‘Marvellous Melbourne’

Abstract

Melbourne has been named the world’s most liveable city for almost a decade on a number of global rankings. Leaving aside problems of such indicators, Melbourne has transformed from an economic basket-case of industrial decline in the 1980s into a vibrant and cosmopolitan world city. Central to this transformation been a set of determined moves by the city and state governments to change the city centre from an inhospitable place into a desirable location to work, live, and play. In this chapter, more than two decades (1980–2015) of city planning and policy development are charted to explain Melbourne’s remarkable economic resurgence and cultural revitalization. This is not a straightforward..