Cities, Citizens and Environmental Reform

Cities, Citizens and Environmental Reform tells a story of community involvement in the development of Australian town planning from the early 20th century – from the first wave of enthusiasm for modern town planning ideals before the Great War onto the more challenging social and political environment for the original town planning associations in the post-Second World War era.

Meticulously researched and peppered with archival illustrations, the book reveals common threads and local differences in community planning movements across the nation and contributes to our understanding of modern urban planning in Australia.

Robert Freestone is professor of planning at the University of New South Wales.

List of figures
List of tables
Acknowledgements
List of contributors

Introduction: the historical role and significance of Australia’s town planning associations
 Robert Freestone

Part 1: advancing the cause of town planning
1. Spreading the good news about town planning in Sydney 1913–34
 Robert Freestone and Margaret Park
2. Queensland’s popular movement in planning 1914–30: socialism, regularity and profit
 Chris McConville
3. Town planning crusaders: urban reform in Melbourne during the progressive era
 Andrew May and Susan Reidy
4. ‘Pedlers of new ideas’: promoting town planning in South Australia 1914–24
 Christine Garnaut and Kerrie Round
5. Regenerating the people: town planning activism in Hobart 1916–39
 Stefan Petrow
6. ‘Let our watchword be “order” and our beacon “beauty”’: achieving town planning legislation in Western Australia
 Jenny Gregory

Part 2: critiquing proposals, plans and projects
7. ‘The Kaleidoscope of Town Planning’: planning advocacy in postwar South Australia
 Christine Garnaut and Kerrie Round
8. Visions of the city: town planning and community activism in postwar Perth
 Jenny Gregory
9. Democracy in action: public participation in planning in Hobart 1940–65
 Stefan Petrow
10. ‘Wonderland’: planning in a populist Queensland 1931–78
 Chris McConville
11. A new planning landscape for professional and community action in Sydney 1935–67
 Robert Freestone and Margaret Park
12. Dreams come true? Town planning ideals and realities in postwar Melbourne
 Susan Reidy and Andrew May

Conclusion: mixed fortunes, broadening agendas and changing times
 Robert Freestone

Index

‘Under the editorship of Robert Freestone, the authors assembled for this book are a “who's who” of scholarship in planning history in Australia. It is highly readable and not at all arcane. ... the book breaks new ground, is broad in its themes and can be followed easily from one state to another and from one period to the other.’
Alan Hutchings, University of South Australia   Geographical Research

‘This book has opened an invaluable discussion in planning history that could contribute to the future of research on public participation in urban planning. It is certainly recommended reading for students and academics working within urban planning, and has a great potential to be used as a reference book in teaching Australian urban history and community participation.’
Tooran Alizadeh, School of Environment, Griffith University   Australian Planner

Format: paperback
Size: 210 × 148 × 23 mm
420 pages
11 b&w tables and 79 b&w illustrations
Copyright: © 2009
ISBN: 9781920899356
Publication: 05 Mar 2010