Most Australians live in cities. The 2016 census showed that 71% of Australian’s live in major cities, and only 10% of Australians live in towns with less than 10,000 people. With this gap on the rise, it’s important that the small communities around the country are not forgotten while large cities continue to grow. In order for small towns to function they need access to important infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and markets, but they also need buildings that help foster a community’s social development. These gathering places have helped small towns around Australia develop some of the best examples of social resilience in the whole country, and architects who are based in these regional areas designed the majority of those buildings. In this episode of Hearing Architecture, we’ve asked architects from around Australia how architects have contributed to Australia’s regional communities and how we can nurture regional areas as we plan for our country’s future.

This episode of Hearing Architecture features the following guests: Shaneen Fantin, Belinda Allwood, Jessica Mountain, Emily Van Eyk, Yvette Breytenbach, Sue Dugdale, Kylee Schoonens, Jo Rees, Peter Stutchbury, Dik Jarman, Rob McGauran, Jefa Greenaway, Joe Agius, Professor Philip Thalis, and Lee Hillam.

The interviews in this episode were produced around Australia by EmAGN committee members: Jamileh Jahangiri, Daniel Hall, Kirsty Volz, Kali Marnane, Chris Morley, Sam McQueeney, Reece Currey, Brad Wetherall, Jess Beaver, Bede Taylor, Rebecca Webster, and Daniel Moore.

The AIA production team was Daniela Crawley, Stacey Rodda, Monique Woodward, and Thom McKenzie.

Produced by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio.

Written and Directed by Daniel Moore.

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