Australia in the

20th Century

Mark Anderson
Paul Ashton

First published 2004 by

MACMILLAN EDUCATION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

627 Chapel Street, South Yarra 3141

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National Library of Australia
cataloguing in publication data
Anderson, Mark, 1957.
Australia in the 20th century: working historically.
Includes index
For secondary students.
ISBN 0 7329 9271 0.
1. AustraliaHistory20th centuryTextbooks.
I. Ashton, Paul, 1959. II. Title.
994.04
Publisher: Lyn Thane
Project editor: Kath Selkirk
Editor: Ruth Siems
Maps: Pat Kermode Illustrations and cartoons: Nik Scott and Paul Lennon
Cover designer: Dimitrios Frangoulis
Text designer: Dimitrios Frangoulis
Photo research: Jes Senbergs
Permissions clearance: Jes Senbergs
Typeset in ITC Slimbach Book 10.5pt by Polar Design Pty Ltd
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Printed in Malaysia
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Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

v
vii

Australia to 1914

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

Australia and World War I

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4

3.2

Why did Australia become involved in World War I? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What were the experiences of Australians in the Gallipoli campaign? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How and why was the Anzac legend created? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What was the impact of World War I on the Australian home front
19141918? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.3
4.4

5.2
5.3
5.4

77

94

146

Why was Australia involved in World War II? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What were some of the experiences of Australians as a result of their
involvement in the war? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What was the impact of the war on Australian civilians? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How did Australias relationship with Britain and the USA change during
World War II? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australia in the Vietnam War era

5.1

46
60
72

What were the differing experiences of various groups during the

interwar period? . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
What was the contribution and significance of at least one Australian, one
important event and one political development during the interwar period? . . . . . . . . 110

Australia and World War II

4.1
4.2

44

Australia between the wars

3.1

What was life like in Australia at the turn of the century? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

How and why did Federation occur? . .
23
What were the voting rights of various groups in Australia at Federation? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
How and why was the Immigration Restriction Act 1901 introduced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

148
153
163
187

190

How and why did the Australian government respond to the threat
of communism after World War II . . . .
Why did Australians become involved in the Vietnam War? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How did various groups respond to Australias involvement in the
Vietnam War? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What was the impact of the war on Australia and neighbouring countries? . . . . . . . . . .

192
208
213
219

iii

Contents

Changing rights and freedoms

230

6.1a How have the rights and freedoms of Aboriginal peoples in Australia
changed during the post-war period? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
6.1b How have the rights and freedoms of migrants in Australia changed
during the post-war period? . . . . . . . . . . .
256
6.1c How have the rights and freedoms of women in Australia changed
during the post-war period? . . . . . . . . . . .
269

People, power and politics in the post-war period

7.1
7.2
7.3

What role has Australia played in international affairs in the post-war period? . . . . . 284
What have been some of the important political developments in post-war
Australian history? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
299
How have significant individuals and groups exercised their democratic
rights in the post-war period? . . . . . . . . .
318

Australias social and cultural history in the post-war period 338

8.1a What have been the major social and cultural features of a post-war
decadechanging technology? . . . . . . .
8.1b What have been the major social and cultural features of a post-war
decadethe 1960s? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

iv

282

340
356
370
372

Introduction
The aim of Australia in the 20th Century: Working historically is to cover the mandatory
requirements of the NSW syllabus for Stage 5 History in a way that stimulates students interest
in and enjoyment of the past; develops their critical understanding of events and issues; and
enables them to participate as active, informed and responsible citizens.
Each chapter covers the eight mandatory topics and related inquiry questions and focuses on
particular outcomes, as shown in the grid below. The Working historically questions develop
students knowledge and understanding, and provide opportunities for them to acquire and
utilise the skills necessary for undertaking the process of historical inquiry. Assessment for
learning activities available on the Macmillan website cover all of the syllabus students learn
to requirements. Teachers can confidently use these for making judgments about student
performance and achievement.

Objectives
Chapter

knowledge and
understanding
of significant
developments in
Australias social,
political and
cultural history

5.1

2
3

knowledge and
understanding
of Australias
international
relationships

knowledge and
understanding
of the changing
rights and
freedoms of
Aboriginal
peoples and
other groups in
Australia

skills to
undertake the
process of
historical inquiry

skills to
communicate
their
understanding
of history

5.3

5.5, 5.8

5.9

5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7

5.10

5.2
5.1

5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7,

5.8
5.2

5.3

5.4, 5.5, 5.7

5.2

5.3

5.4, 5.5, 5.7

5.3

5.8

5.9, 5.10

5.3

5.7, 5.8

5.10

5.1

5.1

5.1

5.2

5.1

5.2

5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7

Introduction

Throughout Australia in the 20th Century: Working historically are ICT references and activities.
The content also ensures civics and citizenship understandings are addressed.
In programming the Stage 5 course, teachers can chose to follow a chronological approach by
working sequentially through the chapters or a thematic study based on:
the social and cultural history of Australia in the twentieth century
changing rights and freedoms
Australias international relationships
political developments in Australia in the twentieth century.
The syllabus provides choice in some of the students learn about requirements (Topics 3, 5, 6,
7 and 8) and the extent of depth of study (Topic 4). All mandatory content is covered within
Australia in the 20th Century: Working historically.
The following terms are used in Working historically and Assessment for learning questions
and it is suggested teachers take the time to explain each to their students.

Assess

Make a judgment about the impact, importance, value or results

Describe

Give the characteristics and features of

Discuss

Set out the issues and provide reasons for and/or against

Examine

Find out about

Explain

Give reasons how and/or why; show cause and effect

Identify

Recognise and name

Investigate

Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions about

Outline

Give the main features of; provide in brief

Sequence

Place events or developments in the order they occured

Resources to supplement this textbook will be added to the Macmillan Education Australia
website <www.Macmillan.com.au> along with updates to internet addresses.
We hope teachers and students find Australia in the 20th Century: Working historically
interesting, enjoyable and challenging.
Mark Anderson and Paul Ashton

vi

Acknowledgments
Author acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the team at Macmillan Education Australia, particularly Lyn Thane
and Kath Selkirk and their editor, Ruth Siems, for valuable assistance in creating this book.
A debt is also owed to BranDee Bruce who wrote the section on housing in chapter eight
while a visiting international student in the Public History program at the University of
Technology, Sydney.
Special thanks also go to Kathy Anderson for advice regarding content and activities, and to
Kelly and Annika Evans for research.

Publishers acknowledgments
The authors and publisher would like to gratefully credit or acknowledge the following for
permission to reproduce copyright material:

Photographs
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pp. 5 (bottom), 20, 130, 184 (top), 363 (left). Australian Photographic Agency Collection, State
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(top left), /A5410 p. 58 (top right), /E00825 p. 58 (bottom left), /H10324 pp. 58 (bottom right),
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vii

Acknowledgments

State Library of New South Wales, p. 132. John Oxley Library, negative number 102781, p. 185
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Acknowledgments

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While every care has been taken to trace and acknowledge copyright, the publishers tender
their apologies for any accidental infringement where copyright has proved untraceable. They
would be pleased to come to a suitable arrangement with the rightful owner in each case.