Urban Growth and Decline

Issues in the Australian Environment: Urban Processes Urban Growth and Decline - Sydney’s development

The Development of Sydney This concentric model doesn’t fully explain Sydney’s development

Here’s another way of representing Sydney As a coastal city, Sydney doesn’t have a circular pattern

Sydney can’t develop far to the east Sydney has developed most to the west But this still doesn’t tell the full story

Sydney has branched out What might have caused this?

Railways greatly influenced Sydney’s development 1850

1890s

1910

1930

1965

2004

Rails was important until the 1950s Central Station 1931

Tramways also influenced city growth Steam trams were already in use by the 1870s

Trams quickly replaced carriages Tramways were electrified from 1898 onwards

By 1932 Sydney had the world’s biggest urban tramway system

Growth also influenced by Tramways Western & South Western lines at greatest extent

Growth also influenced by Tramways Eastern suburbs lines at greatest extent

George St, 1950s Trams began to be phased out from the 1950s onwards as car and truck transport developed

Car and Motor Lorry Transport FJ Holdens were mass produced in Australia in the 1950s. This allowed people to live further away from railway and tram networks.

Car and Motor Lorry Transport Bedford trucks, like this one, allowed businesses to develop further away from railway and tram networks

Car & Trucks and Buses By the 1960s cars, trucks and buses were major forms of transport in Sydney

Sydney’s Growth & Projected Growth Sydney’s extensive suburban growth, called suburbanisation, depended on motor vehicles and continues to do so.

Stages in transport development • Walking • Horse & cart • Railways • Steam trams • Electric trams • Cars & motor lorries

Sydney’s CBD From Cahill Expressway Little visible evidence from the 1788 British settlement remains.

57 Lower Fort St, The Rocks At this time most of Sydney's wealthy merchants, lived on the ridge at what became known as The Rocks Early 19th Century (Georgian) Wealthy Merchant Housing

Clyde St, Millers Point Poorer people lived lower down the hill closer to the port and work Workers Housing from 1830s

Gloucester Rd, The Rocks Poor housing conditions and a Bubonic plague outbreak in 1900 led to many dilapidated buildings being demolished Urban Decline circa 1900

Hereford St, Glebe Originally a wealthy suburb that experienced from the 1920s Gentrification has been occurring in Glebe since the 1970s. 1880s – 1890s Residential

Turner Ave, Haberfield Part of the Established zone it developed after 1900 Trams were important to the suburb’s development 1900 - 1914 Federation style

Shipley Ave, Concord Most trees cleared. Foreign species planted Part of the Established zone it developed after 1920 Trams were the main transport. Suburbs like this grew rapidly 1918 - 1930 California Bungalows

Strickland Rd, Granville Most trees cleared, top soil sometimes removed and sold Developed after 1950. New mass produced building materials like fibro Cars were important to the suburb’s development. New roads, land clearing 1950s Public Housing (fibro – asbestos cement)

Goondah St, Lansdowne Most trees cleared, top soil sometimes removed and sold Developed after 1960. brick and some timber construction Cars were important to the suburb’s development. New roads, land clearing 1960s Brick Veneer Bungalows

Rivendell Cresc, Werrington Downs More trees left, less top soil removed and sold Developed through 1970s and 1980s. Brick veneer construction Cars were important to the suburb’s development. New roads, land clearing 1970s to 1980s Brick Veneer Bungalows

Forbes Way, Macquarie Links Most trees already cleared for previous farming activities 1990s

Halcyon Drive, Kellyville Most trees already cleared for previous dairy farming activities 2000s

Second & Fifteenth Aves, Middleton Grange 2000s Rural Urban Fringe

Lombard Close, Glebe In Glebe Urban Renewal has also been an important process. 1990s Residential – Urban renewal

Arden St, Coogee in Randwick Municipality Noise and dust from construction Driveway & basement parking – air pollution 1920s houses demolished as part of the 1960s Urban renewal – unsympathetic infill

The Impact of Urban Development Sydney’s development has had an impact on both the biophysical and the built environments Biophysical Built • Mangroves cleared & coast land filled in • Sydney basin cleared of natural vegetation • Top soils removed • Surfaces sealed & Water run-off more rapid • Polluted storm water to rivers and sea • Sewage piped to coast dumped in the sea • Chemical from factories into rivers & sea • Bilge water from ships pollutes harbour • Fuel oils into coastal waters • Coal burning increases air pollution • Cars cause photo-chemical smog • Urban decline – unsanitary housing • Urban decline – vermin such as rats • Urban decline – poverty concentrated • Urban renewal – Dust and noise • Urban renewal – unsympathetic infill • Urban consolidation – Overshadowing • Urbanconsolidation – Pressure on services • Urban consolidation – More traffic • Urban consolidation – Less industrial pollution • Urban consolidation – Return of trams • Gentrification – Street trees and playgrounds • Gentrification - more restaurants

Sydney’s Natural Vegetation Farming and Suburbanisation has led to extensive clearing of natural vegetation The Cumberland Plain in Western Sydney still has some remnant woodlands Mangroves clear and marshes filled in to increase coastal and port land

Urban Growth and Decline - Sydney’s development