Sydney Social and Economic Structure

The city of Sydney (33, 52 S 151, 10’E) is located on the Eastern coast of Australia (NSW) nestled between the Pacific Ocean in the east, and the Blue Mountains in the west. Sydney is Australia’s economic capital, and has a population of more than 4 million. Sydney has a changing social and economic structure, which I will account for and explain how it has affected its character.

Social Structure

Social structure is the form or pattern of the interrelationships of people in society. Social structure is influenced by a variety of factors and patterns of advantage and disadvantage that can be seen spatially by:

* Income and poverty

* Ethnicity

* Education levels and employment

Patterns of income & poverty

High-income households (household weekly income of $1500 or more in the 1996 census) were:

* Around the waterways of Sydney, especially the Sydney Harbour foreshores, Middle Harbour and the lower reaches of Lane Cove River.

* They live in large part of the northern suburbs.

* They also live in areas of the Georges River and Port Hacking.

 The main reasons for spatial patterns of high & low income areas are as follows:

* High income & wealthy households mainly choose to live in the suburbs near natural waterways & higher altitudes.

* Low income households are often one parent families & people aged over 60yrs.

* They live in flatter & less attractive areas in the west & south west of the city.

Urban decay:

* Urban dynamic that resulted in less attractive areas to live in.

* These areas in the inner city provide more affordable housing for low income households.

Urban Renewal:

* Urban renewal in suburbs with good access to the CBD or near waterways has brought high income households into these areas.

The living standards of the poor in relation to the standards that prevail elsewhere in the society in which they live. In Sydney, it is unlikely that there would be anyone living in absolute poverty; whereas in cities in developing countries, it would be highly likely.

People who live in Sydney try to live as close as possible to the central business district.. Therefore, each income group will settle in a price range that their income capable of meeting their cost of housing.. As price is related to distance from the CBD, each income demographic has its own ‘ring’ around the CBD. So the problem compounds itself, and the spatial inequality becomes more and more pronounced. For example, 63% of people living in Auburn, fringe suburb, are on a Government Pension, whilst as far west as Ultimo Pyrmont, notable Australians reside along prime waterfront area, in modern, attractive apartments.