Australian regional rivalries
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Australian regional rivalries refers to the rivalries between Australian cities, states and territories or
Melbourne–Sydney rivalry
There has been a long-standing rivalry between the cities of
Rivalry and differences between the colonies were features of life in pre-federation Australia. There was a real rivalry between the most powerful colonies,
The Melbourne-Sydney Rivalry is heavily represented in sport. Sydneysiders first adopted
Sydney, with a population of 5.23 million, is the largest city in Australia, and has been named the world's best city eight consecutive times by
Founded 47 years after Sydney, Melbourne was established by free settlers, and the colony of Victoria never possessed any convict settlements; however, Sydney's original founding was based upon convicts and was the first British settlement in Australia. Today Sydney still maintains the most historic settlement site in Australia, called 'The Rocks'. Melbourne transformed rapidly thanks to the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s, and became Australia's largest and most important city by 1865. This golden age, referred to as 'Marvellous Melbourne', was crushed by the Australian banking crisis of 1893 and resulting depression, and Sydney overtook Melbourne as the largest Australian city in the early 20th century. Sydney's infrastructure development is hampered by its challenging geography. By 2020, current trends indicated Melbourne would become the most populous city in Australia by 2026.[7]
Newcastle–Sydney rivalry
The oldest Australian regional rivalry dating back to 1804,[further explanation needed] some people[who?] state that Sydney has traditionally been politically right-winged compared to Newcastle being politically centre-left.[citation needed] However, almost all of the Premiers of New South Wales have come from Sydney suburbs, and the NSW Labor Party has a long history in Sydney. Newcastle's population was traditionally working class whereas Sydney was home to a mix of people including the working class, politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats. Even after more than 200 years, Newcastle's culture is still very independent from Sydney's culture even though they are only approximately 160 km apart.[citation needed]
Queensland and other states
Queensland is far from not only the main population but also the commercial and political centres of Australia, namely Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. At the same time, Queensland has long contributed a significant proportion of Australia's most lucrative export commodities, such as coal, beef and sugar. The disparity between Queensland's significant economic contribution and its less significant political influence has long caused tension. Since the 1970s, the migration of people from the southern states has been both welcomed for the economic benefits they bring, yet occasionally they are referred to disparagingly as “Mexicans" because they come from "south of the border". This sentiment was epitomised by Joh Bjelke-Petersen's parochialism and frequent promotion of the idea of secession of Queensland from Australia during his term as premier.
Queenslanders north of Brisbane, were affected by the "Brisbane Line", a controversial defence strategy formulated during World War II. Under the proposal, in the event of a Japanese invasion, Australia would evacuate the vast and then sparsely populated northern portion of the Australian continent to vigorously defend the more populous south east. People from the southern states sometimes refer to Queensland as "the Deep North", as a mocking comparison to the
New South Wales–Queensland rivalry
The rivalry between the states of New South Wales and Queensland has gone on since the Separation of Queensland in 1859.[8]
This rivalry has been played out through sport over the years. There was a strong push for representative football matches between the two colonies which led to the first matches in 20 August 1884 (in Australian rules football) resulting in a draw[9][10] however New South Wales quickly became dominant. Such was the power of the rivalry that when the newly formed Northern Rugby Union scheduled annual matches in 1886 which Queensland won resoundingly that the entire colony switched to Rugby union from the following year.[11] Likewise when the Queensland Rugby League formed, the 1908 Interstate rugby league series becoming an annual contest and quickly resulted in rugby league becoming dominant football code in the state. In Queensland, there has been a general ill-feeling over the number of sports people leaving their home state for New South Wales, particularly rugby league footballers who left to play for the richer Sydney clubs.[citation needed] These players would then play against Queensland in interstate matches.[citation needed] In 1980, as a solution to this problem, the State of Origin series was created to allow Queensland players to play for their original state, and an immediate stop was put to New South Wales' dominance at the time.[citation needed] This sporting contest played three times a year now exemplifies this rivalry, dominating the media and public attention in both states during the series.[citation needed]
Moreover, this rivalry has a political component, with Queensland traditionally tending to state-centered conservatism and populist left politics, while New South Wales traditionally tending to classical-liberal conservatism, modern (small-l) liberal centrism, and social democratic left politics.[citation needed]
Western Australia and the eastern states
Western Australia has the largest land area of any state of Australia, encompassing a third of the continent. It is the least densely populated and the furthest removed from the
Some Western Australians[
Western Australia is the most successful cricketing state behind New South Wales[
Western Australia was the last British colony to agree to join the
Other regions
Illawarra and other parts of New South Wales
The Illawarra region of New South Wales lies only a short distance south of Sydney; however, the socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds of its citizens has allowed for the development of bitter rivalries between the Illawarra and Sydney, the Illawarra and Newcastle, and the Illawarra and Far South Coast.[citation needed]
The Illawarra vs. Sydney Rivalry is founded in historical, political and, for many, personal aspects. The Illawarra northern suburbs centred on Thirroul and Corrimal have seen drastic development resulting from overpopulation in the Sydney Cumberland Basin with many local residents upset about being encroached upon by the metropolis.[citation needed]
This same reason was one of the reasons for the 1885 Charcoal Creek riots (now Unanderra), when 18 homes built by migrants from Sydney were demolished and razed by angry Illawarrian farmers who claimed they were built illegally by "ignorant city siders who don't know our country."[13] The desire of Illawarrians to show differences between themselves and Sydneysiders has shown itself many times. In the early days of the Iraq War, Wollongong Lord Mayor Alex Darling led a delegation to the Consul General of France asking them to accept Wollongong's defection to France in protest at Sydney (and Canberra's) stance.[14]
In 1915, when the Commonwealth was looking for a port for Canberra, the Illawarra shires unanimously volunteered to become part of the territory, however the state government in Sydney refused to allow it because it would be too close to Sydney's ports and far too competitive.[
The Newcastle vs. Wollongong rivalries exist mainly due to the history of each city, to their similar populations, to both being steel towns, and also to their similar distances from Sydney.
South Australia–Victoria rivalry
Much of the rivalry is played out in sport, primarily
There is also a quite intense rivalry in the A-League between
Melbourne: North vs. South of the River
Though this has become less apparent in recent years, there is a historic rivalry between the two sides of the Yarra River in the Metropolitan Melbourne Area. Traditionally, the Northern and Western suburbs (which lay on the north/right bank of the Yarra River) were industrial, working-class and a major destination for immigrants to Melbourne, whilst the Eastern and Southern suburbs (which lay on the south/left bank of the Yarra River) were by the bay, more affluent and received less immigration. In recent years, due to the gentrification of inner city suburbs (such as Brunswick and Footscray) and the incorporation of multicultural, working class, outer suburbs (such as Melton and Pakenham) into the Greater Melbourne region, and significant immigration to Eastern and Southern suburbs in recent decades, this divide has become less pronounced than it historically was.[17]
North Queensland–Brisbane rivalry
There is a regional rivalry between North Queensland and Brisbane (or South East Queensland). This is partially because the distance between them, which is similar to the distance between Brisbane and other state capitals. There has been continuing proposals in the past for a separate North Queensland state. However many people of North Queensland (NQ) would prefer to be independent.[18] Rugby league games between the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos attract large crowds.
Cairns–Townsville rivalry
There has been a long-standing rivalry between the North Queensland cities of Cairns and Townsville. This is partly due to the similar size of the two cities, distance and slightly different local cultures. Both cities have sought to be known as the capital of the region, the major population centre and port. Cairns is considered the aviation, agricultural & tourism hub of North Queensland whilst Townsville is the administrative, financial and industrial hub.
Each city is home to a national sports team, the North Queensland Cowboys located in Townsville, and the Cairns Taipans. Because of the inter-city rivalry it generally takes longer for these teams to win the hearts and minds of potential supporters in the rival city.
Ballarat–Bendigo rivalry
The cities of
The population figure for the local government area of the City of Greater Bendigo (which includes sizeable nearby towns) is larger, and therefore often cited by Bendigonians in favour of their city. Bendigo remains the larger financial centre and Bendigonians also claim the warmer climate. Bendigo also claimed superior gold production. Both Ballarat and Bendigo have used their history and architectural heritage as major tourist drawcards and directly vie for the tourist dollar. In tourism Ballarat has traditionally drawn more visitors due to its geographic position and also to the presence of popular Sovereign Hill, a re-creation of 1850s Ballarat town and mines. Ballarat was also the site of the 1854 Eureka rebellion, when armed miners and government troops fought over the miners' demands for fairer tax and license laws. Visitors are also drawn to the attractions related to the rebellion.
The modern Ballarat vs. Bendigo rivalry extends to sport with Australian rules[23] and basketball[24] teams from each town having notable contests drawing interest from the media and spectators.
Latrobe Valley
Long standing rivalries between towns and cities in the
Tasmania: North vs. South
The North and South rivalry generally follows the historical division of the state along the 42nd parallel. This division was formalised between 1804 and 1812 when the Northern county was known as Cornwall and the Southern county was Buckinghamshire.[28] The population of Tasmania is nearly evenly split between the North and the South.[29] The North–South rivalry manifests in various ways such as preference of beer; Cascade in the South vs. Boags in the North,[30] and which newspaper is more widely read, The Mercury in the South vs. The Examiner in the North. It is a longstanding battle between the two areas, and the mayors of Launceston and Hobart symbolically "buried the hatchet" in 1959. However, the current mayors dug the hatchets back up in 2012 whilst dressed in full pirate regalia.[31]
The divide has extended to the state's maximum security Risdon Prison, where northern and southern inmates are being separated.[32]
The north–south divide was referenced in an episode of Australian comedy TV series Utopia.[33]
Cartoonist Christopher Downes makes light of the rivalry in the cartoon The Great Divide[34] for the newspaper of the Southern division, The Mercury.
Facebook cartographer Simon Bags recently created this map to document the division of beer drinking in Tasmania.[35] Some controversy exists over the exact boundaries of the red and blue section of this map.
From time to time this North vs. South issue is used by media outlets as a way of increasing readership. This is sometimes framed up as exploring the potential to divide the state again, as in this piece from the ABC: "Tasmania was once (figuratively) split in two, could it happen again?" It concludes Tasmania will not become states due to over-representation in the Australian Government.[36]
Hobart: North vs. South (of the Flannelette Curtain)
There is also an intense rivalry between residents of the Greater Hobart area between those living north and south of the "Flannelette Curtain", an imaginary socioeconomic boundary running along Creek Road, Moonah. The Curtain, also known as the Flannel Curtain or the Latte Line by those to the north of it, is so called due to the supposed propensity of flannelette shirts north of the border, and is meant to distinguish the bogan regions of the North from the Southern regions, though even those living south of the Curtain admit the existence of many "bogan enclaves" in the South. In recent times, the Curtain has been observed to be migrating north.
See also
- Twin towns and sister cities
- Proposals for new Australian states
References
- ^ "Melbourne overtakes Sydney as Australia's biggest city". BBC News. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Ward, Roy (13 December 2019). "United-Kings rivalry is now real after fake beginning: Bogut". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Australia's Number One Industry Newsletter". Travel Blackboard. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ Wahlquist, Calla (16 August 2017). "Melbourne 'world's most liveable city' for seventh year running | Australia news". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ Australian Government Culture and Recreation Portal Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Stafford, Annabel (19 May 2008). "Now Sydney loses its tourism ascendancy". The Age. Melbourne.
- ^ Megalogenis, George (24 January 2020). "Melbourne is set to become the country's most populous city by 2026 – with vast ramifications". The Age. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ State of Origin History
- ^ The Brisbane Courier 4 Aug 1884 Page 6 FOOTBALL
- ^ The Brisbane Courier 11 Aug 1884 Page 6 FOOTBALL
- ^ Sean Fagan, RugbyAustralis.com (Archive, 10 August 2011)
- ^ "Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2005–06 Reissue". Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ Illawarra Historical Society
- ^ "Going Gallic" (5 March 2003). Time.
- ^ "Cornes blasts all-star match". Foxsports.com.au. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Is the AFL still the VFL ?". Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
- ^ "North Vs South Wars: Melbourne". www.realestate.com.au. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Up north they're in revolt from couriermail.com.au
- ^ The challenge begins for Bendigo and Ballarat [permanent dead link]
- ^ Bucci, Nino (31 March 2010). "Ballarat pips us by 1: ABS figures reveal population growth". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". bendigoweekly.ezyzine.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Bendigo population growth just ahead of Ballarat". ABC News. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ McDermott, Josh (4 April 2008). "Roosters rivalry round". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
- ^ "Ballarat v Bendigo: What's in a rivalry?". The Courier. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Calls to stop inter-town squabbling in the Valley - Local News - News - General - Latrobe Valley Express". Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
- ^ "Morwell" (PDF). Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Topsy-turvy times lead to changing of guard". The Age. Melbourne. 20 July 2003.
- ^ "42nd Parallel Heritage Highway Tourism Tasmania". www.heritagehighway.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014.
- ^ "North-south relations". Utas.edu.au. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Tassie beer wars". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Hatchet job to end north-south rivalry". ABC News. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Risdon inmates split by great North–South divide". The Mercury. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ "Stadium fight not in interests of unity". The Examiner. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ "Today's The Mercury Newspaper cartoon:... – The Cartoons of Christopher Downes". Facebook. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ "Simon Bags – fun rainy day activities for map nerds like..." Facebook. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ "Tasmania was once (Figuratively) split in two, could it happen again?". ABC News. 10 June 2019.