705-118 Australian Urban Planning in History

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Subject Description

This subject reviews the historical development of cities and planning in Australia in the twentieth century, with most emphasis given to the post-war period, and assesses the future of planning. Australian planning is set in its international context, comparing Australian approaches with those of North America and Europe and discussing the values and understandings which gave rise to the practice and institutions of governmental planning and land use regulation. The growth of planning practice in Australia is described and the social movements and political pressures surrounding it. Examples of strategic and statutory planning in different Australian metropolitan cities are given. The subjects follows a lose chronological path tracing the development of planning from the speculative booms and busts of the late nineteenth century, through the period of war and depression and in the first half of the century to the institutionalisation of planning in the context of the welfare sate and social democracy, and ultimately to the abandonment of large scale planning with the advent of neo-liberalism. Successes and mistakes of planning are assessed and possible future explored.

Assessment

Tutorial papers and research essay totalling not more than 4000 words.

Prescribed Texts

• G Davidson, The Rise and Fall of Marvellous Melbourne. Melbourne University Press, 1979.
• R Freestone ed, Urban Planning in a Changing World: The 20th Century Experience. Spon, 2001.
• P Hall, Cities of Tomorrow: An Intellectual History of Urban Planning and Design in the Twentieth Century. Blackwell, 1996.
• S Hamnett and R Freestone eds, The Australian Metropolis, A Planning History. Allen and Unwin, 2000.
• L Sandercock, Cities for Sale. Allen and Unwin, 1975.
• BJ Gleeson, and NP Low, Australian Urban Planning: New Challenges, New Agendas. Allen and Unwin, 2000.
• BJ McLoughlin, Shaping Melbourne's Future?. Cambridge University Press, 1987.