Eumundi Voice Issue 121, 10 July 2025

HISTORY OF HOUSING

Boom Boom Baby!

If you remember the 1959 music hits of Crash Craddock, then you may remember the Australian housing landscape of the 1950s to 70s, post WWII. The returning soldiers and civilians were eager to embrace family life, which they believed fundamentally required owning a home. With encouragement of government policies, the ‘Builders Generation’ along with 1.2M immigrants ushered in a period of significant growth. It was the days of ‘populate or perish’. Fearing another invasion, the Australian Government brought in skilled workers, increasing our population by one third to stimulate our economy.

Education was in the most part free, so trade and university courses were filled. The release of large tracts of land for housing allowed for the Australian dream of a quarter acre block not far from major cities and towns. Planning and building regulations were also far more relaxed than today.

Large infrastructure projects not only created employment but also prepared for the anticipated population boom. Above all, there was a strong sense of community, with families and local groups tackling challenges together, supported by state and federal legislation and initiatives. The leadership of the time was closely aligned with the needs of the people within a global context. Rather than waiting for statistics to confirm a crisis and then slowly developing programs, governments recognised the magnitude of the challenges and empowered families and communities to find the necessary individual solutions.

Although at the time women were not permitted to purchase property without a guarantee from a father, brother or husband – as a married couple they could save for land. People were then permitted in new Sydney suburbs, and possibly in new growth areas across Australia, to build a “garage” which they could occupy whilst constructing the home. Many of those “garages” never held a car but went on to become a dwelling used for relatives, students or borders. It was just the done thing. Any income went under the radar and was not rigorously chased by the Australian Tax Office.

Impressive were the Italian and Greek families, who would frequently pool their resources – cash and skills – to buy a larger house and live with 3 or more families under the same roof. Slowly a house would be built for the first nuclear family to move away – never very far as they were still committed to building the house of the next recipient. It was amazing to watch their hard work and success as they built homes for themselves, along with increasing the stock of homes for the country. It was not uncommon to see these men wearing handkerchiefs, with knots in the 4 corners on their heads at construction sites. These ‘hats’ were regularly dipped in cold water to keep workers cool as they acclimatised to the harsh Australian heat. And so, the Baby Boomers arrived – born to populate Australia and to make the economy boom. Well educated and comfortably housed –mostly humbly – they went on to shape society and the social context. They critically analysed political decisions, participated in protests, stimulated the feminist movement and valued equality. Many were the social justice warriors of their time. The social enterprise movement was born by the Baby Boomers. They brought about massive cultural, social and economic changes.

However, if you are a ‘Boomer’ your work is not yet done. You are often the ‘the bank of mum and dad’, helping to build the economy and you are still valuable volunteers. Each generation is shaped by the events, experiences, and political climate of their time. The newer generations of X, Y and Z are now facing many of the same challenges as the ‘Builders and Boomers’ did, including affordable housing. There are many lessons in our history.

Janet Millington