Lexi Webster
Central place theory (CPT) is a geographical theory that explains the number, size, and range of market services in a commercial system or human settlements in a residential system. The theory was introduced by German geographer Walter Christaller in 1933 and has since been modified and extended by various researchers. However, the applicability of CPT to Australia is limited due to several factors. Firstly, CPT assumes a uniform plane of constant population density and purchasing power, which may not hold true for Australia's diverse landscape and varying population distribution. Secondly, CPT holds up better in agricultural areas than in industrial or post-industrial areas due to the diversified nature of services and distribution of resources. Australia's developed economy and diverse industries may not align with the assumptions of CPT. Additionally, CPT does not fully account for temporal aspects in the development of central places, which could impact its effectiveness in explaining Australia's urban dynamics over time. Finally, CPT's hierarchical model of settlements may not capture the unique characteristics of Australian cities and towns, which could have evolved differently due to local factors such as climate, topography, and history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Validity of the theory | The validity of the place theory varies with local factors, such as climate, topography, and history. |
| Application to Australia | The central place theory may not apply well to Australia due to its unique geography, climate, and history. |
| Static nature of the theory | The theory is criticized for being static and not incorporating the temporal aspect of the development of central places. |
| Agricultural areas | The theory holds up well in agricultural areas but not in industrial or post-industrial areas due to their diversified nature of services and distribution of natural resources. |
| Transport principle | The theory assumes a single type of transport that is equally easy in all directions, which may not be the case in Australia. |
| Economic status of consumers | The theory does not consider the economic status of consumers, which can affect their mobility and purchasing power. |
| Purchasing power and density | Purchasing power and density affect the spacing of centers and hierarchical arrangements, which may vary in Australia. |
| Population distribution | The theory assumes a uniform population density, but in reality, population distribution can be discontinuous. |
| Number and distribution of metropolises | Christaller's theory leads to the appearance of several metropolises, while Lösch's system assumes a single metropolis. |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's diversified nature of services and distribution of natural resources
The central place theory, introduced by German geographer Walter Christaller in 1933, is a geographical theory that explains the number, size, and range of market services in a commercial system or human settlements in a residential system. It holds up well in agricultural areas but struggles with industrial or post-industrial areas due to their diversified nature of services and distribution of natural resources.
The distribution of natural resources in Australia also plays a role in its diversified nature. The country is endowed with abundant reserves of coal and natural gas, with coal production expected to sustain domestic and export demands for more than three centuries. Additionally, Australia is a top producer of iron ore, with significant deposits in Western Australia. Other economically important mineral reserves include nickel, bauxite, diamonds, gold, mineral sands, and offshore natural gas, located in various states like Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
The diversification of Australia's economy and the distribution of its natural resources have had implications for its natural resource management programs. The magnitude of environmental challenges, coupled with the country's vast size, has made delivering tangible impacts through these programs difficult. However, successive Australian governments have increased funding for natural resource management programs, focusing on securing healthy and productive landscapes that provide multiple environmental and social services.
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The temporal aspect in the development of central places
The central place theory (CPT), introduced in 1933, is a static theory that does not consider the temporal aspect in the development of central places. This means that it does not account for the evolution of settlements over time, which can be influenced by various factors such as economic activities, industrialisation, and post-industrialisation.
The second stage is characterised by the emergence of new economic activities in some towns, leading to differentiation and the development of a hierarchical city system. This stage, known as the Christallerian hierarchical system, assumes that consumers will visit the nearest central places that provide the functions they demand while minimising travel distance. It also assumes equal trade areas for providers of specific goods or services and considers the concept of threshold and range in relation to market demand and consumer travel distance.
The third stage, termed the post-hierarchical or postindustrial city system, arises from further differentiation and evolution. This stage transcends the traditional hierarchy, as economic status and purchasing power become more significant factors. Consumers with higher economic status tend to be more mobile and may bypass lower-order goods centres, impacting the spacing and hierarchical arrangements of settlements.
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The economic status of consumers in an area
Economic status influences consumer behaviour in relation to central place theory. Consumers with a higher economic status tend to be more mobile and, therefore, may bypass centres providing only lower-order goods. Lower-order goods are those that consumers need frequently and are willing to travel only short distances for, such as everyday needs like bread from a bakery. On the other hand, higher-order goods are needed less frequently, so consumers are willing to travel farther for them and may even combine the trip with other activities.
The purchasing power of consumers in an area affects the spacing and functions of centres. For example, a sufficient density of consumers with high purchasing power can support a grocery store in an isolated location. Conversely, industrial areas may provide little in the way of a consuming population. The economic status of consumers can also impact the development of settlements. For instance, the dominance of a large metropolitan centre may create a "shadow effect", inhibiting the growth of smaller centres nearby.
The central place theory has been criticised for its static nature, not incorporating the temporal aspect of central place development. It also assumes a uniform distribution of the population and natural resources, which may not reflect the diverse nature of industrial or post-industrial areas. However, newer theoretical developments have modified the theory to account for the evolution of cities from medieval to industrial to post-industrial systems.
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The climate and topography of Australia
Australia is a large, sparsely inhabited continent, almost as large as the 48 contiguous US states. It is the flattest continent on Earth, with an average elevation of 985 feet. The country has a varied climate and topography, with the central and western plateau tending to have a hot desert climate, the east and southeast coast an oceanic climate, the northern coast a monsoon climate, the southwest coast a warm Mediterranean climate, and the areas in between a hot semi-arid climate.
The topography of Australia is not very varied, and most of it consists of a low desert plateau. However, there are some mountain ranges, particularly in the western part of the country, such as the Hamersley Range, the MacDonnell Ranges, and the Musgrave Range. The Eastern Highlands, or the Great Dividing Range, is the most substantial mountain range in the country and the third-longest land-based range in the world. It reaches its highest point in Mount Kosciusko at 7,310 feet (2,228 meters). There are also some freestanding mountains, the most famous of which is Uluru (Ayers Rock), in a central part of the country.
The eastern coastal plain is relatively narrow and has temperate forests, the most rainfall, the most abundant and varied flora and fauna, and the densest human settlement. The western half of the continent is occupied by a desert plateau that rises into barren, rolling hills near the west coast. The Great Barrier Reef, extending about 2000 km, lies in the northeast. The population is concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts, with regular, tropical, invigorating sea breezes known as "the Doctor" occurring along the west coast in the summer.
Australia has four seasons across most of the country, with a wet and dry season in the tropical north. Summer is from December to February, autumn is from March to May, winter is from June to August, and spring is from September to November. Rainfall varies across the country, with some places, like Darwin and Sydney, experiencing mostly summer rainfall, while others, like Perth, experience heavy winter rain. The water temperature along the Queensland coast varies from 21°C in winter to 26°C in summer. Along the coast in New South Wales, average maximum temperatures range from 26°C in summer to 16°C in winter, with average minimum temperatures falling to between 19°C in summer and 7°C in winter.
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The triangular-hexagonal pattern of farms
The theory predicts that a large number of small settlements will be located close to one another, forming a triangular-hexagonal pattern. This pattern is efficient as it minimizes travel distance for everyday needs, such as bread from a bakery. People are willing to travel further for less frequent purchases or specialized goods located in larger settlements that are spaced further apart. This results in a hierarchy of central places, with each higher-order place serving as a node to six lower-order places, forming a hexagonal lattice structure.
The triangular-hexagonal pattern is based on the geometric principle that a hexagon is the most efficient shape for organizing objects within a given space, reducing wastage. This is known as the Honeycomb Conjecture, which has been observed in nature in honeybee honeycombs and in packaging to minimize space. In the context of CPT, a hexagonal pattern allows for the optimal arrangement of central places, with each place serving the surrounding smaller settlements.
However, it is important to note that the validity of CPT may vary depending on local factors such as climate, topography, history of development, and consumer preferences. For example, in modern industrial and post-industrial cities, global-scale factors may play a more significant role than local or regional factors in influencing urban growth. Additionally, CPT has been criticized for being "unrealistic" and unable to explain all cases of urban growth, particularly in countries like modern China where large cities are emerging close to each other.
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Frequently asked questions
The Central Place Theory, introduced by German geographer Walter Christaller in 1933, is an urban geographical theory that explains the number, size and range of market services in a commercial system or human settlements in a residential system. It assumes that consumers will visit the nearest place to obtain the function they require and will minimise the distance travelled. However, this may not apply to Australia due to the following reasons:
- The theory assumes a uniform plane of constant population density and purchasing power, which may not be the case in Australia.
- It assumes that there is only one type of transport, which is equally accessible in all directions, which may not be true in the Australian context.
- The theory holds up well for agricultural areas but not for industrial or post-industrial areas due to their diversified nature of services and distribution of natural resources.
German economist August Lösch expanded on Christaller's work in 1940, adopting a more mathematical approach and modifying some of the constraints. Lösch's model begins with a system of lowest-order, self-sufficient farms, which are distributed in a triangular-hexagonal pattern. This allows for specialised places and illustrates how some central places develop into richer areas.
The Central Place Theory has been criticised for being static and not incorporating the temporal aspect of the development of central places. It also assumes that no provider of goods or services can earn excess profit, which may not be realistic.
