Urban development in colonial societies like Australia and the United States often results in disconnected car-based subdivisions lacking focal points, identity, or a true sense of place. Yet examples of intentional “complete communities” show alternative possibilities. Ellenbrook, established in Perth, Western Australia in 1994, has for over 30 years demonstrated leadership in creating connected, walkable neighbourhoods around a transit-ready, mixed-use town centre. In 2015, FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, recognised Ellenbrook as the world’s best master-planned community. Its design draws on Western Australia’s mid-20th-century planning culture, influenced by pioneers such as Margaret Feilman OBE, who emphasised neighbourhoods reflecting culture, climate, and biodiversity, and Prof George Seddon, who introduced “sense of place” into environmental design. Both shaped the timeless principles applied at Ellenbrook. This chapter explores Ellenbrook’s features that create a tangible sense of “there,” and considers opportunities to revive the art of town founding and planning across Australia’s metropolitan growth areas.

After outlining the history of The Villages from its origins as a trailer park in the late 1960s to its present status, this chapter examines the factors behind its success. This discussion covers the unique master planning of the community, the extensive variety of leisure activities available to residents, and the population’s relative homogeneity. By distinguishing between the place and its residents, the chapter also reviews previous research on The Villages and identifies the gaps in the existing knowledge that this book aims to fill.