Part V

1950 to 2010: Prosperity and Social Turmoil

‘I’m so glad my great great greatgrandpa stole that loaf of bread.’

In this part . . .

The second half of the 20th century dealt a completely unexpected hand that many in government had tried to engineer but which no-one was really prepared for — widespread prosperity. Staggering out from 30 years of war and economic depression, most people didn’t expect a long period of economic growth and widespread wealth.

Prosperity led to social change and Australia was forced to change some outdated policies. The White Australia Policy was discarded — eventually — and Indigenous Australians recognised as full Australian citizens with equal rights.

Prosperity’s end in the 1970s brought economic challenges, as the old mechanisms used to maintain economic welfare and progress stopped working. With some significant glitches, the ‘fortress mentality’ that had sustained Australian settlement was wound back as Australia was forced to devise ways to swim with the new currents rather than sink on the open tide of the world.

In this part, I cover the times of growth and change that have created modern Australia.