Settlements in Australia

How quickly did our population grow?

• About 1300 in First Fleet
• 100 000 by 1830
• Another 600 000 between 1851 and 1860
• Massive expansion after WWII
• What is our population now?

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What is a settlement?

• A group of people living in one place or location
• Two main types: rural and urban
• Urban is slowly replacing rural in Australia

Rural Settlements

• Most people engaged in primary economic activities
• Fishing, farming, mining
• These are decreasing in Australia
• Why?

Urban Settlements

• Secondary and tertiary economic activities
• Transportation, commerce, administration
• These are growing in Australia
• Why?

The position of settlements

• Site and situation
• Site is the area occupied by a settlement
• What would planners look for?
• Situation is location in relation to access or other settlements
• What would planners look for?

Planned Settlements

• Nucleated or cluster - organised around centre point
• Linear - organised along main transport route
• Dispersed - Scattered, individual buildings or farms
• Draw each type

Activities

• Find an Australian settlement located on a plain
• Located near a deep water harbour
• Located near a lake or reservoir
• Located on a peninsular for defence purposes
• Located in a valley

Activities

• Was each place chosen for its site or its situation?
• Go to http://australianmuseum.net.au/Indigenous-Australia-Introduction 
• Explain how Indigenous settlements differed from white settlements
• Research task: Rank the states in order of population
• Research task: what percentage of Australians live in rural/urban areas?