Living History
Born in the 1940s
The 1940s were a turbulent time in Australia. The first half of the decade was filled with the ravages of war, the loss of Australian lives, and the changing role of women to keep local industry afloat. Following 1945, the celebrations of the end of the war and the influx of refugee migrants and the difficult return to normal life were key features of the rest of the decade.
Those who were born in the 1940s may remember an early childhood surrounded by the drama of World War II, or perhaps being a teenager in the fifties or sixties, and being a young adult in the seventies. These were times of sweeping changes and exciting developments in Australian life. Did you contribute to these developments? Do you remember where you were when the British began military tests at Maralinga in 1956 ? Or when Vladimir Petrov defected in 1954? What about the first time you tasted real Italian coffee?
What did it mean to you to be born in the 1940s? We want to hear about any aspect of your life: your childhood, your schooling, family and parents, your work, clothing, entertainment, anything!
More Information
Want more information on this topic? Check out the following links!
| ABC Timeline – A Selected History of Australia |
| Webster’s Australian History Online |
| Picture Australia |
Contributions
| Contribution Title | Date Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Life in Adelaide | 14/03/2007 | |
| My place: 1943-1954 |  | 22/02/2007 |
| My Place: cars and travel | 22/02/2007 | |
| Just ready for the sixties | 13/02/2007 | |
| Ten pound poms | 13/02/2007 | |
| Walking the Pier | 13/02/2007 | |
| A photo history | | 30/01/2007 |
| Frank's story - 1940s events for kids | 30/01/2007 | |
| Frank's story - Early years | 30/01/2007 | |
| Frank's story - Events for young adults | 30/01/2007 | |
| Frank's story - Married life and today | 30/01/2007 | |
| Frank's story - School years | 30/01/2007 | |
| Frank's story - The 60s | 30/01/2007 | |
| Frank's story - Working in Canberra | 30/01/2007 | |
| Frank's story - Young professional | 30/01/2007 | |
| The Gift | 30/01/2007 | |
| The best times | 29/01/2007 | |
| Triking in Sydney | 29/01/2007 | |
| When the war ended | 29/01/2007 | |
