The Origins of Australia's Capital Cities

Pamela Statham (Edited by)

9780521408325, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 November 1990

388 pages
24.6 x 18.9 x 2 cm, 0.69 kg

"The 15 contributors perform uniformly well: the volume is readable, often quite fascinating, and full of unusual insights." Choice

The Origins of Australia's Capital Cities is a comprehensive survey, well illustrated with maps and plans, which aims to answer two questions. First, why Australia's eight capital cities are situated where they are, and second, how they were established. Pairs of chapters on each of the State capitals - Sydney, Hobart, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane - are accompanied by studies of Canberra as the federal capital and Darwin as a territorial capital. A capital is the administrative centre of a political entity, and in Australia, unlike many overseas countries, a uniquely high proportion of the population resides in the capitals. Companion chapters examine the causes of initial European settlement in each area, and reasons for the actual establishment of each capital city. Attention is given to such topics as planning and layout, the basis of growth, potential rivals, the social nature of the cities and the nature of their spread. While there have been no other volume covering all the capitals to seek answers to the same basic questions. This will therefore be an invaluable source book, and provide a stimulus to further enquiry in the social history of Australia. An introduction by the editor pulls together the general strands which link the chapters, and highlights the ways in which the Australian experience contrasts with the urban experience overseas.

List of maps
List of tables
Acknowledgments
List of abbreviations used in notes
Part I. Introduction: 1. Patterns and perspectives Pamela Statham
Part II. Sydney: 2. The founding of New South Wales Ged Martin
3. Sydney: a southern emporium Brian Fletcher
Part III. Hobart: 4. Settling Van Diemann's land Lloyd Robson
5. Hobart: a moment of glory Gordon Rimmer
Part IV. Perth: 6. Western Australia becomes British Pamela Statham
7. Perth: a foundling city Geoffrey Bolton
Part: V. Adelaide: 8. Establishing South Australia Mel Davies
9. Adelaide: a victorian bastide? Tony Denholm
Part VI. Melbourne: 10. The founding of Melbourne Alan Shaw
11. Melbourne: a kangaroo advance Susan Priestley
Part VII. Brisbane: 12. Choosing Brisbane Ross Johnston and Helen Gregory
13. Brisbane: making it work Ross Johnston and Helen Gregory
Part VIII. Darwin: 14. The Northern settlements: outposts of empire James Cameron
15. Palmerston (Darwin): four expeditions in search of a capital Robert Reece
Part IX. Canberra: Canberra: the bush capital Roger Pegrum
Index.

Subject Areas: Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], Australasian & Pacific history [HBJM]