A British woman living on Australia's Gold Coast has ignited a fierce online discussion after expressing her disbelief at a common local habit she describes as 'wild'.
The Viral Clip That Captured a Cultural Divide
Emily Dew-Gosling, who relocated from London to Queensland, shared a video with her social media followers confessing her bafflement. She observed Australians at her gym casually leaving car keys, wallets, and bags in open cubby holes rather than securing them in lockers. The video quickly went viral, amassing more than 864,000 views and sparking over 10,000 comments from people divided on the issue.
"The trust Australians have for each other is crazy," she wrote in the clip. "London could never. Pick and mix car from the carpark. Do I just have trust issues or is this wild?"
Australians Explain the 'Unwritten Rule'
Thousands of Australians responded to explain that this relaxed attitude towards personal belongings is deeply ingrained in parts of their culture. Many described it as a social contract in specific settings. One commenter summed it up by stating, 'An un-written rule - the beach and the gym are off limits for theft.'
Others revealed this trust extends beyond fitness centres. One person shared that at their university library, students would leave half a dozen MacBooks and iPads unattended on tables to save their spots while taking breaks. The discussion also broadened, with some noting similar practices in other countries like Japan and Dubai, where people leave items to reserve seats or even keys in their cars.
Not Everyone Shares the Trust
While many celebrated this aspect of Australian culture, the debate revealed it is not universal. Some locals admitted they do not partake. "I'm Australian and it shocks me also how much trust some of us have. Not me though, I padlock my stuff up in the lockers. Trust no one!" wrote one viewer.
Another provided a balanced view: "We all go swimming and leave stuff on the beach and it's safe. It is a bit of an unspoken trust system that 99.9 per cent of us all follow." Meanwhile, some shared cautionary tales of theft, proving the system is not infallible.
A Familiar Story for Expats
The conversation resonated strongly with other expatriates. Many who have moved away from Australia said this culture of trust is something they miss. One former resident now in Los Angeles said, "My bf still gets mad at me for leaving my back door unlocked."
This is not the first time a British expat has highlighted the phenomenon. Another UK expat, Jordana Grace, went viral in 2024 for praising the Australian beach custom of leaving shoes at the entrance, confident they would still be there upon return. She described it as a positive 'culture shock'.
The overwhelming response to Emily's video underscores a profound cultural difference in social trust and personal security between life in the UK and Australia, leaving many to ponder where they stand on the spectrum.
