City Dreamers: The Urban Imagination in Australia (Graeme Davison, NewSouth)

Australia has long looked to the bush as a formative element of our national character despite being one of the most urbanised countries in the world. Our cities have shaped, and been shaped in return, by our mindset and culture. Professor Graeme Davison traces the history of Australian urban ideas, from artists and poets to social crusaders and urban planners. Starting with colonial Australia, Davison takes us through the birth of suburbs, hailed as both moral and hygenic; the almost voyeuristic panic over urban slums in the 19th century; the rise of automobilism; the revolt against suburbia; urban renewal; the development of Canberra; and the modern cosmopolitan cities we know today. Along the way we meet familiar names like Henry Lawson and Marcus Clarke, leading thinkers like Hugh Stretton, and lesser-known figures like pioneering sociologist Stanley Jevons. London’s long shadow lies over early ideas, joined later by influences from Europe and beyond.  Davison is an engaging writer, bringing new life to debates about the past, present and future of our cities by exploring the historical and cultural context in Australia and abroad. This is a fascinating look at how we think about where we live.

Heath Graham is a teacher and former bookseller

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