Suburbanisation Vs Reurbanisation: Population Distribution Changes in Australian Cities
Australia: State of the Environment Second Technical Paper Series (Human Settlements), Series 2
Emma Baker, Neil Coffee and Graeme Hugo
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2000
ISBN 0 642 54791 2
Changing Patterns of Population Density
The ABS currently recognises two boundaries around Australia's major capital cities. The urban area definition is based largely on a population density criteria (Hugo et al 1987) and changes with each census. However, they also recognise a statistical division boundary which was fixed in the early 1970s and was designed to include an area which would accommodate several decades of urban growth. The extent to which the Capital City Statistical Divisions include non-urban land varies (eg it includes much more non urban land in Sydney than Adelaide). Nevertheless, Table 1 shows that there has been an overall increase in population density in each of the Capital City Statistical Divisions.
| Capital City Statistical Division | Population Density | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1996 | 1976-96 | |
| Sydney | 249 | 308 | +23.69 |
| Melbourne | 338 | 407 | +20.41 |
| Brisbane | 213 | 321 | +50.70 |
| Perth | 150 | 231 | +54.00 |
| Adelaide | 468 | 543 | +16.03 |
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing, 1976 and 1996 Censuses
A more revealing analysis of changes in population density within the major cities comes from examination of changes in the concentric rings drawn around the central business district of each city. Figure 4 shows the changes which have occurred in population density over the last three intercensal periods in Sydney. The pattern is one strongly supporting the reurbanisation hypothesis.
Figure 4: Sydney Urban and Peri-Urban Area, Population Density Change by Concentric Distance from the CBD (5km rings)
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing, 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996
In 1981-86 declining population density was recorded in two of the four innermost 5km rings in the city. This reflects a pattern whereby residential uses have been substantiated by higher rent uses of land in the most accessible parts of the metropolitan area. However, over the next two intercensal periods there is a change in pattern with densities in the innermost rings increasing. A similar pattern is evident in Melbourne as Figure 5 shows. In the earlier intercensal periods the three innermost 5km zones experienced reduction in population density while in 1991-96 the two innermost zones recorded rapid increases in density. The Melbourne maps show a shrinking of the area experiencing increased population density over time.
Figure 5: Melbourne Urban and Peri-Urban Area, Population Density Change by Concentric Distance from the CBD (5km rings)
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996
Turning to the smaller metropolitan areas Figure 6 shows the pattern for the rapidly growing city of Brisbane. This shows evidence of both reurbanisation and suburbanisation occurring with increases in population density being highest in the inner rings but also significant on the periphery.
Figure 6: Brisbane Urban and Peri-Urban Area, Population Density Change by Concentric Distance from the CBD (5 km rings)
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996
The pattern for Perth is depicted in Figure 7 and this shows a similar pattern to Brisbane. Both of these cities were faster growing over the study period than the other three capitals and both show evidence of both reurbanisation and suburbanisation. Finally Adelaide was the slowest growing city over the fifteen years.
Figure 7: Perth Urban and Peri-Urban Area, Population Density Change by Concentric Distance from the CBD
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing, 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996
The pattern there, shown in Figure 8, indicates that in 1981-91 there was a traditional doughnut pattern in evidence, but that in 1991-96 the beginnings of an increase in population density with the most central part of the city is apparent.
Figure 8: Adelaide Urban and Peri-Urban Area, Population Density Change by Concentric Distance from the CBD (5km rings)
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996