House proud: 9 crowning features of the “Aussie castle”

In fact, at an average floor size of around 240sqm, Australia is home to some of the largest residences in the world. But it’s not just the size of a house that matters, it’s the vibe. The serenity. Adding a bit of charm. We take a look at what Aussies are dreamin’ of for their dream homes – and what is going straight to the pool room.

Most popular features for Aussie homes

What Australians have on their wish list changes very little year to year, or even decade to decade, says PropTrack senior economist Paul Ryan.

Apart from the pandemic transforming how homes are used, he says property seekers tend favour the same range of features and are willing to pay increasing amounts for more space.

“We’ve seen continued strong demand for larger homes to accommodate people spending more time in their homes and different usages of different rooms,” Ryan says.

“That’s definitely a new development.”

1. Swimming pool

Not just a nation girt by sea, we also seem to crave a splash of chlorine.

Over the last 12 months, pools were the most-searched term among houses on realestate.com.au and the second-highest for units.

“The pool is a pretty perennial feature of an Australian home,” Ryan says.

“I don’t think you could imagine a truly luxury home without a pool.”

Matthew van Rijswijk, Development Director at Frasers Property Australia, says buyers loves the idea of a pool or a gym in a development, whether a residential estate or apartment building.

But they are also quite conscious about having to pay for them, he adds – perhaps making it more aspirational than dealbreaker.

2. Easy parking

Garages are the second most searched term for house hunters, with a double garage seen as a big plus for buyers.

“I’m surprised how much people prioritise garages for new homes,” says Ryan.

“But it’s both for storage and car-focused living.”

Frasers Property Design Director Hallum Jennings says the importance of parking depends on where you live – in terms of accessibility, transport options, space and demographic.

For example, inner-city homes are likely to have less room available and residents may preference other forms of transport.

“A couple of 20-year-olds I work with plan to never own a car, so they only car share, which is interesting,” Jennings says.

3. Stay cool

It’s little surprise that air-conditioning is a consistently important feature for Aussies, with cooling and heating often seen as a necessity in the home.

However, with rising energy costs, Ryan says it makes sense to design and build homes that don't require artificial heating or cooling.

Van Rijswijk says a home’s position plays a big role, with a north-facing aspect offering natural temperature control benefits as well as hard-line sustainability.

“When it comes to aspect, there’s a camp who know about it and a camp who don’t,” he says.

“I think once you know about it, there’s no going back.”

4. Hot kitchens

Aussies still love a centrepiece kitchen, especially in luxury homes, says Jennings.

He says the entertainer’s kitchen is a status symbol for many homeowners, sporting features such as high-end appliances, island benches and exquisite cabinetry.

Butler’s pantries are increasingly popular too, where food is prepared and stored behind closed doors.

However, he says not all Australians are keen cooks, especially in inner-city areas, thanks to easy food delivery.

“Recently we went through one of our apartments and the occupants are using the oven to store their shoes,” he says.

5. Everybody needs good neighbours

From the sausage sizzle to local markets, a sense of belonging is important to Australians.

Part of choosing a dream home is location and what that location offers.

Popular features for community connection include proximity to “open space, schools, social services, retail and nature”, says David Mazzotta, Senior Community Development Manager at Frasers Property Australia.

Views of the streetscape are also sought-after, he says, allowing for passive surveillance that enables both a sense of safety and familiarity.

6. Privacy

Van Rijswijk says people want visual and acoustic privacy in their own space, but not completely closed off from the neighbourhood.

In other words, you can shut a window or close the blinds and enjoy a sanctuary or open things up and feel part of the action.

“It’s vibrancy, as in is there somewhere that I can be connected to others, and then it’s about privacy,” he explains.

“They may seem contradictory, but buyers want the option of being private in their own space or connected in a social space.”

7. Bonus rooms

Mazzotta says Aussies love variety in their homes, with different spaces within designs for family and friends to congregate or retreat.

Multi-purpose rooms are rising in popularity, whether used as a study – one of the top ten most searched terms – or a home gym, craft room, nursery or guest bedroom.

“The demand for studies or extra bedrooms for workspaces has exploded since the pandemic lockdowns,” says Ryan.

“That hasn’t been something that has receded.”

Games rooms are a stalwart of the Aussie dream home, Jennings says, particularly in the suburbs.

“This room always has something in it, like a pool table or a piano,” he says.

8. Great outdoors

We all know Aussies and barbies go together like pies and sauce, so a top outdoor area is high on the wish list – from premium patios and gardens to full alfresco kitchens.

“Obviously we focus a lot more on barbecues and alfresco than some countries,” says Jennings.

For those without a front lawn or backyard, communal green spaces rate highly, whether incorporated into a new development or simply within the suburb.

Van Rijswijk says green access – including parks, tree-lined streets and leafy landscapes – are places that people want to live in.

“A diversity of spaces fosters different connection environments,” he says.

9. “The Fonzie”

Dual living and granny flats made the top ten search terms for houses – and with cost of living increasing, shared properties and multi-generational living is coming back in vogue.

While granny flats are not new, they are becoming more innovative and comfortable in terms of design and specs.

Jennings points to classic sitcom Happy Days, where the Fonz used to live in the apartment above the Cunninghams’ garage, as an example of annex-style living in popular culture.

“That’s where the term ‘Fonzie flat’ came from, and that’s very much an Australian thing.”

 

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Originally published as ‘House proud: 9 crowning features of the Aussie "castle"’.