Small backyard

In this article

1. Small backyard
2. Solutions for small backyards

Big backyards are under threat as Aussies squeeze larger homes onto their house blocks, new research shows. But have no fear - there is life after a big backyard and we show you how to get the most out of your patch of grass.

The demise of the dirt

Backyard research

Griffith University’s Where Have all the Gardens Gone project studied data from aerial photographs of new suburbs throughout Australia. The pictures show suburban McMansions eating up the once-iconic Aussie backyard.

Research leader, Professor Tony Hall, said the disappearance of the backyard in new suburban housing happened quite suddenly in the 1990s, but few studies exist into why it happened, or what long-term problems it could cause.

"It is not happening in other countries, in particular it is not happening in North America where the suburban sprawl might be similar," he said.

"It is also said that higher densities mean no back gardens. However, experience in, say, Britain shows that 150 sq m backyards can still be provided at densities up to three times those in Australian suburbs."

Professor Hall said the death of the backyard was not a result of smaller lots. Some homes cover up to 65 per cent of the block, which may not sound like much, but equates to a gap of only about two metres around the house. Traditional houses would cover less than 35 per cent of the block.

Adelaide would appear to be the only capital city bucking the trend; maintaining adequate space in the garden in its new housing developments.

Lifestyle impacts

Professor Hall says the motivation behind the phenomenon was a mix of homeowners wanting maximum floor space for minimum outlay, rather than spending on facilities for a better lifestyle or on houses that were cheaper to run. Houses in the new suburbs had no room private open-air amenities suited to the Australian climate, such as patios, vegetable gardens, swimming pools and room for children to play.

"Ironically, apartment dwellers in central and inner-city areas are now more likely to have better lifestyle facilities such as balconies, pools and BBQ areas than outer suburban dwellers. They do appear to want to spend money on lifestyle," Professor Hall said.

"However, the problem goes way beyond individual houses and preferences. The loss of back gardens, especially the loss of trees, has serious implications for the local ecology, drainage and microclimate."

Create an illusion

Don't despair if you think all hope is lost if you have a small backyard as the we give you ideas and design tricks on how to make your backyard look bigger (even if it's not).