Most Australians live in the suburbs of the metropolitan cities yet most of the wealth created and the national myths originate in the rural regions. In this subject we will offer a critical, historical and comparative overview of the development of Australian cities and their regions into the twenty-first century. The core case study of metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria is exemplary of the issues, themes and challenges facing all Australian cities and regions today. Field visits to metropolitan and regional locations, during two multi-day field trips, will allow this exploration. Some modest travel and overnight accommodation costs will be required from students. The role of a large metropolis as a globally connected centre contrasts with the peripheral location of the production of resources and cultural imaginings, yet the paths of these locations have diverged. Resource management, cultural and economic development, liveability and sustainability, increased mobility, and heritage and technological innovations are bringing these regions back together. Attendance at field trips is compulsory.
