Why do the majority of Australia's major cities lie along the coast?

Answer 1

The great majority of the land mass of Australia is either arid or semi-arid, there is very little surface water, the rain fall is low and there are very few rivers that actually run other than immediately after heavy rain. The only areas capable of supporting a large urban population are the eastern, southern and south-western coastal areas.

Answer 2

The early white settlers arrived by ship and so the main cities naturally developed around the coastal fringes, particularly on the east coast. All needed to be near a suitable place for a harbour to be developed for supplies, trade and the movement of settlers in and out of the colonies. Much of the Australian interior is harsh, generally with rainfall diminishing and temperatures rising the further you move inland. On the east coast, the Great Dividing Range prohibited early establishment of cities further inland by providing a formidable barrier in parts.

Answer 3

Only the state capitals are situated on the coast. The national capital of Canberra is located inland.

Australia is a vast continent, and it was logical to establish the early colonies (which essentially became the capital cities later on) on the coast where they could be accessed by large ships. The colonies relied on ships for supplies, as it took several decades to explore and establish trade routes overland between the colonies.

Answer 4

The capital cities in Australia were the first settlements in each of the colonies that were established between 1788 and 1836. it was necessary for these settlements to be established on the coast, as the settlements relied on ships for trade and supplies. It was natural for these first towns to become the capital cities of each colony and, later, each state.

Answer 5

water