CHAPTER VIII 



URBAN AUSTRALIA 



HPHE size and importance of the Australian 

 1 cities, when viewed in the light of the total 

 population of the continent, are a source of sur- 

 prise to every visitor. The population of Sydney 

 and Melbourne may be set down, in round num- 

 bers, as half a million each, thus accounting for 

 one million of the two and a half million inhabi- 

 tants of the two most populous states. A better 

 idea of the wealth and trade of these cities may 

 be gained by comparing them with other cities of 

 the Empire. In the value of ratable property, 

 Sydney is second only to London among Empire 

 cities, while as a seaport, Sydney takes fourth 

 place among the ports of the Empire for the actual 

 value of trade. Melbourne is in everything the 

 rival of Sydney, and ranks little below that city 

 in wealth and volume of trade. 



In the other Australian States, the same char- 

 acteristic is noticeable. Each can boast of a 

 capital city where a large proportion of the state 

 inhabitants dwell, and this proportion shows a 

 tendency to increase rather than diminish. The 

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