2088.04 Heritage surve#8CF8.qxd 6/1/05 10:42 AM Page 1 Department for Environment and Heritage Twentieth Century Heritage Survey Stage 1: Post Second World War (1946 -1959) Overview History Susan Marsden (Marsden Russell Historians) [assisted by Carol Cosgrove and Robyn Taylor] Adelaide 2003-4 www.environment.sa.gov.au 2088.04 Heritage surve#8CF8.qxd 6/1/05 10:42 AM Page 2 Front Cover: South Australians in the 1950s. The children are (left to right): Anthonius (Tony), Maria, Anthonia (Toosjie) and Johanna (Joh) in the summer of 1954/55. The family migrated from Holland in 1953 and have moved from migrant camps at Bonegilla and Finsbury to an asbestos house rented from the South Australian Housing Trust. Their father Anthonius Dam has photographed the four children in their front yard at 23 East Avenue, Northfield, enjoying a cold Coca- Cola, still a rare American treat for any South Australian child. Published by the Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, South Australia For futher information contact: Heritage Branch Ground Floor 1 Richmond Road Keswick SA 5035 Ph: (61 8) 8124 4960 © Department for Environment, and Heritage, 2004 Revised January 2005, FIS 2088.04 Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................5 Aims ...........................................................................................................................................5 Methodology...........................................................................................................................5 Themes......................................................................................................................................5 Recommendations.....................................................................................................................6 Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................6 Abbreviations ..............................................................................................................................7 Context .........................................................................................................................................8 The South Australian environment .....................................................................................10 Peopling South Australia......................................................................................................12 Migration ............................................................................................................................12 Aborigines: tradition and displacement.......................................................................14 Economic production and working life ................................................................................17 Reconstructing a capital city economy...........................................................................17 Mining .....................................................................................................................................19 Agriculture..............................................................................................................................21 Developing South Australia’s manufacturing..................................................................26 Working...................................................................................................................................29 Developing South Australia’s service industries...................................................................31 Water supply..........................................................................................................................32 Electricity ................................................................................................................................32 Transport .................................................................................................................................33 Architecture, engineering and construction ...................................................................37 Housing ...................................................................................................................................44 Building settlements, towns and cities...................................................................................46 Special-purpose towns ........................................................................................................47 Industrial towns ......................................................................................................................48 Soldier settlements................................................................................................................49 Adelaide and Elizabeth .......................................................................................................50 Politics and government .........................................................................................................52 Expanding the Commonwealth ........................................................................................52 Governing Playford’s South Australia................................................................................54 Administering South Australians .........................................................................................56 Managing migrants..........................................................................................................56 Providing services .............................................................................................................57 Marsden Russell Historians 1 Developing democracy......................................................................................................59 Reforming local government .........................................................................................59 Struggling for the Aboriginal cause ...............................................................................59 Working for women’s rights .............................................................................................60 Defence in a Cold War........................................................................................................61 The social and cultural life of South Australians...................................................................63 Having fun..............................................................................................................................63 Worshipping ...........................................................................................................................64 Forming associations ............................................................................................................65 Remembering the fallen .....................................................................................................67 Enjoying public spectacles .................................................................................................68 Creating .................................................................................................................................68 Making homes.......................................................................................................................69 Homelessness.........................................................................................................................71 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................72 Chronology 1946–1959.............................................................................................................74 Bibliography ...............................................................................................................................79 Primary Sources .....................................................................................................................79 Secondary Sources...............................................................................................................79 Heritage Surveys ...................................................................................................................83 Articles in journals, newspapers and newsletters ............................................................84 Theses......................................................................................................................................86 Papers .....................................................................................................................................86 Interviews and recollections ...............................................................................................86 Websites (general) ...............................................................................................................86 Other .......................................................................................................................................87 Index ...........................................................................................................................................88 Marsden Russell Historians 2 South Australia showing the locations of places referred to, as well as Goyder’s Line and the dog fence. Marsden Russell Historians 3 Adelaide Metropolitan area showing the