You Won't Believe Your Eyes: These Insane Before-and-After Photos Show Australia's 40-Year Transformation!

Australia has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past 40 years, and thanks to the wonders of technology, we can now see these changes in a way that was once unimaginable. Google Earth imagery, compiled by a TikTok user, has provided us with a visual time capsule that reveals the extent of urbanisation and its impact on the Australian landscape.

The video begins with a snapshot of the greater western Sydney region, an area once bordered by Mount Druitt to the north, Narellan to the south, Liverpool to the east, and surrounded by lush, green farmland. As the timeline progresses, we witness Sydney's urban sprawl inching its way from the borderland suburbs into the heartland of the greater west, transforming rural expanses into bustling suburbs like Luddenham, Orchard Hills, St Clair, and Kemps Creek.



But it's not just Sydney that's been reshaped by the hands of progress. The footage moves on to Dubbo, a regional city in New South Wales, where a similar pattern unfolds. The once-verdant landscape is gradually overtaken by a web of urban developments, as greenery gives way to the grey of concrete and asphalt.


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A video showed the urbanisation in Australia in the past 40 years. Credit: @jackoking_2007 / TikTok


The phenomenon is starkly visible in southeast Melbourne as well. The imagery shows how farmland stretching northeast from Pakenham towards the CBD has been replaced by a surge of development. This urban sprawl is mirrored and simultaneously travels south from Cranbourne, painting a picture of relentless growth.



The changes are not confined to New South Wales and Victoria. Townsville, northern Brisbane, Moreton Bay, and Perth all exhibit similar shifts in their colour palettes over the 40-year timeline. The greenery of what was once expansive farmland and lush rainforest is now obscured by the spread of residential and commercial buildings.

These transformations have elicited strong reactions from viewers. Some express their devastation at the loss of natural landscapes, with comments like, 'Gosh, it’s so sad to see it like that,' highlighting the emotional impact of these changes. Others point to the broader implications for the environment, noting that the destruction of thousands of hectares of forest and bush is contributing to ecosystem disruption and pollution.

Yet, there are also voices that see this as an inevitable path of progress, akin to the development trajectory of countries like America. One commenter suggests that Australians might need to adjust their expectations, indicating a divide in public opinion on the balance between development and conservation.



The implications of this urban sprawl are far-reaching. Infrastructure has become a major consideration for Australian policymakers, especially as housing affordability hits a record low in 2024. With potential homeowners feeling the pinch of cost of living pressures, the federal government has set an ambitious target of building 1.2 million houses over the next five years.

However, this plan is not without its challenges. A crippling labour and skills shortage, compounded by rising material costs, has led experts to describe the housing strategy as 'a ticking time bomb.' The question remains: how can Australia continue to grow and provide housing for its citizens without compromising the natural beauty and ecological health of the country?

As we reflect on these before-and-after images, they serve as a powerful reminder of the rapid pace of change and the need for thoughtful, sustainable planning. The landscapes we once knew have been altered, perhaps irrevocably, but it's up to us to decide what the next 40 years will look like.

You can watch the video below:

Credit: @jackoking_2007 / TikTok​


Key Takeaways
  • Google Earth imagery has shown significant urbanisation in various regions of Australia over the past 40 years.
  • The visuals illustrate the transformation from green farmland and forests to residential and commercial landscapes.
  • The impact of urban sprawl is causing concern among Australians, with comments on environmental and pollution issues.
  • Despite housing affordability and infrastructure challenges, the Australian government has set a goal to build 1.2 million houses in the next five years, amidst labour and material shortages.

We at the Seniors Discount Club invite you to share your thoughts on this transformation. Have you witnessed these changes in your own community? What do you think about the balance between development and environmental conservation? Let's have a conversation about the past, present, and future of our beautiful country.
 
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Pakenham was famous for its dairy industry and businesses associated with it. How many people are now unemployed because of this.
 
Worldwide overpopulation has a lot to answer for. However before we start blaming, just think of the house you occupy and the roads leading to it and to your shops were once rural bush land. Everyone of us are part of the problem.
 
Adelaide CBD to Gawler (north of Adelaide) used to be like a country town - a trunk phone call ..later known as std, now it is a large suburb. In the early 1900s cars had a bag of water strapped to the front of them even for an hour drive. South of Adelaide at Reynella it was all grape vines and a small country town now it is adjoining suburbs on the eastern side of Main South Road and there is only a very small strip of open land on the western side. There is one intersection that on all 4 corners there is takeaway food shops (known as
junk food corner A lot of suburbs are now "high density living" houses attached to each other. Blocks of land subdivided and 2 homes built on them or what was 2 blocks (often one was a corner one) now has 3 or for houses on it. Families tend to be smaller - 1 or 2 children - not up to 12 or more like in the mid 1840s to early 1950s in SA
 
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I have been watching for years how housing is swallowing up the areas around Berwick, Packenham, Kooweerup and Cranbourne. These areas used to produce a lot of the food for Melbourne. Now the asparagus comes from Peru or China. I won't buy it.
 
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Adelaide CBD to Gawler (north of Adelaide) used to be like a country town - a trunk phone call ..later known as std, now it is a large suburb. In the early 1900s cars had a bag of water strapped to the front of them even for an hour drive. South of Adelaide at Reynella it was all grape vines and a small country town now it is adjoining suburbs on the eastern side of Main South Road and there is only a very small strip of open land on the western side. There is one intersection that on all 4 corners there is takeaway food shops (known as
junk food corner A lot of suburbs are now "high density living" houses attached to each other. Blocks of land subdivided and 2 homes built on them or what was 2 blocks (often one was a corner one) now has 3 or for houses on it. Families tend to be smaller - 1 or 2 children - not up to 12 or more like in the mid 1840s to early 1950s in SA
When I was a kid I use to love a Sunday drive to Gawler, there was nothing for miles except a few farmers would have a stall out the front selling veggies, fruit, and jams etc.
It was a real highlight, but now it's all built up sadly :(
 

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