A Whole Generation Scarred

Before the the Wall Street crash of 1929 led to a worldwide economic depression, Australia was suffering from falling wheat and wool prices and had borrowed vast sums of money from overseas banks, which needed to be paid back.

Miss Goldstein and Miss John collecting parcels at' Flinders-stree for workless women, Woman Voter (Melbourne, Vic. : 1911 - 1919), Tuesday 23 February 1915

Following the 1929 federal election in Australia, James Scullin's Labor Government, assumed power. 

Not long afterwards, "Black Thursday" (Oct. 24, 1929), the day of the largest sell-off of shares in U.S. history occurred, marking the onset of the Great Depression.

Australia was soon plunged into an era of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, falling wages and lost opportunities for many.

Strikes and labour unrest increased dramatically.

The big cities were depopulated, with thousands of unemployed men taking to the road looking for work on farms.

Other men walked the "Hungry Mile" along the wharves near Darling Harbour in search of a day’s work. Many faced constant rejection by employers.

Psychological stress increased, resulting in depression, hopelessness, humiliation, domestic violence and child abuse.

The Premier (Mr. P. Collier) returned from the Eastern States yesterday, and the unemployed held a demonstration outside the Perth station. The Premier, however, had left the train at Mt. Lawley, where he lives. The police made three arrests before the demonstration cleared.West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 14 March 1929

Children experienced malnutrition, ill-health, and many lived in over-crowded housing,

Renters faced eviction if they could not pay their rent. And if they had no where else to go, the police might be sent.

Shanty towns developed in various places like: Sydney’s Domain and La Perouse, Melbourne’s Dudley Flats and the banks of the River Torrens in Adelaide.

People lived in tents, makeshift shelters made from flour sacks and scavenged materials. 

In December 1929, the government allocated £1 000 000 from the Federal Aid Roads Agreement for the provision of relief work for the unemployed.

 The result of cutting lawns in Macquarie-street yesterday by men engaged through the Labour Exchange.Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 15 July 1930

Aboriginal people who had been living independently and were now unemployed, were forced to move to government reserves and accept rations.

Unemployed procession, Melbourne, VIC, Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), Saturday 7 March 1931

In May 1931, the federal Labor government and six state Premiers agreed to a 20% reduction in government expenditure, cuts to wages and pensions, and increased taxation.

In 1932, the Australian economy collapsed, and unemployment reached a peak of 32 per cent. Harship affected many communities.

In late 1933, “sustenance” and “food relief” expanded, as did work for dole schemes. Unemployed women were often denied public assistance.

Scene in Fttzrov, Melbourne), outside a terrace from which 95 unemployed single men were evicted by a sudden coup, planned on military lines, by the police .Their belongings are shown in the street, which they blocked for about 150 yards Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Wednesday 9 August 1933

The- inhabitants of Brisbane's - shanty town are nearly all pensioners, QLD. Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Friday 13 January 1933,

On the River Bank, below the Government Buildings in William Street, City, NSW, unemployed have made their homes of bags, slicks, and iron. Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Wednesday 28 February 1934

Many depended on charity or the dole.

A whole generation were scarred by their experiences during the Great Depression.

A CONTRAST. — Above are shown types of dwellings occupied by South Australian natives at a camp at Oodnadatta. Below — Houses such as these and community bathrooms are provided for natives at La Perouse by the New South Wales Government.Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), Saturday 15 August 1936

Shanty town, Port Kembla, NSW, Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 21 January 1938