All that glitters: an environmental history 'sketch' of Gold Coast City
Author(s)
Byrne, Jason
Houston, Donna
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2016
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Since ancient times, most cities have been established in locations that possess natural
attributes that are essential for the survival and wellbeing of their citizens. Such attributes
have included harbours, permanent freshwater sources, forests, fertile agricultural land,
building materials and defensible topography. More recently, however, some cities have
seemingly transcended these biophysical limitations by exploiting resources found in ‘hinterlands’
that stretch hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from the urban core. Such
cities ostensibly defy the biophysical constraints of the environments upon which they
depend. ...
View more >Since ancient times, most cities have been established in locations that possess natural attributes that are essential for the survival and wellbeing of their citizens. Such attributes have included harbours, permanent freshwater sources, forests, fertile agricultural land, building materials and defensible topography. More recently, however, some cities have seemingly transcended these biophysical limitations by exploiting resources found in ‘hinterlands’ that stretch hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from the urban core. Such cities ostensibly defy the biophysical constraints of the environments upon which they depend. Some of these cities, like Las Vegas, exist overtly for pleasure and commerce rather than industry or culture. Davis and Monk (2007) suggest they are underpinned by the production and marketing of distinctive environmental imaginaries of cornucopian abundance. In reality, these ‘paradises’ manifest ecological degradation, social polarisation and boom-bust growth. Could Australia’s Gold Coast be this type of city?
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View more >Since ancient times, most cities have been established in locations that possess natural attributes that are essential for the survival and wellbeing of their citizens. Such attributes have included harbours, permanent freshwater sources, forests, fertile agricultural land, building materials and defensible topography. More recently, however, some cities have seemingly transcended these biophysical limitations by exploiting resources found in ‘hinterlands’ that stretch hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from the urban core. Such cities ostensibly defy the biophysical constraints of the environments upon which they depend. Some of these cities, like Las Vegas, exist overtly for pleasure and commerce rather than industry or culture. Davis and Monk (2007) suggest they are underpinned by the production and marketing of distinctive environmental imaginaries of cornucopian abundance. In reality, these ‘paradises’ manifest ecological degradation, social polarisation and boom-bust growth. Could Australia’s Gold Coast be this type of city?
View less >
Book Title
Off the Plan: The Urbanisation of the Gold Coast
Publisher URI
Subject
History and Theory of the Built Environment (excl. Architecture)