New theory on Perth...
May 14th 2008, 3:48 am
#16
'In limboland'
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,880
Re: New theory on Perth...
We love Mindarie, it's exactly what we wanted before we arrived ...
HOWEVER ...
Perth as a whole ain't all that. The reason ...
For me, it's purely & simply the City, or lack of it.
It offers nothing at all & since leaving my job there 6 months ago, I've been back only once for our citizenship test (a week ago).
It needs substantial investment and forward thinking altho' the present state Government and those before them are not prepared to go out on a limb despite the money flowing into the economy & their general coffers.
The place is stuck in a time warp & the old argument 'It's a big country town ... we don't want to lose that' doesn't wash. People are craving cafe / restaurant culture and entertainment.
Perth must be the only city in the Western World where it's major asset, ie the Riverfront, hasn't been utilised ...
Agh well ...
3
HOWEVER ...
Perth as a whole ain't all that. The reason ...
For me, it's purely & simply the City, or lack of it.
It offers nothing at all & since leaving my job there 6 months ago, I've been back only once for our citizenship test (a week ago).
It needs substantial investment and forward thinking altho' the present state Government and those before them are not prepared to go out on a limb despite the money flowing into the economy & their general coffers.
The place is stuck in a time warp & the old argument 'It's a big country town ... we don't want to lose that' doesn't wash. People are craving cafe / restaurant culture and entertainment.
Perth must be the only city in the Western World where it's major asset, ie the Riverfront, hasn't been utilised ...
Agh well ...
3
May 14th 2008, 3:49 am
#17
(It's not my real name)
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May 14th 2008, 4:00 am
#19
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Re: New theory on Perth...
I put it down to lack of competition. Jobs are easy-come, easy-go. No one has to try too hard. Customers are plentiful, facilities are stretched. Why go the extra mile when you don't have to?
May 14th 2008, 4:04 am
#20
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Re: New theory on Perth...
May 14th 2008, 4:12 am
#22
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Re: New theory on Perth...
From my understanding, it hasn't always been this good in terms of the economy.
But I suspect - going back to my theory - that even in less prosperous times, it was still the same types of people who were influencing the direction of markets and policy.
But I suspect - going back to my theory - that even in less prosperous times, it was still the same types of people who were influencing the direction of markets and policy.
May 14th 2008, 4:19 am
#23
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Re: New theory on Perth...
The "old boys" network is alive and well in Perth not just the UK - its not what you know its who you know in a lot of cases, in fact I think its the same the world over!
May 14th 2008, 4:22 am
#25
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May 14th 2008, 5:09 am
#26
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May 14th 2008, 5:14 am
#27
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Re: New theory on Perth...
I appreciate that the following will no doubt be controversial. And it won't be politically correct.
On my way into work today I was thinking about Perth and why it is that for me - in spite of its obvious positives - things just don't click.
I came up with the idea that much of the money in Perth is from 'new' money. Money which has been created by certain jobs - tradesmen done good; dump-truck drivers buying a few houses, real estate agents pocketing the money etc etc.
Money being so powerful means that the direction of the city - be it types of restaurants, availability of different activities or even the direction of public policy (education, health etc) and the standard of politics is directly influenced by who controls the money. And the people who control the money are perhaps (going back to the examples above), and very generally speaking, people who are not the types of people who dominate decision making in (for want of an extreme example) say, Cambridge.
I fully appreciate that this will be seen as snobbery by some and I appreciate that it's a theory developed on the back of a beer-mat on the drive in so to speak - but I'd be interested to hear views.
(BTW - I've never lived in Cambridge (or Oxford) but I was struggling for an extreme!)
On my way into work today I was thinking about Perth and why it is that for me - in spite of its obvious positives - things just don't click.
I came up with the idea that much of the money in Perth is from 'new' money. Money which has been created by certain jobs - tradesmen done good; dump-truck drivers buying a few houses, real estate agents pocketing the money etc etc.
Money being so powerful means that the direction of the city - be it types of restaurants, availability of different activities or even the direction of public policy (education, health etc) and the standard of politics is directly influenced by who controls the money. And the people who control the money are perhaps (going back to the examples above), and very generally speaking, people who are not the types of people who dominate decision making in (for want of an extreme example) say, Cambridge.
I fully appreciate that this will be seen as snobbery by some and I appreciate that it's a theory developed on the back of a beer-mat on the drive in so to speak - but I'd be interested to hear views.
(BTW - I've never lived in Cambridge (or Oxford) but I was struggling for an extreme!)
Melbourne's boom time was the gold rush of the 1850s. The next 50 years saw Melbourne develop and evolve. 150 years later, Melbourne is a diverse city with history and character. The transport system has evolved naturally to an extent. The needs of the residents of Melbourne, in terms of restaurants, cafes, entertainments, leisure facilities etc....have been defined gradually over this period. Many 1,000s of businesses have opened and closed their doors, so that the needs of the people of melbourne are pretty well catered for by the city itself.
Brisbane is next up. A former penal colony, it could be argued that WWII was a turning point in Brisbane's history, when the South West Pacific Headquarters were set up in the Macarthur building. Hundreds of thousands of Americans passed through the city, and the influence is clear to see (well it is in my eyes). Whilst this wasn't a turning point in terms of Brisbane suddenly coming into big $$$, I believe that it is still a significant historical event that marked a change in the way that Brisbane has evolved.
Last is Perth. I think that it would be fair to say that the mining boom of the last 10yrs or so can be considered as the most influential event in Perth's history.
Compare all three to London, with its long history of trade. All 3 are well short, but the closest is easily Melbourne. Places like Brisbane and Perth need time to evolve, I reckon.
May 14th 2008, 5:17 am
#28
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Re: New theory on Perth...
I related to this post:
1) terribly over regulated - terribly uptight - rules for not doing just about anything , 2) very isolated mentally , 3) very small business - work - market , 4) very small town in it’s atmosphere , terribly overworked , all the disadvantages of the U.K. without any of the advantages of U.K. \ Europe , 5) the fraud and coruption .
The good things that I find with Perth are :- 1) all me good mates , 2) the lovely sun , 3) the great food and wine , eating out , 4) the lovely isolated country beaches , 5) a very well designed and run economy - considering the size of the state and the size of the population
..something to look at anyway.
May 14th 2008, 5:40 am
#30
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Re: New theory on Perth...
Great post, and I pretty much agree with your sentiment. I take a slightly different position though....its not WHO has the money, its HOW LONG they've had the money for. Consider Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth.
Melbourne's boom time was the gold rush of the 1850s. The next 50 years saw Melbourne develop and evolve. 150 years later, Melbourne is a diverse city with history and character. The transport system has evolved naturally to an extent. The needs of the residents of Melbourne, in terms of restaurants, cafes, entertainments, leisure facilities etc....have been defined gradually over this period. Many 1,000s of businesses have opened and closed their doors, so that the needs of the people of melbourne are pretty well catered for by the city itself.
Brisbane is next up. A former penal colony, it could be argued that WWII was a turning point in Brisbane's history, when the South West Pacific Headquarters were set up in the Macarthur building. Hundreds of thousands of Americans passed through the city, and the influence is clear to see (well it is in my eyes). Whilst this wasn't a turning point in terms of Brisbane suddenly coming into big $$$, I believe that it is still a significant historical event that marked a change in the way that Brisbane has evolved.
Last is Perth. I think that it would be fair to say that the mining boom of the last 10yrs or so can be considered as the most influential event in Perth's history.
Compare all three to London, with its long history of trade. All 3 are well short, but the closest is easily Melbourne. Places like Brisbane and Perth need time to evolve, I reckon.
Melbourne's boom time was the gold rush of the 1850s. The next 50 years saw Melbourne develop and evolve. 150 years later, Melbourne is a diverse city with history and character. The transport system has evolved naturally to an extent. The needs of the residents of Melbourne, in terms of restaurants, cafes, entertainments, leisure facilities etc....have been defined gradually over this period. Many 1,000s of businesses have opened and closed their doors, so that the needs of the people of melbourne are pretty well catered for by the city itself.
Brisbane is next up. A former penal colony, it could be argued that WWII was a turning point in Brisbane's history, when the South West Pacific Headquarters were set up in the Macarthur building. Hundreds of thousands of Americans passed through the city, and the influence is clear to see (well it is in my eyes). Whilst this wasn't a turning point in terms of Brisbane suddenly coming into big $$$, I believe that it is still a significant historical event that marked a change in the way that Brisbane has evolved.
Last is Perth. I think that it would be fair to say that the mining boom of the last 10yrs or so can be considered as the most influential event in Perth's history.
Compare all three to London, with its long history of trade. All 3 are well short, but the closest is easily Melbourne. Places like Brisbane and Perth need time to evolve, I reckon.
I was mainly focusing on who has the money rather than how long the money has been around.
The two are probably linked - you need bricklayers in before arts directors for example...(?) but I'm not sure that it is as simple as a linear development. i.e. Perth doesn't work for me because it's newer than London.