Globalization and Suburbanization: Can Creative Industries Develop in

Outer Urban Zones?

Terry FlewProfessor of Media and CommunicationCreative Industries FacultyQueensland University of Technology

Paper presented to 5th Creative China, Harmonious World International Forum on Cultural Industries 9 October, 2010

Brisbane Case Studies

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Melbourne Case Studies

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Australia as an Urban Nation

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Australia as an Urban Nation

75% of Australians live in cities with populations > 100,000

50% of Australians live in five major cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth

Australia’s population will grow from 22 million in 2010 to 35 million in 2050

Most of the new population will live in the suburbs of major cities

Australia: The World’s First Suburban Nation?

Separated homes a priority since European settlement (1788 - )

“Australia’s founders … anticipated a sprawl of homes and gardens rather than a clumping of terraces and alleys” (Graeme Davison)

Suburban home: ability to work in the city but retreat to the peace and serenity of the suburbs (like the countryside)

Suburban expansion and private home ownership promoted by all governments

Two phases of Australian globalizationAustralian economy always very open to trade and international capital flows

Decision to remove controls over exchange rate and capital flows 1983

1983-mid-1990s – Uneven development between Australian cities and regions– Decline of manufacturing regions– Rise of Sydney as “world city” and centre of FIRE (finance,

insurance, real estate) sectors

Mid-1990s to 2010– More balanced development between Australian cities and

regions– Mining regions very dynamic but also other cities

Australia’s “New Prosperity” from mid-1990s to present

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Unemployment rates in Australia by state/territory, 1992-2010

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Trends in the 21st century Australian city (Bill Randolph)

1. Fall in average household size

2. Turn around of inner cities

3. Rapid growth of peri-urban fringe

4. Suburbanization of disadvantage (VAMPIRE index)

5. Increasing disparities between suburbs

6. Suburbanization of multiculturalism

7. Dispersal of employment

8. Tension in urban planning between consolidation and outwards expansion

9. Rise of urban mega-regions (e.g. SE Queensland)

10. Rise of sea change/tree change regions

Our findings

Many Australian creative industries workers work live and work outside of the inner city

Our focus was on the outer suburbs of major cities (Brisbane and Melbourne) rather than regional centres

Australian CI workforce 3.2 – 4.8% of total workforce

Suburban CIs 2-3% of workforce

Inner urban CIs 6-9% of total workforce

Creative Industries Employment, Brisbane

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Creative Industries Employment, Melbourne

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What did we find?Serenity of the suburbs is a choice made by creative workers, not a necessity driven by costs

Creative workers find too many pressures to “conform” in the inner cities

Ability to live and work in a similar area provides more time for creative work

People with children tend to prefer the suburbs

Too many industry association meetings in the inner city

Suburban business associations do not typically suit creative workers

Access to high-speed broadband a key issue

Australian CI Employment, 2006

Australian CIs as industry share, 2006