This paper seeks to ‘unpack’ both a) the liveability literature as it applies to Australia’s cities and b) the range of measurement and indicator frameworks that currently purport to assess urban liveability.

Reviewing a broad range of trans-disciplinary literature addressing child-friendliness in contemporary Australian cities, this paper draws particular attention to the fact that even some of the most recognised texts on children and young people in Australia make few references in their analysis to the issue of place and neighbourhood.