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.