Freestone, 2004, The Americanisation of Australian Planning

America has been central to world power in the forms of military, diplomats, and cultural power. American planning is very well evident in Australian society with civic, retail, freeway and many other areas resembling American planning

The Australian-American Nexus:

America was the showcase for new technology, an inspiration for can do progress, and an influencing culture in the 20th century. Australia and America have been formed alliances since 1908 when the arrival of the American fleet in Sydney harbour took place. Therefore Australia as a young country looked towards America for inspiration instead of England as they had new and exciting ideas unlike England at that time.

Diffusion of planning Ideas:

Three recent texts synthesis the central concern of much architectural design, and planning history

• The first is Stephen Ward who had a central idea of innovation diffusion
• Jeff Cody and Joe Nasr also explore this same theme

A narrative of American influences:

Identifying a succession of American planning ideas throughout Australia in the 20th century is very evident. With the influx of inspiration from American planning really taking off during this period.

The Aesthetic City:

Australia looked to America to transform its uninteresting colonial cities into new and exciting ones. these encounters with the ideas of a city as a work of art set the scene for the 1911-1912 competition to design Australia's new capital city, Canberra. Walter Burley Griffin ultimately winning, creating an American design concept in Australia's capital. Griffin was born and grew up in Chicago. This further influenced the Americanisation of Australian planning.

The city functional:

After World War 1 an organised planning movement began assembling itself in Australia. America remained a source of inspiration throughout the Griffin experience. From the 1930's onward, a mix of planning ideas, models and experiments and prototypes became known in Australia from the American influence.

Post World War 11:

First set of post war plans for Australia reflected a growing Americanisation. The future of urban traffic planning lay from learning form the lake Chicago design in America.

Throughout Australia's history of planning we have looked to America for innovation and exciting ideas as we are a relatively new country. Australia is a lot different to America so it has been hard to make these ideas and plans be successful in Australia.