Imagining the region: cartographic representations in Australian metropolitan spatial strategies

ABSTRACT The challenges facing Australia’s capital cities have prompted a renewed interest in metropolitan governance. The Australian situation is unique in that metropolitan spatial strategies are prepared by state governments, rather than through cooperation of local governments as in other countries. This presents specific challenges for establishing the metropolitan region as a relevant scale of action in the minds of stakeholders and citizens. In this paper, different types of spatial images in metropolitan strategies are identified and their potential role in region-building is conceptualised. Spatial imaginaries and spatial representations in metropolitan spatial strategies for Greater Sydney and Greater Adelaide are compared, which allows a reflection on the effect of different governance arrangements on establishing the image and identity of a region. The paper concludes with a critical reflection on the role of spatial representations in supporting the international and external positioning of regions that have been defined in a top-down manner.