Urban Growth and Decline - Sydney’s development

Issues in the Australian Environment: Urban Processes

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

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

George St, 1950s

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

Early 19th Century (Georgian) Wealthy Merchant Housing

At this time most of Sydney's wealthy merchants, lived on the ridge at what became known as The Rocks

Clyde St, Millers Point

Workers Housing from 1830s

Poorer people lived lower down the hill closer to the port and work

Gloucester Rd, The Rocks

Urban Decline circa 1900

Poor housing conditions and a Bubonic plague outbreak in 1900 led to many dilapidated buildings being demolished

Hereford St, Glebe

1880s – 1890s Residential

Originally a wealthy suburb that experienced from the 1920s

Gentrification has been occurring in Glebe since the 1970s.

Turner Ave, Haberfield

1900 - 1914 Federation style

Part of the Established zone it developed after 1900

Trams were important to the suburb’s development

Shipley Ave, Concord

1918 - 1930 California Bungalows

Part of the Established zone it developed after 1920

Trams were the main transport. Suburbs like this grew rapidly

Most trees cleared. Foreign species planted

Strickland Rd, Granville

1950s Public Housing (fibro – asbestos cement)

Developed after 1950. New mass produced building materials like fibro

Cars were important to the suburb’s development. New roads, land clearing

Most trees cleared, top soil sometimes removed and sold

Goondah St, Lansdowne

1960s Brick Veneer Bungalows

Developed after 1960. brick and some timber construction

Cars were important to the suburb’s development. New roads, land clearing

Most trees cleared, top soil sometimes removed and sold

Rivendell Cresc, Werrington Downs

1970s to 1980s Brick Veneer Bungalows

Developed through 1970s and 1980s. Brick veneer construction

Cars were important to the suburb’s development. New roads, land clearing

More trees left, less top soil removed and sold

Forbes Way, Macquarie Links

1990s

Most trees already cleared for previous farming activities

Halcyon Drive, Kellyville

2000s

Most trees already cleared for previous dairy farming activities

Second & Fifteenth Aves, Middleton Grange

2000s Rural Urban Fringe

Lombard Close, Glebe

1990s Residential – Urban renewal

In Glebe Urban Renewal has also been an important process.

Arden St, Coogee in Randwick Municipality

1920s houses demolished as part of the 1960s Urban renewal – unsympathetic infill

Noise and dust from construction

Driveway & basement parking – air pollution

The Impact of Urban DevelopmentSydney’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•Urban consolidation – 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 VegetationFarming and Suburbanisation has led to extensive clearing of natural vegetation

Mangroves clear and marshes filled in to increase coastal and port land

The Cumberland Plain in Western Sydney still has some remnant woodlands