Australia and its urban centres

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Australia is one of the most urbanized countries, yet its urban distribution is highly uneven. Most Australians reside within a coastal strip less than a hundred kilometers wide, with the national capital, Canberra, just 120 km from the coast, housing a quarter million residents. Early colonization efforts from 1788 to 1836 established penal settlements, whaling stations, and military outposts, leading to urban networks centered around capital cities. Sydney and Melbourne emerged as major rivals, each reaching three million residents, while Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth followed with one million each. The urban hierarchy lacks mid-sized cities, with many smaller towns serving agricultural or mining needs. Since World War II, Australian cities have transformed due to population and industrialization policies, resulting in a multicultural society from three million immigrants, predominantly non-British. Unlike in the U.S., these ethnic minorities did not create large inner-city ghettos. New towns emerged, although growth-pole policies failed. Fastest growth is seen in resort towns and mining regions. High home ownership and low residential densities characterize Australian cities, making them unique. This book presents extensive research on the development of urban Australia, its cities, and their cultural-genetic identity, appealing to a wide range of specialists.