48
towns offer. These settlements were generally established due to local resources available such as
fishing, timber, and fertile land close to the river inlets.
These coastal settlements differ in size and typology as well as character, and various factors influence the shaping of these towns. During my research for this book, it became evident that similar
typologies between typical coastal settlements exists across countries on a global scale. The classification of these typologies by researchers at the University of Sydney represents the most fitting for the
Australian context. They have distinguished a broad typology of coastal communities in Australia
comprising five ideal types (Gurran, Norman, Gilbert, & Hamin, 2008; Gurran, 2005, p. 23–26):
• Regional Coastal Cities - smaller urban cities (populations above 100,000 people) situated beyond
State capitals and located on the coast;
• Coastal Commuters - suburbanised satellite communities on the coast, located close enough to
major centres to make commuting a feasible option;
• Coastal Getaways - small to medium coastal settlements within a three-hour drive of a capital city,
located in predominately natural habitats with high ecological, visual and recreational values;
• Coastal Lifestyle Destinations - small to medium sized coastal settlements predominantly tourism
and leisure focused, located three-hour drive or more from a capital city; and,
• Coastal Hamlets - small, rural coastal communities often surrounded by protected natural areas,
situated more than three hours away from a capital city.
The case study town chosen for the application of the regenerative-adaptive pattern language, the
town Anglesea, is unique according to the above classifications unique. Based on its population and
setting, it can be classified as a Coastal Hamlet, but due to its distance from the capital city Melbourne
of only approximately 115 km, it can be classified as a Coastal Gateway, or Coastal Lifestyle
Destination. Most of the towns in this area of the Great Ocean Road region can be classified as
Coastal Hamlets. This is unique in that they are within three hours of the capital city of Melbourne,
but their ‘remoteness’ due to the topography and natural environment of the Otway Ranges, and
accessibility of minor roads, results in small populations of around 1500 to 3000 permanent residents.
Residents that migrate to these towns are attracted to the natural beauty of the coast, as well as the
character of the towns and their ‘sense of place’ experience.
4.4 Settlement Character in the Coastal Zone
In general terms, most coastal towns have a ‘sense of place’, and settlements along the coast are generally referred to as having ‘a lot of character’ (Fig. 4.2). The degree to which a place is said to have
‘a lot of character’ is mostly associated with how distinctive its environmental, cultural and social
features are (Green, 2010). The uniqueness of a place usually is the result of the organic growth of a
settlement; these qualities are mostly visible within old established coastal towns. Recent developments and new ‘Greenfield developments’ lack distinctiveness and uniqueness of place. They are
perceived as ‘faceless’; places that could be anywhere and yet nowhere (Hough, 1990). New land
developments often are referred to as not having ‘soul’, and lacking a sense of ‘wholeness’. Alexander
et al. (1977) has explored this phenomenon of ‘wholeness’ in architecture and settlement planning,
and proposed in A Pattern Language (1977) a theory that the inherent patterns of the landscape, the
morphological growth of a place, give it character and a sense of place resulting in wholeness
(Alexander, 2004; Alexander et al., 1977). This theory and its application as part of the regenerativeadaptive pattern language are further explored and described in detail in Chaps. 10, 11 and 12, where
we have identified that wholeness of place and place character only occurs when the development and
design of the built form are integrated and connected with nature. Similarly, Green (2010) concludes
that the place character of Victorian coastal towns is somehow unique, different, unusual, special and
4 Affinity to Water: The Coastal Zone and Coastal Settlements
towns offer. These settlements were generally established due to local resources available such as
fishing, timber, and fertile land close to the river inlets.
These coastal settlements differ in size and typology as well as character, and various factors influence the shaping of these towns. During my research for this book, it became evident that similar
typologies between typical coastal settlements exists across countries on a global scale. The classification of these typologies by researchers at the University of Sydney represents the most fitting for the
Australian context. They have distinguished a broad typology of coastal communities in Australia
comprising five ideal types (Gurran, Norman, Gilbert, & Hamin, 2008; Gurran, 2005, p. 23–26):
• Regional Coastal Cities - smaller urban cities (populations above 100,000 people) situated beyond
State capitals and located on the coast;
• Coastal Commuters - suburbanised satellite communities on the coast, located close enough to
major centres to make commuting a feasible option;
• Coastal Getaways - small to medium coastal settlements within a three-hour drive of a capital city,
located in predominately natural habitats with high ecological, visual and recreational values;
• Coastal Lifestyle Destinations - small to medium sized coastal settlements predominantly tourism
and leisure focused, located three-hour drive or more from a capital city; and,
• Coastal Hamlets - small, rural coastal communities often surrounded by protected natural areas,
situated more than three hours away from a capital city.
The case study town chosen for the application of the regenerative-adaptive pattern language, the
town Anglesea, is unique according to the above classifications unique. Based on its population and
setting, it can be classified as a Coastal Hamlet, but due to its distance from the capital city Melbourne
of only approximately 115 km, it can be classified as a Coastal Gateway, or Coastal Lifestyle
Destination. Most of the towns in this area of the Great Ocean Road region can be classified as
Coastal Hamlets. This is unique in that they are within three hours of the capital city of Melbourne,
but their ‘remoteness’ due to the topography and natural environment of the Otway Ranges, and
accessibility of minor roads, results in small populations of around 1500 to 3000 permanent residents.
Residents that migrate to these towns are attracted to the natural beauty of the coast, as well as the
character of the towns and their ‘sense of place’ experience.
4.4 Settlement Character in the Coastal Zone
In general terms, most coastal towns have a ‘sense of place’, and settlements along the coast are generally referred to as having ‘a lot of character’ (Fig. 4.2). The degree to which a place is said to have
‘a lot of character’ is mostly associated with how distinctive its environmental, cultural and social
features are (Green, 2010). The uniqueness of a place usually is the result of the organic growth of a
settlement; these qualities are mostly visible within old established coastal towns. Recent developments and new ‘Greenfield developments’ lack distinctiveness and uniqueness of place. They are
perceived as ‘faceless’; places that could be anywhere and yet nowhere (Hough, 1990). New land
developments often are referred to as not having ‘soul’, and lacking a sense of ‘wholeness’. Alexander
et al. (1977) has explored this phenomenon of ‘wholeness’ in architecture and settlement planning,
and proposed in A Pattern Language (1977) a theory that the inherent patterns of the landscape, the
morphological growth of a place, give it character and a sense of place resulting in wholeness
(Alexander, 2004; Alexander et al., 1977). This theory and its application as part of the regenerativeadaptive pattern language are further explored and described in detail in Chaps. 10, 11 and 12, where
we have identified that wholeness of place and place character only occurs when the development and
design of the built form are integrated and connected with nature. Similarly, Green (2010) concludes
that the place character of Victorian coastal towns is somehow unique, different, unusual, special and
4 Affinity to Water: The Coastal Zone and Coastal Settlements