Book Review: THE NEW SOUTH WALES NORTH COAST 1985–1991: WHO MOVED WHERE, WHY AND WITH WHAT EFFECT?...
1
for the remaining three class intervals used. To summarise, the SERRL/SERPLAN 1991 Census Atlas of the South Est is a relatively well-produced series of maps and tables of 1991 Census data for the southeast England which may well serve its primary target market of local authority planners well, but which lacks sufficient critical/intellectual insight to be of more than passing interest to the specialist popula- tion geographer. P AUL WILLIAMSON University of Liverpool, UK THE NEW SOUTH WALES NORTH COAST 1985–1991: WHO MOVED WHERE, WHY AND WITH WHAT EFFECT? by D. J. Walmsley, W.R. Epps and C.J. Duncan. Bureau of Immigration, Multi- cultural and Population Research, Canberra, 1995. No. of pages: xv + 96. No price available. ISBN 0 644 42864 4. As the title of this monograph suggests, this is a wide- ranging inquiry into the process of counter-urbanisation on the north coast of New South Wales (NSW). This area, from north of Newcastle to the Queensland border, where the temperate world gradually becomes tropical, is one of the most rapidly growing regions of Australia. Here migration move- ments demonstrate an Antipodean and localised version of the shift from rust-belt to sun-belt. For more than two decades, coastal counter-urbanisation has stemmed urban growth in a country that, despite bush and outback images, is one of the most urbanised in the world. Hedonistic images of sun, sand and surf have triumphed, and the coastal fringe has been transformed. This is a straightforward narrative that draws a broad picture of change, and then focuses on two rather different small towns, Ballina and Coffs Har- bour, where 150 migrant households were interviewed. Broadly what has happened in Australia has been similar to that in other developed countries. Since the 1960s, the north coast has been the fastest growing part of NSW, growing at a rate three times faster than the national average. Most migrants came from large urban areas — more than half from Sydney — and most were in professional and managerial occupations, rather than blue-collar employment. Few were unemployed. After migration, employment became even more concentrated in services of various kinds, especially in professional and managerial jobs, as most migrants achieved a move up the career ladder. Most moves were thus the result of intra- organisation transfers and promotions, rather than attempts to change jobs and compete for advertised positions. Relatively few were therefore retiring to the coast, but many were seeking to combine new jobs with a more relaxed lifestyle, and, as they moved towards retirement, to place more emphasis on life- style than employment. It remains primarily a phenomenon associated with an established popula- tion; the characteristic that most distinguishes this mobile population from the Australian population as a whole is that almost were born in Australia. There is little sign of multicultural Australia in these expand- ing areas. Moves were carefully planned, seemingly skilfully orchestrated within organisations, as more than half the sample took more than a year to consider and plan their move. Here, as in other areas, there was diversity; more than 17% had never even visited the areas before their move. Although many households were small and relatively old, they usually traded up to a larger house, and were satisfied with the move. The attractions were obvious: a warm climate, retire- ment opportunities, better value housing and new job opportunities. The constraints and disadvantages were equally obvious: isolation from family and friends, the lack of a range of job opportunities, and the hustle and bustle of the tourist season. Migration has put a strain on community services. An ageing yet small population has stretched medical services, waiting lists are long and there is a shortage of nursing home beds. The growing pressure on the environment, and especially the demand for water, has become increasingly apparent, as have the differ- ent aspirations of new and old residents — but this is largely beyond the scope of this monograph. Rapid growth has produced conflict between tourism pro- moters and lifestyle migrants: graft and corrupation have disrupted design and management. Change has brought some unpleasant costs. This is a dry, rather soulless tale. Despite a series of tables of various kinds, there is no hint of qualitative information. The migrants are summary statistics: their rationales and constraints tabulated but their dreams, hopes and frustrations left behind. Similarly the changing economic sphere is neatly documented, but the grandeur of the coastal ranges, the magnificent surf beaches and the alternative lifestyles, ti-tree and macadamia plantations, which have played such a role in making the north coast a vision splendid, are nowhere to be found. Without this, the account largely replicates what is known of similar regions on other continents, but provides a useful overview of the Australian scene. JOHN CONNELL University of Sydney, Australia Book Reviews 84 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POPULATION GEOGRAPHY, VOL. 3, 83–90 (1997) © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Transcript of Book Review: THE NEW SOUTH WALES NORTH COAST 1985–1991: WHO MOVED WHERE, WHY AND WITH WHAT EFFECT?...
for the remaining three class intervals used.To summarise, the SERRL/SERPLAN 1991 Census
Atlas of the South Est is a relatively well-producedseries of maps and tables of 1991 Census data for thesoutheast England which may well serve its primarytarget market of local authority planners well, but
which lacks sufficient critical/intellectual insight to beof more than passing interest to the specialist popula-tion geographer.
PAUL WILLIAMSON
University of Liverpool, UK
THE NEW SOUTH WALES NORTH COAST1985–1991: WHO MOVED WHERE, WHY ANDWITH WHAT EFFECT? by D. J. Walmsley, W.R. Eppsand C.J. Duncan. Bureau of Immigration, Multi-cultural and Population Research, Canberra, 1995. No.of pages: xv + 96. No price available. ISBN 0 64442864 4.
As the title of this monograph suggests, this is a wide-ranging inquiry into the process ofcounter-urbanisation on the north coast of New SouthWales (NSW). This area, from north of Newcastle tothe Queensland border, where the temperate worldgradually becomes tropical, is one of the most rapidlygrowing regions of Australia. Here migration move-ments demonstrate an Antipodean and localisedversion of the shift from rust-belt to sun-belt. For morethan two decades, coastal counter-urbanisation hasstemmed urban growth in a country that, despite bushand outback images, is one of the most urbanised inthe world. Hedonistic images of sun, sand and surfhave triumphed, and the coastal fringe has beentransformed.
This is a straightforward narrative that draws abroad picture of change, and then focuses on tworather different small towns, Ballina and Coffs Har-bour, where 150 migrant households wereinterviewed. Broadly what has happened in Australiahas been similar to that in other developed countries.Since the 1960s, the north coast has been the fastestgrowing part of NSW, growing at a rate three timesfaster than the national average. Most migrants camefrom large urban areas — more than half from Sydney— and most were in professional and managerialoccupations, rather than blue-collar employment. Fewwere unemployed. After migration, employmentbecame even more concentrated in services of variouskinds, especially in professional and managerial jobs,as most migrants achieved a move up the careerladder. Most moves were thus the result of intra-organisation transfers and promotions, rather thanattempts to change jobs and compete for advertisedpositions. Relatively few were therefore retiring to thecoast, but many were seeking to combine new jobswith a more relaxed lifestyle, and, as they movedtowards retirement, to place more emphasis on life-style than employment. It remains primarily aphenomenon associated with an established popula-
tion; the characteristic that most distinguishes thismobile population from the Australian population as awhole is that almost were born in Australia. There islittle sign of multicultural Australia in these expand-ing areas.
Moves were carefully planned, seemingly skilfullyorchestrated within organisations, as more than halfthe sample took more than a year to consider and plantheir move. Here, as in other areas, there wasdiversity; more than 17% had never even visited theareas before their move. Although many householdswere small and relatively old, they usually traded upto a larger house, and were satisfied with the move.The attractions were obvious: a warm climate, retire-ment opportunities, better value housing and new jobopportunities. The constraints and disadvantageswere equally obvious: isolation from family andfriends, the lack of a range of job opportunities, andthe hustle and bustle of the tourist season.
Migration has put a strain on community services.An ageing yet small population has stretched medicalservices, waiting lists are long and there is a shortageof nursing home beds. The growing pressure on theenvironment, and especially the demand for water,has become increasingly apparent, as have the differ-ent aspirations of new and old residents — but this islargely beyond the scope of this monograph. Rapidgrowth has produced conflict between tourism pro-moters and lifestyle migrants: graft and corrupationhave disrupted design and management. Change hasbrought some unpleasant costs.
This is a dry, rather soulless tale. Despite a series oftables of various kinds, there is no hint of qualitativeinformation. The migrants are summary statistics:their rationales and constraints tabulated but theirdreams, hopes and frustrations left behind. Similarlythe changing economic sphere is neatly documented,but the grandeur of the coastal ranges, the magnificentsurf beaches and the alternative lifestyles, ti-tree andmacadamia plantations, which have played such arole in making the north coast a vision splendid, arenowhere to be found. Without this, the account largelyreplicates what is known of similar regions on othercontinents, but provides a useful overview of theAustralian scene.
JOHN CONNELL
University of Sydney, Australia
Book Reviews84
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POPULATION GEOGRAPHY, VOL. 3, 83–90 (1997) © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
