Ken Morrison explains why people, place and ease are the ingredients which get cultural entrepreneurs thinking big in the city.

What set of ingredients turns a drab, pocket of town into a new must-go place?

For Melbourne, it was the economic decline of the 80s which saw Jeff Kennett relax liquor laws to allow small bar owners to take over empty city shops and laneways which gave the city its cultural vibe.

Others are following their footsteps: Sydney is seeing an emergence of small bars thanks to new licensing laws; Adelaide is building city centre apartments to bring the population back in and previously staid old Perth is thriving thanks to a laneway revitalisation program to cater for international guests who are in town for the mining boom.

The Property Council’s Ken Morrison of the Property Council of Australia tells 3Q it’s still up to city planners to follow through and get the funk back into town squares.