What’s it like to live in Docklands?

Urban researcher Louise Johnson wants to talk to Docklanders about what it’s like to live here.

Associate Professor Johnson has researched and written extensively about Australian cities and wants to talk to people with some first-hand experiences.

“I am fascinated to find out whether it’s all about inner-city living or are we just recreating the suburban experience here – in a vertical fashion,” Prof. Johnson said.

“I want to talk to people about what they expected before they moved here, and what they have got.”

Prof. Johnson said inner-city apartment living represented a revolution in thinking for Australians.

“Up until very recently, the Australian dream has been to escape the city and establish life in the suburbs,” she said.

Prof. Johnson said it couldn’t denied that Australians were discovering apartment living but she suspected that they were largely intent on re-creating much of their suburban lives in a very different
physical environment.

“Is Docklands more than just a vertical suburb?” she asked. “I proposed that, rather than entering a world of cosmopolitanism and diversity, they are re-creating much of their suburban lives.”

“This research project seeks to detail just who is moving into the Docklands in Melbourne, from where and with what aspirations but also how they then live their lives there.”

She can be contacted at [email protected].