Australia's love affair with bricks

But perhaps one of the more fascinating cultural concepts that has endured through changing circumstances is that of the great Australian dream.  

The desire to own one’s own home has stood remarkably steady throughout the years, as has our love affair with honest, enduring and authentic clay bricks.

Australians continue to name bricks as their most desired building material for their own home.

In a national tracking study commissioned in August 2018 by the industry association Think Brick, 72 per cent of those surveyed agreed they would choose a home built with clay brick over any other material, while 83 per cent of people currently planning to build a home are looking at brick as their building material of choice.

So why are Australians so loyal and traditional in their desire to build their dream home with the humble brick, especially when presented with so many new walling alternatives?

“The design and architectural choices in brick façade options have never been greater than they are today with a plethora of colours, textures and styles available,” says Jai Sanderson from PGH Bricks & Pavers.

“The possibilities are enormous and cater to a multicultural spectrum of Australian lifestyles,” he says.

“We want every Australian to be able to find their perfect brick choice to build their great Australian dream home.”

The study revealed that 86 per cent of people surveyed grew up with the impression that brick is the best material to build a home with, and that bricks offer more possibilities to creating a unique look. 

For investment purposes, 73 per cent said a home built with clay brick gives a better return on investment than any other material, while 58 per cent believed a brick home reduces energy bills.

There are also all the benefits brick provides to living conditions: those surveyed reported that brick is low maintenance (73 per cent), helps keep their home cooler in summer and warmer in winter (66 per cent) and reduces noise (67 per cent).