Urban Choreography: Central Melbourne, 1985–

This book is an account of urban design transformations in central Melbourne since about 1985, a time when, despite a history as Marvellous Melbourne, the city had a reputation for conformity and staidness. The central city residential population was negligible. Central city retail activity was in decline as suburban shopping malls burgeoned. The city was saturated with cars and parking. A substantial architectural heritage was threatened with demolition for high-rise modernist projects - and indeed much was lost. Melbourne had become a rather dull place that closed on evenings and weekends.