Why are Australians in denial about how cold our homes really are? ‘Winter stoicism’ is partly to blame

For years we’ve heard that Australian houses are so poorly insulated that they’re essentially glorified tents, so why are we pretending that everything’s fine? Photograph: Paul Catalin Pop/Alamy

Australians often fall victim to national mythologies. Whether it’s indulging stereotypes of Aussie machismo by telling tourists our one huntsman story, declaring we’re a very successful multicultural country during a time of racial tension, or being so confident that our winters are “mild” that we pretend they’re not happening. It’s not that bad, we tell ourselves. It’s Melbourne, not Quebec. I’ll wear an oodie.

These aren’t just thoughts I’ve had during one of my many Melbourne winters spent wheeling my oil heater around a freezing terrace house. Researchers report that because we consider Australia a warm country, we play down how cold it can get, even going as far as ignoring winter altogether. It’s an attitude particular to Australia and New Zealand that researchers refer to as “winter stoicism”.