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Abstract
The narrative of the twentieth century is dominated by three key trends: population growth,
economic growth and urbanisation. Moreover, these trends are expected to continue well
into the twenty-first century. Australia has not been immune to these trends. Australia’s
population is projected to increase by 65% to over 35 million by 2049, and be accompanied by
an average growth in per-capita Gross Domestic Product of 1.5% per annum. Much of this
population and economic growth will be concentrated in an already highly urbanised
environment. As a consequence, the natural environment in which the majority of Australians
live is likely to undergo rapid change. It is useful therefore, to better understand our
relationship with this environment. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour
Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, the Census of Population and Housing, and Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), this paper examines the link between the natural environment and
life satisfaction in Australia. The results indicate that certain natural environmental assets,
such as national parks and the coastline are amenities, whereas creeks are disamenities. In
regards to the influence of climate on life satisfaction, some unexpected results are found.
Keywords: Natural Environment; Climate; Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Life
Satisfaction; Happiness; Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA).