This book offers a comprehensive exploration of how Australian cities govern and shape their Night-Time Economies (NTEs), focusing on Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Blending historical context, policy analysis and original empirical research, it reveals how these cities balance safety, vibrancy and economic growth while adapting to shifting social and economic pressures.

Situating Australia’s rapidly evolving NTE within a global landscape, the book highlights the country’s emergence as a leader in nighttime governance and proposes forward-thinking, inclusive strategies for sustainable urban futures. Essential reading for policy makers, planners and scholars, it provides a much-needed guide for cities navigating the modern 24-hour economy.