31 May 2023

Here’s a very interesting vision of ‘future Melbourne’ – from 1929. The first comprehensive plan for Melbourne, drawn up by the first short lived Town Planning Commission, almost none implemented due to the Great Depression. Amongst the radial boulevards and new tram lines, they proposed an underground train line across the north of the CBD (more of a bypass really). Almost but not quite what was actually built in the 1970s. They had stations further north though, believing the city would soon reach that far (they also thought the 132ft height limit should stay in force, so no skyscrapers). Fascinating to think how the city might have developed – a bit more spread out ? Or would those stations have prompted larger blocks of flats ? I have a photocopy of the plan, while the ‘under the clocks’ blog has the words.

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