Diverse Pathways to Cohousing: The Australian Experience

Interest in cohousing continues to grow in Australia, yet the pathways to achieving this form of collaborative housing are varied. This paper examines the distinct journeys of cohousing in four different Australian states: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Statutory planning reforms, experimental housing programs, and tribunal resolutions have all contributed to the recognition of this model. Enabling this housing model to thrive would offer a shared, more sustainable community living experience. Why, then, is the journey so diverse? Through policy analysis, grey literature review, and semi-structured interviews with government representatives and cohousing groups, this paper seeks to understand the reasons behind the variation in approach. Comparisons between the cohousing outcomes achieved through formal planning reform versus experimental governance programs are explored. Cohousing is a diverse housing type, with residents adapting the form to suit their context, environment and needs of the group. This research questions if the regulatory structures in place to support cohousing in each case study jurisdiction are robust enough to support diversity of form. The paper provides insight into the complexities of introducing a new housing type across different planning systems, establishing a base for future international comparative work.