What where living conditions like in Australia in the 1900s?

Answer 1

Australia had only recently federated during the 1900s. The Australian economy needed more people to migrate to Australia, and thus they gave information about the excellent work conditions of Australia. Although nowhere near modern standards, the condition in Australia was better than the conditions in many other countries, and this persuaded people to migrate.

The country had a new sense of patriotism in the light of Federation in 1901. During the years leading up to World War I, there was a greater sense of fighting for one's country and, even more, showing old Mother England that Australians were made of sterner stuff than Britain had ever credited them for. The writings of people such as Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson generated support for the underdog, and an appreciation of the harshness of life in the bush and the outback. It underscored what strong and determined people Australians really were.

Many people finished their education at age 12, not going on to high school. Children worked at a trade or on the family farm to help out. Agriculture was the country's mainstay and, of course, motor-driven vehicles were few and far between.

Regarding sewerage, most residences in Australia in the early 1900s had a "thunderbox" or "dunny" in the backyard. This would either be a trench or a hole that would be filled in when it was no longer usable, or a can that could be taken out and emptied. Sawdust or similar filler was used to cover the waste when the user was finished. The sewerage system was still fairly new and restricted to more affluent suburbs in large cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. Proper sewerage and sanitation was expensive.

Addition: In 1901 the Immigration policy was given, which meant that if a person was not deemed fit (i.e. non British), then he or she sat a dictation test which very few people passed. Australia didn't want any non-European immigrants. Australia wanted to be a "white" Australia and it achieved that. This was one of the goals of Federation.

Answer 2

This is just some information !

In the 20th Century where people who could meet the expenses to pay for household help did so because daily home life was physical work. Laundry was to be done by hand using a copper (a large container in which water was boiled), and all clothes where to be hand wrung and then pegged out on a line like we still use today. With no refrigeration food could not be kept for a very long time, instead they would cover there meat and other products in salt to keep them fresh for longer.

Entertainment in the 20th Century included things such as:

Circus

Some of these circuses included Ashton's Circus and Wirth Bros these acts unlike today had animal acts, trapeze artists and clowns. Nowadays the acts are more focused on the trapeze acts gymnastics acts some even cutting out the animal acts all together; this is because of the rise in animal rights.

Comedy Acts

Comedy acts where very popular in the 20th century and still are today. A very famous comedy duo was Roy Rene and Nat Phillips who formed together "stiffy and mo", but they broke up in 1925 when Rene's popularity continued to grow.

Movies

Movies where just as popular in the 20th century as they are today. The first Australian colour film Jedda was bought out in 1955. Jedda was about an Aboriginal girl who was bought up in white homestead and ends up falling in love with a white boy, but the laws then said that they could not marry, they then end up jumping off a cliff together a killing themselves.

Health in the 20th century was not as up to date as it is today there were plagues and very deadly diseases spreading not only through Australia but through the world. Bubonic Plague was unknown in Australia until 1900. There had been outbreaks in ports with which Australia had constant contact from 1894 when the plague was officially declared an epidemic in Hong Kong. From 1896 a plague pandemic spread around the world. Hydatid disease was a major problem in country areas of Australia in the early twentieth century. It is caused by humans ingesting hydatid tapeworm cysts. Australia became a centre of world research into the disease. Hydatid now occurs only rarely.

Answer 3

The period from 1890 to 1910 was a particularly patriotic time for the new country. Prior to 1900, there was a strong push for Federation of the Colonies, perhaps spearked by the famous "Tenterfield Oration", delivered by Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, on 24 October 1889, at the Tenterfield School of Arts. In this speech, he advocated the Federation of the six Australian colonies. On 22 January 1899, leaders of the six Australian colonies met in Melbourne to discuss a federation bill. After not being accepted by the states the first time, the amended Commonwealth Constitution was given Royal Assent on 9 July 1900. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies was achieved and the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed. This resulted in a huge tide of nationalistic feeling, of optimism and hope for the future. It was also a time when the concept of true self-government and independence was marked by various democratic processes. For example, there was the formation of the Australian Shearers' Union which, by 1890, had tens of thousands of members all clamouring for better conditions for Australia's poorly-paid shearers. The great Shearers' Strike of 1891 led to Australia's first May Day processions and marches, held in Barcaldine and Ipswich, Queensland on behalf of the shearers, on 1 May 1891. The strike highlighted the need for a political party to represent the rights of the union workers; thus was ultimately born the Australian Labor Party. All of this was fuelled by the patriotism of great Australian-born writers such as Henry Lawson and A.B. (Banjo) Paterson. Paterson was passionately nationalistic, popular among many Australians in a fledgling country searching for its own identity apart from Britain. he glorified the bush life and the independence of the swagmen who took to the road, epitomising freedom. Lawson presented a different view of the bush as harsh and unrelenting, and anyone who could survive in the dry outback was made of strong stuff - better than the Poms. Lawson did not romanticise life in the bush: he accurately depicted the difficult conditions of life on dry, dusty outback stations and in bush towns. Any humour he displayed tended to be dry and sardonic, rather than like Paterson's larrikin wit. Building on Paterson's concept of Australia as full of independent larrikins came author Steel Rudd. Specialising in short stories of country life, Rudd is best known for his short stories satirising life "On Our Selection", that is, for those who chose to take up land in bush areas. These stories feature Dad and Dave in a humorous account of life on a plot of land 'selected' in the late 1800s in Australia. Again, humour and a dry patriotism featured strongly in these fictitious accounts.

Answer 4

During World War 1, woman took over the roles of men, knitting lots of socks and beanies for the men who were off at war.

Answer 5

Before World War 1 in Australia, people traveled in horse-drawn carriages. Women wore dresses with very full skirts; they often wore corsets underneath.

Answer 6

Normal, it was normal life.