Bringing history forward: learning from historical context when translating contemporary health evidence into planning practice

We describe an historical review of planning documents related to a newly developing high-density locality in Sydney, Australia. The review was undertaken to support the translational component of a larger project investigating how best to include knowledge and experience from the health disciplines to ensure a way of living not hitherto common-place in Australia is also health-supportive. The paper presents (i) key findings from the historical data; (ii) associated learnings about practice, developed to assist the wider translational objectives; and (iii) observations on the potential for such historical reviews to inform better planning practice more broadly.