What was life like for Australians
around the turn of the century?
how people lived in Australia around the turn of the century
You will LEARN ABOUT
You will LEARN TO
• use primary sources to describe features of lifestyle of a variety of social groups
About how many people were living in Australia in 1901?◦ a) 1 million b) 4 million c) 10 million d) 15 million
Most people in Australia lived◦ a) In the cities b) in the country c) ½ in the city, ½ in the
country Australians mainly travelled by
◦ a) cars b) train c) bicycle d) tram e) horse & carriage Most Australians enjoyed
◦ a) playing cricket b) playing football c) watching sport
How much do you know?
Bankstown - 1922
SOURCE STUDY 1 City Life - Suburbs
About 50% of people lived in the city and 50% in the country – on farms, sheep and cattle stations, mining communities and country towns
Australia was one of the most urbanised countries at this time
2/3 of the population lived in NSW and VIC
500,000 lived in Melbourne and the same in Sydney
Where Did Australians Live?
Houses were small and simple. Many had water tanks connected to them and some had furnishings outside.
Most houses would consist of a chimney and would have a fence circulating around it.
Houses
Most people rode horses or horses and carriages.
They walked from place to place. They rode camels.
Transport
People usually wore clothes that were long. Most of the clothes consisted of high necklines. Wore closed shoes: 1 or 2 pairs of only All the dresses had long sleeves. They often wore protective clothing to keep
clean (aprons, dust coats) They used handkerchiefs (not tissues) Hats were worn by both men and women but
men took theirs off when they went inside
Clothes and Accessories
Most of the woman sewed and knittedSome of them played the pianoThey travelled on camelsThey attended churchPlayed board gamesSing-a-longsPicnicsWatching sport such as cricket and footballRiding bicycles
Activities
There was a variety of living conditions and homes in the cities
poorer suburbs close to factories with their small often substandard houses
Terrace houses with a small backyard for middle class families
“Federation” style free standing houses with a large block for the more wealthy
Life in the Cities
Terrace houses in Darlinghurst
City Life - Houses
Federation was a very decorative style.
Tall, steep and varied roof shapes Rooms had irregular shapes with
nooks and splayed corners Built mostly of red brick Porches or verandahs have
ornamental painted woodwork. Colourful leadlight windows
FURNITUREBlouse Chest
Dressing Table
Commode Chair
Day Bed Double Bed Dining Suite
Pyrmont Bridge was completed in 1902 so that traffic could get to the Queen Victoria Markets.
SOURCE STUDY 2 City Life - Transport
SOURCE STUDY 3Leisure A
A visit to Manly Beach
Snake charmer at La Peruse – a popular tourist spot Swimming BathsMovie Poster
SOURCE STUDY 2Leisure B
Family Picnics
Sing-a-longs
Opening of Killara Golf Course
Age, Melbourne, 21 March 1904
The aspect of the Yarra was transformed on Saturday afternoon, when the first Melbourne amateur regatta - the Australian Henley – was most auspiciously inaugurated. Vast crowds assembled on the river banks, and Princes bridge, which gave a commanding view of the course, black with people….
Popular Parlor Games, Pastimes and Amusements:
Book ReadingCard Games (Whist, Bridge, etc.)CharadesCheckersChessDiceDominosHand Shadows
Jacks and MarblesLace MakingMusical Instrument PlayingPaper DollsParcheesiPhotographySewing Tea Leaf Fortune Reading
SOURCE STUDY 3Transport
Redfern Railway - 1900
Trams & Buggies - Enmore Rd
Man’s bicycle - 1900
Woman’s bicycle - 1910
SOURCE STUDY 4Clothing
SOURCE STUDY 5Kitchen/Food
Egg scales
Kitchen Scales
Charcoal Burning Stove
Kitchen Canisters
Butter Churn & Cooking Pot
Advertisement
SOURCE STUDY 6
Health and Medicine
Lewisham Hospital c.1905
Medicine Box
Plague – 458 cases and 165 people died in 1900
Deaths – Sydney had 607 cases and 197 deaths in total 1900 – 1925
Queensland had the most deaths – 276 people died from the plague
How Healthy was Life in Australia in 1900?
SOURCE STUDY 10Aboriginal People
SOURCE STUDY 11Children - School
Empire Day Celebrations at Gordon PS
Gardening Lesson
Students of Menai PS
END OF PRESENTATION