The impact of the friction of distance on the early settlement and development of Eyre Peninsula,South Australia |
| |
| Authors: | Derek L Smith |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Geography , University of Adelaide , GPO Box 498, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia |
| |
| Abstract: | The cost of overcoming distance has played and continues to play an important role in the evolution of Australia's space‐economy. This paper examines the impact of the ‘friction of distance’, as well as the quality of the resource base, on the settlement and development of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. A series of maps portraying the spread of pastoralism and then agriculture on Eyre Peninsula reveals clearly the importance of ‘accessibility’ in influencing the pattern and timing of settlement. It was not until well into this century that all the potentially agricultural land in the interior was occupied, for this required the construction of a railway and water pipeline up the centre of the peninsula. |
| |
| Keywords: | Friction of distance Heartland/periphery Transport Settlement Pastoralism Sequent occupance |
|
|
