Geography 3A: Perth Flashcards
Site
1) Sited on the Swan Coastal Plain, the Swan River Estuary dissects the built area of Perth roughly in half.
2) Site is dominated by poorly drained lowlands and depressions - wetlands and swamps. Extensive chain of wetlands from Joondalup to the Spectacles(near Kwinana).
Account for site
1) Fertile soil along the floodplain of the river.
2) Adjacent springs, lakes and streams provided freshwater
Situation
- Perth is found approximately 3,600km to the west of Sydney, Australia’s largest city.
- Outer business districts and cities include: Rockingham, Joondalup, Midland and Armadale
Account for situation - physical factors
Swan River influenced the early development with riverside developments being established – Midland, Fremantle.
Account for situation - historical factors
James Stirling convinced the British government and the Governor of NSW to create a permanent settlement on the western side of Australia for strategic purposes.
Account for situation - political factors
Development of transport system over time centered on Perth and Fremantle, making the city a transport node and center of power and influence.
Account for situation - economic factors
Settled after the industrial revolution, Perth and its agricultural and manufacturing industries evolved by mechanization from the British technological advances.
Describe the external morphology of Perth
Semi-stellate(becoming rectangular), 1600km2, 100 north to south, majority development found within 25km from coast along the Swan Coastal plain. Isolated pockets in hills and satellite developments e.g. Ellenbrook
Describe the site of the external morphology of Perth
Darling escarpment, Indian Ocean, Swan Coastal plain, groundwater mounds
Describe the situation of the external morphology of Perth
Transport links (ribbon development), original site of settlement, urban planning e.g. Corridor plan 1970
Physical factors affecting Perth’s external morphology
- Flat/undulating coastal plain – easy to build on, allowed the large sprawling shape
- Groundwater mounds – protected from urban development, created large spaces between the urban corridors
- Swan-Canning rivers – provided initial focus of development, forms the axis of the core of the city
- Rugged Darling Scarp serves as a barrier to extensive outward urban development – explains pockets of developments.
- North-south configuration of the coastline with it’s desirable, easy to build on land has allowed the spread of two long coastal corridors.
Situation(transport) factors affecting Perth’s external morphology
- Perth = focus of transport lines which converge on it from north, south and east
- Helped give loose star (stellate) shape as urban development along major transport lines
- E.g. South-West highway, Albany highway, Great Eastern highway
Social(cultural) factors affecting Perth’s external morphology
- Low density housing – desire for this encouraged a huge sprawling shape
- Mass car ownership – extensive road system, encouraged urban sprawl, helped cause star shape by encouraging development to follow major transport lines
- Outdoor lifestyle – encouraged large shape with many open spaces and development along the coastline.
Urban planning factors affecting Perth’s external morphology
- 1970’s corridor plan started growth along placed corridors
- Created 4 main corridors of growth that influenced Perth’s shape: North-west, south-west, North-east, South-east (corridors)
Refer to land use models to account for the spatial pattern of land use in Perth (V long answer btw)
The location of Perth’s CBD reflects the CONCENTRIC model which is based on the land rent mechanism. It is a concept whereby land uses that produce higher profits are able to afford locations that are closer to the CBD where it is traditionally the most accessible. The higher land rents are located in the centre which is reflective of Perth e.g. St George’s Terrace. The model also predicts that surrounding the CBD will be the oldest housing, which is in a state of deterioration/urban blight. This area is referred to as the inner city/’zone of transition’, industry also features here. This is similar to Perth’s inner mixed zone which does contain some of the oldest suburbs in the dirt, such as East Perth and Northbridge - both have been industrial and experienced blight.
Unlike the concentric model suggests these areas have undergone the decentralization of industry and experienced gentrification/renewal over time. It also doesn’t take into account the changes in transport technology, which have led to an increase in accessibility. Transport links and accessibility have influenced the location of outer business districts, as seen in the SECTOR model. e.g. the ribbon development along Scarborough Beach road and within the Osborne Park light industrial area.
Finally, Perth displays closer evidence of the MULTIPLE NUCLEI model whereby cities are influenced by numerous factors such as site and planning. In terms of site factors, Perth’s land use and development has been influenced by the presence of the river and proximity to the coast. Rapid growth of residential areas that have favorable site features, such as proximity to the Swan River and elevated positions e.g. peppermint grove. Industrial areas are also generally located away from central areas, where land is cheaper, more space is available and land use conflict is reduced. e.g. Kwinana. Outer percents also develop in areas that have good transport links and accessibility.
Soooo the Perth Metropolitan area shows evidence of ALL THREE MODELS! :)
