Australian Cultural Shifts: Menzies Era to Contemporary Digital Age

when was the menzies era

post WW11 to 1964

menzies era key values

1) emphasis on family and traditional gender roles

2) Economic prosperity and rising consumer spending.

3) Growth of suburban leisure and domestic comfort.

4) Increasing American influence through radio, film, and fashion.

Patriarchy

A system in which men hold primary power in politics, society, and the family.

Consumerism

The belief or practice of continually acquiring goods and services, supported by mass production and advertising.

Conformity

Behaviour in line with prevailing social norms, values, or expectations.

Domesticity

Focus on home life, household roles, and family responsibilities, especially among women.

Prosperity

A period of economic growth and financial wellbeing following World War II.

Nuclear Family

A household made up of two parents and their children, typical of post-war suburban life.

Materialism

A focus on physical possessions and comfort as sources of happiness and success.

when was the first television broadcast in aus

1956

Prime Minister during national prosperity and expansion in domestic technology.

Robert Menzies (1949-1966)

when was Television introduced before the Melbourne Olympics.

1956

1959

Australian Broadcasting Control Board introduced quotas requiring minimum levels of Australian content.

what was Pick a Box (1957-1971)

Quiz show adapted from radio.

What was Homicide (1964-1971)

A First major locally produced television drama.

Christian Dior's "New Look" (1948)

Featured cinched waists and full skirts.

Elizabeth II Royal Tour (1954)

Encouraged formal, conservative fashion.

Bodgies and Widgies (1950s)

Youth subcultures influenced by Elvis Presley and James Dean.

Jedda (1955)

Directed by Charles Chauvel, filmed in the Northern Territory; first Australian feature shot in colour and first to star Aboriginal actors in lead roles (Rosalie Kunoth-Monks and Robert Tudawali).

when was the counter culture era

1964-1970s

key cuktural values of the counter culture era

Rise of youth identity and protest culture.• Women's liberation and challenges to traditional gender norms.• Rejection of materialism and conformity.•

Feminism

The movement advocating for women's political, social, and economic equality with men.

Liberation

The act of achieving freedom from traditional restrictions, often used in reference to women's rights and sexual freedom.

Protest

Public demonstration expressing opposition to government policy or social injustice.

Subculture

A smaller cultural group within a larger society that develops its own values, fashions, and interests.

Counterculture

A movement rejecting dominant social norms and values, often associated with youth rebellion and alternative lifestyles.

Individualism

The belief that people should have freedom to express personal beliefs and choices independently of societal expectations.

Radicalism

The advocacy of major social or political change, often challenging established authority or tradition.

When was the Contraceptive pill introduced, and its effect

Introduced in Australia in 1961, expanding women's reproductive control.

what was Vietnam Moratorium

A movement in 1970 that drew approximately 200,000 protesters nationwide.

Aquarius Festival

Held in 1973 in Nimbin, NSW, attracting around 10,000 attendees promoting alternative living.

What is Number 96

First Australian television series with an LGBTQ+ character, aired from 1972 to 1977.

The Paul Hogan Show

A 12-season prime-time comedy and variety show that aired from 1973 to 1984.

Australian content quotas

Government-mandated quotas established in 1961 to shape programming.

Mary Quant's Mini-Skirt

An emblem of Swinging London youth fashion introduced in 1965.

Jean Shrimpton

Wore a mini-dress without hat or stockings at the 1965 Derby Day in Melbourne, widely reported in media.

Hippie Style

Fashion featured at the 1973 Aquarius Festival, characterized by handmade, natural, and unstructured fabrics.

Punk Fashion

Characterized by ripped clothing, safety pins, leather jackets, and DIY aesthetics, expressing rebellion and anti-establishment attitudes in 1979 Melbourne.

Australian Film Development Corporation (AFDC)

Established in 1970 to fund local film production.

The Adventures of Barry McKenzie

A film directed by Bruce Beresford released in 1972.

Mad Max

A film directed by George Miller in 1979 that achieved international commercial success.

when was the contemporary era

1980s-now

contemporary era key cutural values

1) Globalisation and digital interconnectedness.

2) Diversity and representation across gender and culture.

3) Growth of streaming and global media influence.

4) Continued government regulation and support for creative industries

Globalisation

The increasing interconnectedness of countries through trade, communication, technology, and culture.

Representation

The way people, ideas, and issues are portrayed or depicted in media and the arts.

Identity

A person's or group's sense of who they are, influenced by culture, gender, ethnicity, and experiences.

Diversity

The inclusion and recognition of different cultural, social, and ethnic groups within society.

Multiculturalism

The coexistence of multiple cultural traditions within a society, all valued equally.

Digital Media

Electronic forms of communication such as the Internet, social media, and streaming platforms.

Streaming

The continuous delivery of digital content, such as films and TV shows, over the Internet without downloading.

Neighbours

A television show that aired from 1986 to 2022, with Scott and Charlene's wedding episode drawing 20 million UK viewers.

The Crocodile Hunter

A television show that aired from 1996 to 2007, broadcast in 130 countries, reaching 500 million viewers.

Bluey

A television show that started in 2018 and streamed 20 billion minutes in 2021 in the USA.

Vivienne Westwood's "New Romantic"

A fashion style from the 1980s that influenced youth style in Australia with flamboyant and theatrical clothing.

Calvin Klein campaigns

Featured Australian models Travis Fimmel in 2001 and Margot Robbie in 2016.

Hip Hop Fashion

Popularised by Hilltop Hoods (2014) and The Kid LAROI (2020); oversized clothing, sneakers, and branded streetwear.

Eshay Fashion

Emerged in late 2010s; associated with Australian urban youth culture. Key features include Nike TN sneakers, bum bags, polo shirts, caps, and tracksuits, often paired with slang and street identity.

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Directed by Peter Faiman; Australia's highest-grossing film.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Directed by Stephen Elliott; internationally recognised for LGBTQ+ representation.

The Babadook (2014)

Directed by Jennifer Kent; acclaimed psychological horror film.

Aboriginal Protection Board

Government body (est. 1883 NSW) controlling Indigenous lives, including residence, employment, wages, marriage, and child removal.

Protection Policy

Government policy that aimed to "protect" Aboriginal people by isolating and controlling them, removing autonomy.

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality before the law.

Constitution

The legal document outlining the powers of government.

Referendum

A national vote to amend the Australian Constitution.

1883 NSW Aborigines Protection Board

Established to manage reserves and Indigenous welfare; by the early 1900s it exercised extensive control over all aspects of Aboriginal life including movement, labour, and marriage.

1909 Aborigines Protection Act (NSW)

Granted the Board legal power to remove Aboriginal children "for their protection," creating the framework for what became the Stolen Generations.

1949 Commonwealth Electoral Act Amendment

Allowed most Aboriginal Australians to vote in federal elections, though Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory still excluded them.

1967 Referendum

90.7% of Australians voted "Yes" to amend Sections 51 and 127 of the Constitution, allowing the Commonwealth to legislate for Aboriginal people and include them in the census.

Freedom

The ability to act, speak, and live without unnecessary restriction.

Assimilation

Policy expecting Indigenous people to adopt European culture and abandon their own.

Dispossession

Removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from their land.

Segregation

Separation of groups based on race, often through social or legal restrictions.

Self-Determination

The right of Indigenous peoples to make decisions about their own lives and communities.

Aboriginal Protection Acts (1909 NSW, 1897 QLD, 1905 WA)

Legalised strict government control over where Indigenous people lived and worked, often confining them to missions or reserves.

Stolen Generations (1910-1970s)

Children of mixed descent were forcibly removed from their families under the powers of state Protection Boards; placed in missions, foster homes, or institutions to 'assimilate' them into white society.

1962 Commonwealth Electoral Act

Extended the right to vote in federal elections to all Aboriginal people. Queensland was the last state to extend voting rights in 1965.

1965 Freedom Rides

University students, led by Charles Perkins, protested racial segregation and denial of equal freedoms in rural NSW towns.

Activism

Organised action to bring about political or social change.

Direct Action

Public protest or demonstration designed to force attention to an issue.

Land Rights

Recognition of Indigenous ownership of ancestral lands.

Embassy

Symbolic protest site representing Indigenous sovereignty.

Solidarity

Cooperation and mutual support among protest movements.

1966 Wave Hill Walk-Off

Vincent Lingiari led 200 Gurindji workers off the Vestey-owned Wave Hill Station; strike lasted nine years and inspired the national land rights movement.

1972 Aboriginal Tent Embassy

Set up outside Parliament House, Canberra, demanding land rights and recognition of Indigenous sovereignty; remains a lasting symbol of protest.

Reconciliation

Efforts to rebuild respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Symbolism

Acts or gestures representing acknowledgment or respect.

Native Title

Legal recognition of Indigenous ownership of traditional lands.

Legislation

Laws made by parliament to create or change rights.

Apology

A formal expression of regret for past injustices.

1975 Northern Territory Land Rights Act

Returned portions of Wave Hill Station to the Gurindji people; Gough Whitlam poured soil into Vincent Lingiari's hand to mark the moment.

1992 Mabo Decision

High Court rejected terra nullius, establishing native title rights for Indigenous Australians.

2008 National Apology

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a formal apology to the Stolen Generations for forced removals and loss of culture.

2016 Uluru Statement from the Heart

Called for a First Nations Voice to Parliament and constitutional recognition.

Inequality

Unequal access to rights and opportunities.

Socioeconomic Status

Level of income, education, and employment.

Closing the Gap

2008 national policy framework aimed at reducing Indigenous disadvantage.

Life Expectancy

Average lifespan; a key indicator of health equality.

1971 Neville Bonner

Became the first Aboriginal person in the Federal Parliament.

2008 Closing the Gap Framework

Introduced targets to improve health, education, and employment outcomes.