MELBOURNE’S GROWTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 January 1928, Page 11

MELBOURNE’S GROWTH

EXPANSION IN SUBURBS. Melbourne is growing rapidly. In almost every important thoroughfare in the city, giant buildings are being erected to the full height allowed by the City Council by-laws —132 ft. During the past year 116 buildings have been erected, and most of them have been of the skyscraper type—massive structures of concrete and iron. Wonderful progress is also being made in the suburbs. A total of 8134 new houses have been built this year an increase of 545 on last year’s figures. The speediest growth is in the outer suburbs. Places like Camberwell and Moorabin .are expanding rapidly, while in the inner suburbs the tendency is exactly the opposite. Indeed, districts like Fitzroy, South Melbourne, _ Richmond and Collingwood are slipping back. Houses there are being replaced by factories. And the workers, instead of herding round the factories, as they did in former days, now dwell in comfort in the healthy outer suburbs.

The growth of Melbourne also indicates the great drift from the country. During 'the last four years 121,602 persons have arrived in Victoria, but the population of Melboure has increased by 127,000. That is to say, Melbourne not only absorbed the newcomers, but attracted nearly 6000 people from the rural districts.