Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses
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ItemThe evolution of central Melbourne: a morphological analysis 1837-2011( 2011)Melbourne's colonial core has been influenced by diverse political, economic and social relations intersecting with planning and urban design concepts: gold rush, periodic bursts of speculation, World Wars, and waves of immigration. These relations reflect the city's process of urban transformation and are typified by cycles of boom and bust. This research examines the characteristics of the major morphological periods associated with specific planning ideologies and contemporary influences of politics, economy and culture. In addition to assessing the morphological history of the city's core by reproducing a series of maps, the city's morphological history is analysed, particularly in terms of its spatial and block form, from a colonial to a modern context. This study therefore outlines the morphological evolution of an urban organism: the physical transformation of central Melbourne from 1835 until 2011. It gives special attention to the characteristics of the physical changes that have occurred; the socio- economic factors responsible; and the precise treatment of data sources which record those transformations. The compilation of data from state and institutional libraries, planning authorities and regulating agencies related to fire protection and water supply is described. The various types of physical changes undergone by the city centre, including functional alterations, plot division (or amalgamation), rebuilding and additions to existing structures, are analysed. The variations over time in the locations of these changes are examined in relation to the characteristics of contemporary social factors. Morphological mapping has been widely used in this research. The transformation of central Melbourne has been precisely documented and measured in its history through nine sets of figure-ground maps from 1837-2005, transcribed from historical block plans and maps. A thorough anatomical analysis depicts a vivid panorama at every stage of growth of central Melbourne. What is revealed is a city transformed from a singular civic vision to a layered and collaged image, and at the same time, the imprint of the original colonial street grid remains. This transformation signifies the morphological evolution of central Melbourne. This comprehensive morphological study is the first of its kind in relation to the historical transformation of an Australian capital city.