Governing The Metropolis: Melbourne 1850-1891
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
In the turbulent decades between 1850 and 1891, Melbourne transformed from a fledgling colonial outpost into one of the most prosperous and ambitious cities in the Southern Hemisphere — and Governing the Metropolis chronicles every contentious, chaotic, and consequential step of that transformation. David Dunstan presents a rigorous and richly detailed account of the political, administrative, and social forces that shaped the governance of Melbourne during its most explosive period of growth, from the gold rush era through to the eve of Federation. The work uncovers the fierce battles between competing municipal bodies, colonial legislators, and civic reformers who struggled to impose order on a rapidly expanding urban landscape, illuminating the messy, contested reality behind Melbourne's grand Victorian-era ambitions. Dunstan argues with scholarly precision that the story of Melbourne's urban governance is inseparable from broader questions of democracy, class, and colonial identity, positioning the city as a compelling case study in the growing pains of modern metropolitan administration. His style is authoritative yet accessible, drawing on a wealth of primary sources to illustrate how decisions made in council chambers and parliamentary halls reverberated through the streets, sewers, and suburbs of a booming metropolis. For anyone seeking to understand how Australia's great southern capital came to be the city it is today, this meticulously researched work raises a question that lingers long after the final page: who truly governs a city — its elected officials, its powerful elites, or the restless ambitions of its people?
Author: David Dunstan
Format: Hardback
Genre: Australian history
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
In the turbulent decades between 1850 and 1891, Melbourne transformed from a fledgling colonial outpost into one of the most prosperous and ambitious cities in the Southern Hemisphere — and Governing the Metropolis chronicles every contentious, chaotic, and consequential step of that transformation. David Dunstan presents a rigorous and richly detailed account of the political, administrative, and social forces that shaped the governance of Melbourne during its most explosive period of growth, from the gold rush era through to the eve of Federation. The work uncovers the fierce battles between competing municipal bodies, colonial legislators, and civic reformers who struggled to impose order on a rapidly expanding urban landscape, illuminating the messy, contested reality behind Melbourne's grand Victorian-era ambitions. Dunstan argues with scholarly precision that the story of Melbourne's urban governance is inseparable from broader questions of democracy, class, and colonial identity, positioning the city as a compelling case study in the growing pains of modern metropolitan administration. His style is authoritative yet accessible, drawing on a wealth of primary sources to illustrate how decisions made in council chambers and parliamentary halls reverberated through the streets, sewers, and suburbs of a booming metropolis. For anyone seeking to understand how Australia's great southern capital came to be the city it is today, this meticulously researched work raises a question that lingers long after the final page: who truly governs a city — its elected officials, its powerful elites, or the restless ambitions of its people?