a short distance. They mainly have an element of political autonomy and a smaller population density as compared to neighborhoods that are located near major towns and cities. They became popular in the 1800s and 1900s due to the development of a good transportation system.
In Australia, most suburbs developed in the outer lands around fast-growing towns and cities (Hanson, 2001). Improvement in road and railway transport led to the growth and development of these areas. Houses in the suburbs were constructed on large plots with ample space. They also had the state of the art architecture and design. With the peace and quiet and beautiful environment, most people who worked in the cities preferred to live in the suburbs.
The people who demanded houses in the suburbs had a good taste and judgment in the house that they wanted. This factor had a major effect on the growth and development of inner suburbs in Australia. People put a high demand on huge houses on large pieces of land. Most companies also built houses for their employees in various suburbs to ease the congestion in the cities. By the 1960s most suburbs only a few houses in suburbs were owned by individuals, most were owned by state corporations and companies. However, as time went by new legislation was passed that enabled people to get mortgage loans from banks to build houses. This led to the boom of construction in the inner suburbs between the mid-1960s and early 1970s. At the present moment, the trends of development have changed with people preferring to rent houses rather than own them. This essay describes the Australian community in the new suburbia and the features which reinforce or limit the community life.
A Focus on Suburbia
In the early development of suburbs in the 19th and 20th centuries, most houses in the suburbs were owned by companies and corporations. The houses were therefore designed to fit the requirements of these companies. Only a small proportion of individuals were able to afford houses in the suburbs. This was because it was expensive to purchase a house in the suburbs.
This trend however changed in the 1960s and early 1970s when the ownership of flats changed from company share to stratum title (AFSD, 1998). This move made suburban living affordable. People could now use freehold titles as security and get bank loans and mortgages to build and purchase homes in the inner suburbs. This factor led to the boom of construction of houses in the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s. The number of people who wanted to live in suburbs went up with time. This led to the development of the suburban community who was discerning. The development plans were initiated to meet the needs of the discerning community. This community, due to their good taste and judgment wanted the development of good estates and other infrastructure that would make their living in the suburbs to be comfortable. Since then, several contemporary issues arising from the community have affected the manner in which suburbs have developed in Australia.
At the beginning of suburban development in Australia people preferred to own homes. As has been discussed, this resulted in a boom in the construction of estates in the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s. This trend has been changing for a couple of years now. People at the present moment prefer to rent houses rather than purchase them. This has been due to the change in the group of individuals who create the demand for houses in the suburbs. In the past, older people placed a high demand for suburban houses. These were working-class individuals who were over thirty years. They viewed suburbs as their favorite places to live and raise their families. However, the individuals of the younger generations are now placing a high demand for inner suburbs. These are individuals who are below thirty years of age comprising of university students and the younger working class.
In the Melbournes revitalization for example, a high number of individuals living in the community are placing a lot of unprecedented demand on inner suburban living. According to a survey that was conducted, it was the individuals of the younger age group who were placing a lot of demand on the inner city leisure that has resulted from the government spending to improve infrastructure and facilities. This has transformed inner suburban living be more attractive. These developments went against the belief that these places were empty nesters (Legge, 2005). This trend in development is more or less the same as that experienced in other major cities in the world such as Paris and New York. This development has also been coupled with a lot of urbanism.
The trends in renting houses have increased due to a number of factors. First, the cost of renting a house is much cheaper than purchasing the same property. Currently, renting new complexes and flats in the inner suburbs is more affordable as compared to buying. This is due to the premiums that are charged while purchasing new houses. Insufficient demand for houses in suburbs has encouraged even more individuals to rent houses rather than to purchase. People also prefer to rent a house for some period of time before making the decision of buying it or not.
The reforms in estate development therefore should consider the needs and demands of this age group in order to make suburban living to be sustainable (Handy et al., 2002). The development plans should therefore ensure that good infrastructure in the suburbs is in place. This includes a good transportation system (road and rail), full-time availability of water and electricity, good sewer system and sanitation, recreational grounds, malls and shopping centers. The houses should also be built using the latest designs and technology so that they become more appealing to the new generation.
Even though a lot of demand for suburban housing is from the younger generation, the older generation should not be left out of the master plan for estate development (Lawton, 1981). The older generation is made up of people who have retired from their jobs. This group comprises a good proportion of the Australian population. Aging is a critical issue especially to the survival and sustainability of the housing sector (Luszcz, 2004). It has a lot of influence in the provision of support services and cares in the community hence it should be considered in the master plan for estate development. This plan should therefore have different options to suit the changing needs of the different age groups, both the young and the old.
The old generation wants to live a quality life once they go to retirement. They prefer to live in nice houses located in good neighborhoods. As much as housing is important to them, these individuals also need to live in secure and comfortable environments. Therefore, the public and private housing developers should have this in mind while formulating housing plans and policies. To make the lives of these individuals to be comfortable, they should ensure that the suburbs are safe, the houses are well designed and comfortable and the infrastructure and social amenities are available and are in good condition. They should also ensure that the housing plan provides a social surrounding where these old individuals will have a chance to meet and interact with each other as one community and live a comfortable life. Old people are usually lonely, a factor that increases stress and depression in their lives. The availability of neighbors will increase the chances of interaction among them. They will be able to make friends and engage in various recreation activities.
The aging individuals who preferred living in suburbs wanted houses that would be more suitable for them once their health starts to become poor. The easy accessibility of transportation by road or rail also attracts them to live in the suburbs. Suburbs also have health centers and other facilities that will make the lives of this cohort to be comfortable. They find it easier and much better to live in suburbs than in cities or towns where life is fast.
For suburban living to be more comfortable to the aging community, the development of estates in the suburbs should consider the construction of cluster houses that is comprised of around 5 to 10 dwellings (Michael et al., 2006). These dwellings should be developed close to roads, shopping centers and healthcare facilities. This will improve their convenience in terms of movement, safety and comfortability.
Conclusion
Suburban living has been on the rise since the 19th and 20th centuries. This rise was due to the development of road and rail transport that led to the opening up of areas outside the cities for settlement. In the early days of development, most houses in Australian suburbia were owned by companies and corporations. These houses were used to accommodate their employees. Only a few individuals were able to afford houses in the suburbs. However, with the change in legislation and provision of stratum title, more individuals could now afford to own houses in the suburbs by getting loans from banks. Currently, the demand for houses in suburbs has shifted to the younger generation who want houses that have modern design, architecture and services. They also need state-of-the-art infrastructure in their neighborhoods. At the same time the older generations demand security, cluster dwellings and availability of infrastructure and social amenities. For the housing industry to develop and be successful, these requirements should be included in the master plan for suburban development.
References
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