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The Study of Urban Form in Australia

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The Study of Urban Form in Australia The study of urban form in Australia Arnis Siksna School of Geography, Planning and Architecture, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. E-mail: [email protected] Revised version received 11 April 2006 Abstract. This paper reviews urban morphological research in Australia, undertaken since the 1960s mainly by urban geographers, urban planners, urban designers and architects. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Australian colonial governments generally prepared plans for towns, and also for rural lands, before allowing settlement to occur. Much of the study of urban form has therefore concerned the initial plans of Australian towns and cities, and how these have influenced the subsequent evolution of country towns, city centres, residential areas, and detailed urban forms. Some broader overviews, theoretical works, and studies in a comparative international context are also discussed. Key Words: urban morphology, geography, town planning, urban design, Australia The study of urban form in Australia does not the scale of those in European and Asian yet really form a distinct, well-developed body countries, no ‘pre-urban nuclei’ because the of research comparable to that in countries towns are new creations from the era of previously reviewed in Urban Morphology. In colonialism or merchant capitalism; no historic looking for comparisons with other countries urban fortifications; and few large-scale so far reviewed (the United States, France, government-maintained cultural institutions, Germany, Italy and Spain), Australian urban except in their capital cities. Consequently, settlement shares similarities only with the studies of urban form in both countries are United States – both in its underlying societal likely to reflect the many similarities, but also values as well as its general physical nature. some differences, in their respective societal The values identified for the United States by values and original physical settlement forms. Conzen (2001, pp. 4-5) – the ubiquity and dominance of commercialism operating in the context of laissez-faire capitalism; Regulations and models for Australian town individualism, expressed under the notion of layouts privatism and favouring private over public space; a deep anti-urban streak towards urban Understanding the nature of research on urban governance, and hence fragmented control form in Australia depends in part on over the production of morphological appreciation of the origins of Australian town attributes – have also permeated Australian layouts. Land settlement in Australia society. Equally, the same absences in urban commenced in 1788 and colonial governments form are just as obvious in Australia as in generally followed a policy of surveying the America (Conzen, 2001, p. 5) – there are no land before it was granted or sold. Thus the monarchical and religious urban complexes on large majority of towns were located and laid Urban Morphology (2006) 10(2), 89-100 © International Seminar on Urban Form, 2006 ISSN 1027-4278 90 The study of urban form in Australia out by colonial governments, and unplanned or Development and nature of urban form private settlements were relatively rare. In the studies in Australia first colony of New South Wales (NSW) the early towns were planned without any Sulman (1921, pp. 103-9) was perhaps the first common set of rules. However, pressure for Australian author to look at urban form in a the rapid provision of further towns led morphological sense. His primarily practical Governor Darling to issue regulations in 1829 text on town planning also contained (Colonial Secretary’s Office, 1829), which interesting analyses of existing urban forms in required streets to be laid out in a rectilinear Australian country towns and in Sydney’s city fashion using the following dimensions for centre. He discussed the problems caused by town layouts: the 330 feet deep lots in NSW country towns produced by Governor Darling’s regulations, Main street 100 feet (30.48 m) and suggested nine different ways in which Other streets 84 feet (25.60 m) they could be treated. Sulman also noted the Blocks 660 feet (201.17 m) square, problems experienced in deep blocks in containing 20 lots Sydney’s city centre, with their irregular Lots 66 by 330 feet (20.12 by internal pattern of lots and alleys, and 100.58 m) on main streets suggested a better model for their future 165 by 132 feet (50.29 by development by incorporating a system of 40.23 m) on cross streets internal arcades, thus breaking the block down to smaller dimensions. Freeland (1972, p. 103) regarded Governor Another early work was by the American Darling’s regulations effectively as the husband and wife team (McIntyre and Australian counterpart of the Laws of the McIntyre, 1944), who undertook a survey of Indies governing Spanish settlement in South the amenities of country towns in Victoria. America, and stressed their widespread effect This also included an examination of the on towns in other Australian states. layout and appearance of towns, in which there was an analysis of the layout of streets, and These regulations were directly responsible particularly the Main Street both in its physical for shaping the character of the great bulk of forms and its social function, the conditions of Australian towns. While they remained in the Main Street (street width, footpaths, trees, force – everywhere except in South Australia lawns, memorials, seats), and the form and and Western Australia – they imposed a appearance of residential streets (construction uniform pattern on towns. Even after they materials of houses, paving, trees). These are were superseded, their basic ideas and described in words and many aspects are also principles were incorporated into later Acts quantified in a simple table for the 180 towns and their thinking was accepted examined. No plans are provided, but some unquestioningly so that with a few late photographs and the verbal analyses give a exceptions Australian towns are all Darling reasonable description of the morphology of towns. Victorian country towns. Only South Australia used a distinctly Studies of urban form have emerged different form of town layout, modelled on the gradually only since the 1960s and their overall characteristics are very similar to those 1836 plan of Adelaide, incorporating a square evident in the broader field of planning history and a surrounding belt of parklands. Given in Australia, as summarized by Freestone and that government regulations or models deter- Hutchings (1993, p. 72). mined the planned layout of most Australian towns, it is not surprising that many Australian Diverse if not fragmented, parochial and urban form studies have focussed on initial sometimes quirky, the general nature of this town plans and their influence on subsequent body of work partly reflects the spatial development and land subdivision patterns. isolationism and parochialism that have been The study of urban form in Australia 91 hallmarks of Australian cultural and political Morphology (Mugavin, 1999; Siksna, 1997). development. Beyond the straitlaced general Even though studies of urban form in surveys of state, city and metropolitan Australia have been individual and diverse in planning, several established lines of inquiry nature, some distinct concentrations and are evident, notably colonial town layout, emphases have emerged and they can be civic design, the impact of planning loosely grouped under the following topics: movements, evaluations of metropolitan country towns; initial plans of capital cities planning, political conflict, and federal urban policy… Future challenges lie in more and their Central Business Districts (CBDs); original research, integration, theory residential areas; detailed urban forms; and development, and policy relevance. overviews, theoretical works and studies of urban form in other countries. Finally, it is As far as urban form studies are concerned it worth noting that several studies have might be added that they developed in an even extended beyond Australia and have included more fragmented way. There has been little comparative international analyses. research along particular lines of enquiry or in fields of similar interest, and therefore no substantial consolidation of knowledge on Country towns specific topics has yet emerged. Neither has there been much direct focus on ‘urban In view of the planned origins of Australian morphology’, and investigations of ‘urban towns it is not surprising that their plan forms form’ have ranged from those of small urban have attracted considerable interest. Most precincts to ones encompassing metropolitan early works were general and descriptive in areas, and have often been geared to practical nature, such as Walkley’s (1951-52) account needs in planning, urban design and heritage of the planning of towns in South Australia. conservation. Urban geographers, urban The first detailed studies were made by Jeans historians and urban planners have conducted (1965), who investigated the plans of NSW most studies, but urban designers and country towns from 1829 to 1842 and architects have also taken an interest, particularly highlighted the influence exerted particularly in terms of practical projects and by Governor Darling’s regulations promul- competition designs. gated in 1829, and Williams (1974), who However, since the 1980s a more focussed undertook a comprehensive analysis of early and purposeful search for urban forms that town plans in South Australia, which
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