The theory of public goods is not very helpful for managing them in real life. Public goods are not just about being shared and not easily restricted, they are also shaped by society and can change over time. The costs of maintaining public goods are often overlooked, making it hard to keep them in good shape. Using public goods too much can actually harm them and make them less useful. Free goods are a special type of public goods that are important too. Examples of public and free goods from Australia and the Pacific are discussed in the article.