This photo of an Aussie suburb sparks discussions about the country's housing crisis

The Australian dream of owning a spacious home with a sprawling backyard is ingrained in our psyche.

It's a vision that conjures up images of children playing cricket on the lawn, weekend barbecues with family and friends, and a sense of community many of us hold dear.

However, an aerial photograph of a suburb has ignited a fiery debate about the future of housing in Australia and what this means for our way of life.


The Ponds, which was transformed from pastoral farmland into a residential area in 2007, now boasts around 4,500 homes housing an estimated 12,000 residents.

The suburb's rapid development and the resulting high-density living conditions have become a hot topic, with the viral image sparking thousands of comments and concerns.

The photograph posted by a social media user showed rows upon rows of tightly packed houses.

According to commenters, each house has a price tag of at least $1.2 million.


compressed-ponds housing.jpeg
A house in The Ponds may set back potential homeowners between $1.2 million to $1.5 million. Image Credit: X/@hidflect


The median house price in The Ponds is even higher, at $1.548 million, per CoreLogic data.

This figure surpasses the greater Sydney median of $1.414 million, requiring a couple to earn a combined income of $238,000 to secure a bank loan for a home in the area.


The debate has extended beyond the financial implications, touching on privacy, safety, and climate issues.

Residents and onlookers alike have criticised the lack of space between homes.

'If you sneeze out a side window, your neighbour will catch your cold,' one comment read. 'This picture makes me feel claustrophobic just looking at it.'

Others have lamented the absence of backyards and trees, describing the area as 'just greyness' and 'depressing'.

Safety concerns have also been raised, particularly regarding the risk of fire spreading rapidly through the connected dwellings.

'One home catches fire, and the entire row burns down. Great design,' another comment read.

The homes' dark roofs and reliance on air conditioning were criticised for contributing to higher temperatures in the summer months—raising questions about the sustainability and livability of high-density housing.

The conversation has also veered into the territory of immigration and government policy, with some attributing the need for high-density housing to Sydney's growing population fueled by immigration.

Critics argue that this has led to unsustainable levels of development driven by greed and a disregard for the quality of life of potential homeowners.


Amidst the sea of modern homes, one defiant family stands out.

The Zammit family has refused to sell their five-acre property, which is now surrounded by new developments.

Despite receiving offers of up to $50 million, the Zammits have held onto their land—a remnant of the area's past, characterised by unique homes and ample space.

See the changes upon The Ponds here:

Source: 7News Australia/YouTube

Key Takeaways

  • An aerial photo highlighting the dense housing in The Ponds, a suburb of Sydney, has sparked significant debate about the future of Australian housing and the impact of urban development.
  • The Ponds, initially farmland, was converted into a residential area with 4,500 homes, leading to concerns about privacy, safety, quality of life, and environmental considerations such as the heat island effect.
  • With median house prices at The Ponds exceeding the wider Sydney median, affordability and the impact of high immigration on housing demand are among the critical issues discussed.
  • Amidst the area's transformation, the Zammits family resisted selling their five-acre property to developers, highlighting a contrast between past and present living conditions and values in the area.
What do you think of The Ponds's design? How do you maximise a limited home space for your comfort? Share your opinions in the comments below.
 
Last edited:
Sponsored
Miles from nowhere, in the arse-end of Blacktown.
Oh dear.
What kind of desperate does one have to be to want to go earlobes-deep into debt to "live" here?
We were considered wacky when we bought a home in Blacktown, now they are worth millons. Moved further out, and again, these are worth millions. NO matter where you live, real estate will always catch up with you.
And now I prefer the rolling hills of Victoria, thank you.
 
The most frightening aspect of this most awful photo I've ever seen is the complete absence of trees. What on earth is happening.

There's probably a heap of reason's why it couldn't be done, but if there was just one thumping big building housing the lot of them and an underground carpark, with a bus and/or train station out the front or side or running through the middle of the bastard, there would be a mountain of room for many, many thousands of trees and open park areas.

But of course not enough shekels to be grubbed out of the dirt for councils or developers.
 
The most frightening aspect of this most awful photo I've ever seen is the complete absence of trees. What on earth is happening.

There's probably a heap of reason's why it couldn't be done, but if there was just one thumping big building housing the lot of them and an underground carpark, with a bus and/or train station out the front or side or running through the middle of the bastard, there would be a mountain of room for many, many thousands of trees and open park areas.

But of course not enough shekels to be grubbed out of the dirt for councils or developers.
No trees no grass to play on no birds or animals 😞 sad isn’t it.
 
The most frightening aspect of this most awful photo I've ever seen is the complete absence of trees. What on earth is happening.

There's probably a heap of reason's why it couldn't be done, but if there was just one thumping big building housing the lot of them and an underground carpark, with a bus and/or train station out the front or side or running through the middle of the bastard, there would be a mountain of room for many, many thousands of trees and open park areas.

But of course not enough shekels to be grubbed out of the dirt for councils or developers.
One thumping big building for that housing estate would be a couple of 20-storey high-rises as per built during the British "slum clearances" of the 1960s when the "Coronation Streets" got demolished. The result has been the social isolation of families, vandalism and the inconvenience of non-working lifts, not to mention the Grenfell Tower fire disaster which is no doubt an ongoing litigation issue keeping lawyers richer than they deserve to be. Having lived in British terrace housing with a tiny front garden and paved small backyard, that is better than living in "one thumping great building".

As for all Oszzies living on 5 acres; that would be 60-80 million acres (about 30 new Melbournes) given a family of two people; and how many million acres of tar-seal and tonnes of copper and plastic would be needed to support that?

Trees? They can be planted along the roads and why not have them as fruit trees?

As for sustainability etc of housing; that is an engineering issue that can be built into the accommodation; arguably high-density housing is a more efficient use of space and therefore more sustainable if engineered sensibly. Black roofs and air-conditioning is a stupid, badly engineered combination as is the lack of modern solar energy systems and Australia's idiot support of the USA's central shopping mall concept, which requires use of the car and large car parks.
 
Last edited:
One thumping big building for that housing estate would be a couple of 20-storey high-rises as per built during the British "slum clearances" of the 1960s when the "Coronation Streets" got demolished. The result has been the social isolation of families, vandalism and the inconvenience of non-working lifts, not to mention the Grenfell Tower fire disaster which is no doubt an ongoing litigation issue keeping lawyers richer than they deserve to be. Having lived in British terrace housing with a tiny front garden and paved small backyard, that is better than living in "one thumping great building".

As for all Oszzies living on 5 acres; that would be 60-80 million acres (about 30 new Melbournes) given a family of two people; and how many million acres of tar-seal and tonnes of copper and plastic would be needed to support that?

Trees? They can be planted along the roads and why not have them as fruit trees?

As for sustainability etc of housing; that is an engineering issue that can be built into the accommodation; arguably high-density housing is a more efficient use of space and therefore more sustainable if engineered sensibly. Black roofs and air-conditioning is a stupid, badly engineered combination as is the lack of modern solar energy systems and Australia's idiot support of the USA's central shopping mall concept, which requires use of the car and large car parks.
Yep, mostly agree.

Wasn't really thinking thumping great buildings of the past, more of thumping great future ones that are perhaps linear, with a few levels, that allow wildlife corridors and plenty of green space and essentials not far away. Pleasing views would also be a given. The planning should take into account inclusivity with a view to mitigate social issues.

Either way, that photo remains ugly in my eyes.
 
Yep, mostly agree.

Wasn't really thinking thumping great buildings of the past, more of thumping great future ones that are perhaps linear, with a few levels, that allow wildlife corridors and plenty of green space and essentials not far away. Pleasing views would also be a given. The planning should take into account inclusivity with a view to mitigate social issues.

Either way, that photo remains ugly in my eyes.
Very ugly indeed and sad to see things like this as housing.
 
Not much breathing space between them, they might as well have built apartment blocks.
Only downside of apartment blocks are the continuous body corporate fees for people. I know someone who pays $180/week for their body corporate fees with their apartment - some pay even more than that.
I've seen those terrace houses in the UK. Some are a nod to the architect who designed them. Depending where they are, some fetch mega dollars for them.
 
Last edited:
Very ugly indeed and sad to see things like this as housing.
Yes that is one hellish ugly housing estate and for $1.2 million a hovel it is not funny. High density can be done better than that. At least in the terraced places in which I lived there was the back lane between backyards which meant we could play soccer and cricket in it, among other things. The worst terraced houses, of which many were built during the industrial revolution, were the 2 rooms up, 2 rooms down, back-to-backs.Most of those were shoddy from the outset although no doubt profitable to the builder.
 
How utterly depressing just looking at the picture. Doesn’t anyone have any imagination anymore. The trend of requiring all houses in an estate to have dreary colours, similar designs, no room for kids to play or for families to even have an outdoor area to get some fresh air. It must be desperation that gets people to buy in these estates, or maybe they spend very little time there as they are too busy working to afford the mortgage. Imagine if you didn’t get on with the neighbours, life would certainly be miserable. Guess if this is the new era of housing people won’t get woken up by lawnmowers, edgers etc on weekends, as there will be no need for them. Do all dry their clothes in a dryer, as no room for a clothesline, and probably not enough air or sun to dry the clothes anyway. I’m thinking any kids growing up in these estates will all have huge mental issues later on from being crammed together and being stuck inside most of their lives. There is so much greed involved from developers, governments, local councils trying to squeeze every dollar out of every new estate that gets developed.
 
Yes that is one hellish ugly housing estate and for $1.2 million a hovel it is not funny. High density can be done better than that. At least in the terraced places in which I lived there was the back lane between backyards which meant we could play soccer and cricket in it, among other things. The worst terraced houses, of which many were built during the industrial revolution, were the 2 rooms up, 2 rooms down, back-to-backs.Most of those were shoddy from the outset although no doubt profitable to the builder.
You are correct $1.2 million hovel.... bet each one of those dwellings has over 100 breaches of the building regulations that will cost $000,000 to rectify
 
  • Like
Reactions: oldchook58
How utterly depressing just looking at the picture. Doesn’t anyone have any imagination anymore. The trend of requiring all houses in an estate to have dreary colours, similar designs, no room for kids to play or for families to even have an outdoor area to get some fresh air. It must be desperation that gets people to buy in these estates, or maybe they spend very little time there as they are too busy working to afford the mortgage. Imagine if you didn’t get on with the neighbours, life would certainly be miserable. Guess if this is the new era of housing people won’t get woken up by lawnmowers, edgers etc on weekends, as there will be no need for them. Do all dry their clothes in a dryer, as no room for a clothesline, and probably not enough air or sun to dry the clothes anyway. I’m thinking any kids growing up in these estates will all have huge mental issues later on from being crammed together and being stuck inside most of their lives. There is so much greed involved from developers, governments, local councils trying to squeeze every dollar out of every new estate that gets developed.
 
1714101460158.png

Here you are. Prince Albert's (Queen Vicky's bloke) "model cottage" housing four families in flats (units) of 3 bedrooms, one living room and one kitchen together with indoor toilet (we Poms are so clean that we don't need to wash). From Wikipedia; note, no garage.
 
Depressing......
Yes; the lack of garage is indeed a problem. However as "working class" housing it was seen as quite generous, if not revolutionary. The three bedrooms were provided to enable the separation of male and female children at night, a modern idea even today. As for indoor toilets for the working masses of 1857.............! Australia was still building outdoor dunnies for Housing Commission houses in the late-1940s early-1950s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oldchook58
Yes; the lack of garage is indeed a problem. However as "working class" housing it was seen as quite generous, if not revolutionary. The three bedrooms were provided to enable the separation of male and female children at night, a modern idea even today. As for indoor toilets for the working masses of 1857.............! Australia was still building outdoor dunnies for Housing Commission houses in the late-1940s early-1950s.
Rob44 said....Australia was still building outdoor dunnies for Housing Commission houses in the late-1940s early-1950s.....

Used one myself in the early 1950's, the Redbacks were a complimentary bonus that were to be sung about in songs a bit later on!
 
Rob44 said....Australia was still building outdoor dunnies for Housing Commission houses in the late-1940s early-1950s.....

Used one myself in the early 1950's, the Redbacks were a complimentary bonus that were to be sung about in songs a bit later on!
🤣🤣
 

Join the conversation

News, deals, games, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.

Seniors Discount Club

The SDC searches for the best deals, discounts, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.
  1. New members
  2. Jokes & fun
  3. Photography
  4. Nostalgia / Yesterday's Australia
  5. Food and Lifestyle
  6. Money Saving Hacks
  7. Offtopic / Everything else

Latest Articles

  • We believe that retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, not worry about money. That's why we're here to help our members make the most of their retirement years. If you're over 60 and looking for ways to save money, connect with others, and have a laugh, we’d love to have you aboard.
  • Advertise with us

User Menu

Enjoyed Reading our Story?

  • Share this forum to your loved ones.
Change Weather Postcode×
Change Petrol Postcode×