The earliest urban planning began with the layout of the original city.
The original layout was a grid plan designed
by Robert Hoddle in 1837. The city ran one mile along the northern part
of the Yarra River and then three quarters of a mile to the north-west.
Also during the 19th century twenty-seven percent of the inner-city was
set aside for public parks.
During the 1870's and 1880 's public transportation began to develop and suburbs began to form. Up until this time Melbourne was considered a walking city. It was not until the 1890's when the city began to have underground sewage.
After World War Two the Metro Board of Works proposed the Melbourne Metropolitan Scheme. They were expecting in the next 30-50 years a 1.4-2.5 million person population increase. Their plan was to not restrictthe spread of suburbs and not restrict the diversion in the growth of satellite towns. They wanted employment and the population to spread out. They wanted relief for the central city. The results of this plan was the spread of the suburbs and regional shopping areas was built. This relieved the city of its retail market but this led to the decline of the CBD in the future.
By 1971 the plan for the metropolitan region was to stress growth along the transportation routes that extended out from the city. The council also wanted green wedges to be planned in between the transportation corridors. The 1980 strategy was to have 14 suburban district centers, improve public transport and channel new retail and office development to the CBD. All of the surrounding communities ignored this last idea. Private developers built their own buildings where they wanted, mostly at the intersections of major transportation routes.
During the late 70's and early 80's inner Melbourne also went through a period of gentrification. In the inner city old buildings were torn down and multistory office structures and hotels were built, major roads were improved and the city began to promote the retail and indutrial importance of the city center. Also the Victorian Arts Center was completed which brought culture back to the city center.
The current urban plan for Melbourne was announced by the Victorian
government in 1997 . The plan calls for the building of an area called Federation
Sqaure. This square will be finished in 2001 in time to celebrate the centennial
of Australia's break from British control. This plan will transform 3.2
hectares of inner Melbourne into a public and tourist attraction. There
will be a cinema, a museum, a greeenhouse and many outdoor restaurants.
In order to do this two of the city's ugliest buildings will have to be
demolished and the southern railway lines that cut the city of from the
Yarra are going to be covered by square glass and steel structures.
In 1997 the Mayor of Melbourne also announced a city plan. He wants to move Melbourne into the future. He wants to create more jobs, build housing, attract more students, strengthen retail, attract business, enhance educational excellence and preserve heritage. The most recent thing he has done is hire a consultant to promote the city for international retail. Melbourne is known as the queen of the retail market in Australia. This consultant did lure Nike to locate a store in the CBD. The store will be located in the pedestrian mall on the corner of Swanston and Bourke Streets. Melbourne is trying to attract people to the center so the urban sprawl does not continue and the CBD will be important in Melbourne society.
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