Australia has a long history of building more freestanding homes than apartments, townhouses and terraces combined, and the gap between the two is widening as multi-unit projects become harder to stack up – new analysis of building approvals’ data shows.

Qi Chen, founder of real estate portal OpenLot.com.au, which undertook the analysis, said the Aussie dream of owning a detached home with a yard was very much alive, despite the common fear that most Australian new homebuyers are being forced into apartments.