Leisure in city and suburb : Melbourne 1880-1900

Abstract

The last two decades of the nineteenth century saw the suburbanization of Melbourne. Suburban concerns came to shape and to dominate urban life. Improved transport, a rapidly growing population and changes in the nature of work accelerated this transition. The city centre became the commercial hub of the city, while people spent an increasing proportion of their non-working time in the suburbs. Leisure patterns reveal much about this transformation. During these decades defined leisure-time increased steadily for most workers. The home, suburban meeting places and local parks and sporting grounds were the principal venues for leisure-time activities. More and more suburban sporting clubs and other social groups were formed. During the depression of the 1890s these recently-established suburban leisure routines helped Melbourne's citizens through the city's must difficult years. The strength of local ties and the importance of familiar social networks was evident, particularly in working-class Footscray. Hawthorn, a predominantly middle-class area, responded differently to the strain of the depression. The character of Melbourne society changed during these years. Confidence and optimism gave way to a more cautious, sober mood. Although this change became apparent during and after the depression, the seeds had been sown by the suburban consolidation of the 1980s. The pattern of suburban existence, displayed in leisure-time as elsewhere, were evident on holiday trips away from home as well as on public holidays -and weekends. by the end of the nineteenth century Melbourne's citizens had established a balance between the glamour of the city and suburban home life, and between work and leisure. Show more