GREATER MELBOURNE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1926, Page 4

GREATER MELBOURNE

926, (XX) PEOPLE. SYDNEY, March 12. Sydney has already passed the million mark in regard to population—a fact lamented by envious Mulbournites, to whom any superiority of the New South Wales capital is as hitter as gall. But in population the southern city is not lar behind her rival lamed for her harbour, in fact, less than 100,609 separate the. two, although): the difference will probably never be regained. Apart from byuliey’s present faster rate of growth, the Victorian capital will shortly lose between 20,000 and 30,000 people, when tlie army of Federal public servants net; to the new Australian capital, Canberra, next year. Still, Melbourne can boast of smut remarkable figures concerning i. growth. Tne municipal councils in tin metropolitan area have just complete, their annual statistics tor 1926. I best show that Greater Melbourne has a population of 926,000, and a capita, vaiiia of approximately £303,069.000. These figures arc for tin; 26 municipa.lilies generally considered to comprise Melbourne, parts of tour neighbouring shires, and certain seaside suburbs. Dwellings in this area number 216.C09 and 21,039 shops are open ior trade. In the City of Melbourne itself, there are 163.09') people housed in 22,666 dwellings. Caullieh! holds pride ol jdm-e tlie most populous suburb with 59 645 people, but two others. Brailfan. and Brunswick, each havy more than 50.000. The seven leading municipalities, with a- population of over 40.003, are: Canllicid. 69,046; Prnhnm. 51.062; Brunswick, 50,037 ; South Melbourne, 47.0C0; Footscray, 40,409: Richmond. 41,590; Essen don. 40,000. Melbourne has just on 4000 shops to its 105.996 residents, one to every 20.5 people, or -one simp to every 1.9 acres. These figures are approached by the shopping suburbs like I’raiirnn and Fitzroy, ami the latter actually has a shop i'or every .9 acre. To go the other extreme, the new suburbs of Morabbin has only one shop to every 96 acres. Over the whole area there is an average of one shop to every 42 people.