Abstract: This paper investigates the hypothesis that there is a distinctive Australian approach to metropolitan planning. It does this by examining the major strategies formulated for the mainland state capital cities since the Second World War. It finds that an Australian paradigm of metropolitan planning evolved over the years of the ‘long boom’ from the end of the Second World War until the 1980s. The recent metropolitan strategies formulated for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and region, Perth and Adelaide by state Labor governments are then reviewed to see how far they reflect this paradigm. These recent strategies appear to reflect the Australian paradigm in more sophisticated and intricate forms. However, they do need frequent revision and benefit from association with other plans for economic development, sustainability, infrastructure provision and transport planning