The Australian Dream?

From the ‘burbs to the bush to the inner city, Australians have long been obsessed with the dream of home ownership. In The Australian Dream? design expert Tim Ross delves into the State Library of NSW’s archives, uncovering images that reveal how we have built, bought and been sold different visions of home over the decades. 

From post-war fibro cottages to the boom of apartment living, he explores the cultural and economic forces shaping where—and how—we live. 

As headlines increasingly focus on housing scarcity, affordability and mortgage stress, this exhibition also asks if this dream is still viable. And what, if anything, we can learn from our past to ensure more housing security in our future. 

Opening on the final day of Vivid Sydney, The Australian Dream? extends the festival’s Dream theme throughout the remainder of 2025 and offers a timely reflection on what home has meant, what it means now and how we might reimagine it for the future.

Image credit: Paul Blackmore