All that glitters: an environmental history ‘sketch’ of Gold Coast City

Abstract

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?