Victoria through the decades

An illustration of a dirt road town centre — Main Street, Daylesford, J Tensfeld, 1862, H93.165

Travel through time with State Library Victoria!

Join us each week as we journey through Victoria's history, highlighting some of the milestone moments of each decade.

Explore these moments below and take a closer look at each image by clicking the catalogue link.

Discover more through the Library's research resources.

State Library Victoria acknowledges that Victoria has many histories and has been known by many names. Aboriginal people have lived here for at least 40,000 years, and Victoria's European history covers little more than 200 years.

1850s

Welcome to the 1850s, the era of the Library's establishment! Dominated by the discovery of gold, the 1850s was a decade of incredible change in Victoria's social, political and economic fabric. Migrants from Asia, Europe and the USA flocked to Victoria, seeking their fortune and new beginnings. While populations surged, so too did prejudice (anti-Chinese legislation passed) and resentment towards licensing systems (1854's Eureka Rebellion).

Small towns such as Bendigo and Ballarat became large goldrush centres and ornate buildings, museums and libraries were erected.

This period also saw:

Trams introduced
Telephones invented
Devastating Black Thursday bushfires
Discovery of the Welcome Nugget
First recorded game of Australian rules football

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Swanston Street. Melbourne, 1858, H84.167/13
Canvas Town, between Prince's Bridge and South Melbourne in 1850s, 1850-1860, H25127
Oriental Bank. Melbourne, 1858, H84.167/14
Victoria. Gold License,John Ferres, 1853, H4089
View of opening of the Princes Bridge, Melbourne, on Friday 15th November 1850, 1900, H92.334/4
Prospector's Hut, Ballarat, Henry Hainsselin, 1853-1854, H83.106
Black Thursday, February, 1851, F. A Sleap, 1888. IAN01/08/88/supp/13
Collins Street, Melbourne, 1858, H84.167/9
Black Thursday, Harold Godfrey Myers, 1900-1914, H91.93/55
Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1858, H84.167/3

1860s

Welcome to the 1860s.

The 1860s were a time of great industrial change in Victoria. While the prosperity of the goldrush continued, tension over remaining fertile land built between landholders, goldminers, squatters and the colonial governments.

This demand for farmland ignited interest in exploring the regional and remote parts of Victoria, and the wider continent.

One such expedition was that of Burke and Wills, who set off (with a crew of nineteen) from Melbourne's Royal Park in August, 1860. Their purpose was to cross the vast Australian continent.

With increased wealth and greater means of transport, the arts and sporting industries also flourished in the 1860s.

In 1868, an all-Indigenous cricket team was the very first Australian sporting team to journey overseas. Touring England, the cricket team was made up of thirteen Jardwadjali, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk men, coached and captained by an ex all-England cricketer, Charles Lawrence.

This period also saw:

Melbourne Zoo opened
Poet Henry Lawson born
Skiing introduced by Norwegian gold miners
Eugène von Guérard painted local landscapes
Bushrangers made their mark
Melbourne Cup established

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Mitchell Street, Bendigo, Richard Daintree, 1861, H36598
Main Street, Daylesford, J Tensfeld, 1862, H93.165
The departure of the Burke and Wills expedition, A. H. Massina & Co, 1881, IAN04/05/81/supp
Gold mining, Navarre/Barkly area, Richard Daintree, 1861, H36592
At the zoo. Melb, John Henry Harvey 1855-1938, photographer, H2009.100/508
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Charles Troedel & Co, 1864, H15455
The Aboriginal Australian cricket match on the M.C.C. ground, Samuel Calvert, 1867, IMP24/01/67/8
Castlemaine Hotel, Hargraves Street, Castlemaine, Richard Daintree, 1861, H36585
Toryboy, Winner of the Melbourne Cup 1865, Samuel Salkeld Knights,1865, H6705
Ballarat - view of buildings and yards, Richard Daintree, 1861, H36587

1870s

Welcome to the 1870s.

The 1870s saw further changes to Victoria’s transport systems, with railway expansions overtaking the dominance of paddle-steamers.

Victoria’s population was still on the rise and many began to recognise the importance of formalised education. Schools were built, teaching colleges were established and the new department of education began to pay teachers’ wages.

Victoria’s sporting palate continued to diversify with the introduction of tennis in Australia. In 1877, the first test cricket match was played between a combined New South Wales and Victorian team, ending in defeat for England at the MCG.

The National Gallery Art School was growing, and local artists were developing a unique Australian style. Emerging Indigenous artists like Tommy McRae were documenting life in a time where Aboriginal people were dispossessed of land and forced from urban areas.

Many influential Victorian women were born in this era (Madge Connor, Vida Goldstein, Lady Millie Peacock, Tilly Aston) but progress for rights was slow. In 1875, the Victorian Legislative Assembly rejected a bill that proposed to allow women to own personal property.

This decade also saw:

The Swanston Street portico added to the Library building
The Kelly Gang wanted dead or alive
Colonial governments adopt their state flags
The telephone used for the first time in Melbourne
'Advance Australia Fair' first presented

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Collins Street East, Melbourne and Aboriginal Australians, 1872, H141624
Paddle steamers on the Murray, Charles Nettleton, 1880, H4443
Elevated views of Melbourne buildings, Charles Nettleton, 1870, H141629/1
Group portrait of seven young women, seated, two holding tennis rackets, George & George's Federal Studio, 1870-1910, H85.55/163/24
Book of sketches of Aboriginal life, Tommy McCrae, 18--, H89.185/6
MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND - PLAY!, Ebenezer and David Syme, 1876, IAN27/12/76/SUPP
The Kellys' Visit To the Police Station, Jerilderie, N.S.W, David Syme & Co.1879, IAN21/02/79/17
Women on road near Jamieson, John Henry Harvey,1875-ca. 1938, H92.150/613
Melbourne Bowling Club, Charles Nettleton, 1870, H2011.9/1
The Parade St. Kilda, The Esplanade, shows Railway Baths, women & children walking & sitting on Esplanade, 1875, H85.72/31
Bourke Street from Parliament House, Charles Nettleton, 1870, H866

1880s

Welcome to the 1880s.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Victoria's prosperity peaked in the 1880s. The afterglow of the goldrush remained, construction rates were up and the population was booming.

The children of goldrush migrants were grown and began to seek land of their own. Many were able to realise this dream, placing their money in new banking institutions, building societies and investment companies.

Grand buildings and skyscrapers were erected. The Victorian government authorised the Railway Construction Act 1884, this project was dubbed the 'Octopus Act' and became notorious for the large number of railway lines it authorised (59!).

Technological advancement was also evident in Victoria's streets and buildings. Melbourne twinkled with electric lights, electric bells, telephones and electric elevator systems.

In 1886, the Board for the Protection of Aborigines was given powers to make decisions governing Indigenous children's lives, including removing them from their families. Displacement, land dispossession and widespread mistreatment of Indigenous people continued.

This decade also saw:⁠⁠

The Centennial International Exhibition open in newly built Royal Exhibition Building.
The backyard 'dunny' become an established feature.
Ned Kelly tried and executed.
The dawn: a journal for Australian women first published
Henry Lawson's first story published
A financial crisis on the horizon

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Swanston Street, Melbourne, Ludovico W Hart, 1880, H8901
Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, 1885-1890, H84.202/20
Collins Street, looking towards Swanston Street, Melbourne, John Henry Harvey, 1880-1938, H91.300/950
GREAT LAND SALE AT MELBOURNE, Morison, engraver, 1889, H98.143
Children wading in river, Walter Hodgkinson, 1880-ca. 1900, H42506/401
Examination and remand of Kelly in Melbourne Gaol, Alfred May and Alfred Martin Ebsworth,1880, A/S14/08/80/193
Collins Street East, 1880-1900, H24748
Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, John William Lindt, 1880- 1894, H82.166/103
Electric light in Swanston Street, 1881, Alfred May and Alfred Martin Ebsworth, A/S07/05/81/153
Melbourne Town Hall and Swanston Street, Jacques Carabain, 1889, H15967

1890s

Welcome to the 1890s.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

In the 1890s, Victoria suffered a depression. The overextension of the 1880s property boom led to a collapse in private investment, urban development and a pullback on public infrastructure investment.

Banks failed, property prices fell and farmers struggled through severe drought.

The 1890s were also dominated by class conflict. Great workers' strikes across trade industries transformed Australia's perception as a 'working man's paradise'.

The artists of the Heidelberg School art movement were painting Australian landscapes. The work of this group of artists (Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Jane Sutherland, May Vale, Charles Conder and more) pointed to a strong national identity, as the colonies began to campaign towards Federation.

The Australian suffragette movement was also underway. In 1891, Victorian women took to the streets, gathering signatures on the 'Monster Petition' for their right to vote. Victoria's Vida Goldstein was among the most of vocal spokespersons.

This decade also saw: ⁠⁠

The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works form
Dr Emma Constance Stone become the first female medical practitioner in Australia
Henry Sutton develop a prototype television
Red Tuesday bushfires blaze through Gippsland
First season of the Victorian Football League

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Collins Street, Melbourne, Cyril Stainer, 1890-1930, H2013.223/45
Horse-drawn transporatation, Michael J Drew, 1890-1900, H2012.171/516
The homestead saved - An incident of the Great Gippsland Fire of 1898, Globe Engraving Co, 1908, H33849
Bacchus Marsh, irrigation channel, Cyril Stainer, 1890-1930, H2013.223/63
Sturt Street, Ballarat Vic, George Henry Hutson, 1890-1920, H94.64/2
Scenes in Collins Street on Bank Monday, Melbourne, David Syme and Co, 1893, IAN01/06/93/16a
Women washing up outside a building, Sorrento, Victoria, 1890-1910, H2009.44/1
Group of cricket players sitting and standing in three rows, 1890-1910, H83.94/143
Geelong Football Team, 1860-1900, H96.17/20
Line of cars on road in front of building, a gateway with a warning sign in front of them, Mt. Buffalo, Vic, Alice Manfield,1890-1930, H2003.97/106

1900s

We’ve entered the 20th century, welcome to the 1900s.

Following Federation in 1901, new laws and structures were put in place to avoid the civil disputes and strikes that lead to the depression and downturn of the 1890s.

Victoria became the temporary capital of the newly federated nation, with Melbourne home to many parliamentary establishments. The first Federal Parliament was opened in Melbourne’s (Royal) Exhibition Building in 1901 by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, and the first sitting of the High Court of Australia took place in the Banco Court of Melbourne’s Supreme Court building in 1903.

Victoria’s sporting prowess continued with the 1905 Australasian (tennis) Championships debuting on a grass court at the Warehousemen’s Cricket Ground in St Kilda. Ice hockey also arrived at the Melbourne Glaciarium.

Victorian (non-indigenous) women were finally granted the right to vote in November 1908, making Victoria the very last state in Australia to grant women this right.

Indigenous people were excluded from all Commonwealth Government legislation, not counted in the Commonwealth census, and denied the right to vote.

This decade also saw:

Dame Nellie Melba make her triumphant return to Melbourne
Tarrant Motor and Engineering Company manufacture the first petrol-driven car in Australia
White Australia policy passed
Brighton to St Kilda electric tram line opens
Premiere of the Tait Brothers film, The story of the Kelly Gang
Bureau of Meteorology established in Melbourne

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Flinders Street Station, 1908-1914, H2008.105/24
Opening of first parliament May 9th 1901 Melbourne Vic, 1901, H2006.188/68
Landing of the Royal Party at St. Kilda Pier, Harvie & Sutcliffe, 1901, H96.160/608
Men, women and children in leisure time and at work, Victoria. State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, 1900-1920, rwg/u309
Car parked outside the Tarrant Motor Company, Melbourne, Algernon Darge, 1904, H99.100/84A
Teacher and children in a classroom, Michael J Drew, 1890-1900, H2012.171/456
Two women playing tennis, 1880-1900, H92.245/160
Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, 9th May, 1901, H30194
V. R. Brighton, electric tram shed, interior, Victorian Railways, 1905-1928, H1077/392
Collins Street, Melbourne, Cyril Stainer, 1890-1930, H2013.223/46

1910s

Welcome to the 1910s.⁠⁠

The beginning of the decade saw a period of peace for Victoria. Melbourne was a wired city, construction works on Flinders Street Station were complete, cinemas were cropping up on Bourke Street, the first Australian currency was on its way and Victorian-built aircrafts were taking to the skies.

While rapid population growth had slowed in regional centres such as Bendigo and Ballarat, the cities were powered, tram systems in place and ordinary life was somewhat stable.

However, hard times were on the horizon. So arrived World War I.

Melbourne had stood as Australia’s capital since federation and was therefore home to Australia’s major government departments. This included the Department of Defence, headquartered at Victoria Barracks on St Kilda Road.

Victorians rushed to enlist, with Melbourne Town Hall a major recruitment centre. Over 110,000 Victorians served from 1914-1918, across all military units. The Defence Act prohibited Aboriginal people from serving in the military. Despite that, hundreds of Indigenous men went to war. Australian women were called on to form branches of the British Red Cross, they responded with eagerness and soon Victoria had the greatest number of Red Cross branches.

While distant from the battlefront, daily life in Victoria shifted. Public spaces were repurposed, entertainment halted, curfews enforced, international trade floundered, housing and health was impacted.

The lives of ordinary Victorians were shaped by the conflict and international unrest in this decade.

The 1910s also saw:

Houdini fly the first plane at Diggers Rest
Compulsory voting introduced
Domed Reading Room opens, State Library Victoria
GJ Coles opens a new variety store in Collingwood
First airmail delivery from Melbourne to Sydney

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Elevated view of the State Library of Victoria, including the domed Reading Room, from across Swanston Street, 1915, H3956
Harry Houdini in Australia, W. G. Alma conjuring collection, 1910-1993, P.8/NO.28
Shearing - on the board, Hugh Michael O'Rorke, 1910/1920, H99.224/32
Children playing at the beach and on the pier, 1900-1910, H507
First Coles Variety store, 'It all began in Smith Street, Collingwood, on the Thursday before Easter 1914' Collingwood Store No. 1, Coles Myer Ltd, 1840-1990, MS 13468
Sandringham Victoria, 1910-1940, H2007.64/4
Hororata - Departure from Port Melbourne 1916, J.E Barnes,1916, H40762
Plaid Packetting Machines picture, Algernon Darge,1919, H92.401/204
Looking down Collins Street, Melbourne, from intersection at Elizabeth Street, showing World War 1 soldiers marching from Spencer Street. Crowds lining street, Lyle Fowler, 1910-1920, H91.40/388
Soldiers marching down Collins Street during World War I, Kerr Brothers, 1919, H99.100/66.

1920s

Welcome to the 1920s.⁠⁠

The aftereffects of WWI and the world influenza pandemic of 1918–1920 continued to ripple through this decade.

Victoria experienced great flooding in the 1920s and met another tragic bushfire season in 1925-1926. Black Sunday bushfires swept across Gippsland, the Yarra Valley, the Dandenong Ranges and the Kinglake area.

Until its shift to Canberra in 1927, Melbourne remained the seat of government for the Commonwealth of Australia. Minority governments were the norm in Victoria and parties formed, splintered and dissolved regularly. In 1924, women were able to stand as parliamentary candidates for the first time and compulsory voting was introduced in 1926.

Regardless of war efforts, Aboriginal people were still denied the right to vote and First Nations children were forcibly removed from their families as part of the assimilation policy.

A sense of optimism returned to Victorian society in the mid-1920s. Cars and radios became common acquisitions for the ordinary family. Cinemas and theatres were no longer just for city folk – they were popping up in Horsham, Warrnambool, Kyabram and more. Jazz music made its way down under and Victorians enjoyed a taste of the roaring twenties. Department stores in the 1920s turned shopping into a popular leisure activity. In Melbourne, Manton’s and Myer were in competition and a day out was not complete without a cafeteria meal.

Once again, trouble was afoot. Wall Street crashed in 1929 and the world plunged into the Great Depression.

This decade also saw:

Vegemite invented in Melbourne
Princes Highway opens
Shrine of Remembrance gets foundation stone
William (Bill) Ponsford achieves world's highest score in first-class cricket match
Essendon Airport opens

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Gippsland Lakes from Eagle Point Bairnsdale, Victorian Railways, 1929, H2006.196/20
Women working at conveyor belts and trays at Bryant & May, Edwin G. Adamson, 1923-1936, H91.20/142
Shrine of Remembrance showing landscaping of surrounds, Charles Daniel Pratt,1924-1935, H91.160/403
Men and trucks, country Victoria, 1920-1930, H97.50/20
Students painting from a model, Working Men's College, 1920-1930, H82.288/79
Views taken during the heavy flood of October 1928, Victoria State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, 1928, RWP/A6.155
Two young girls standing in front of a truck, 1920-1930, H97.50/18
Corner of Collins and Russell streets, Melbourne, Lyle Fowler, 1926, H92.20/4293
Students working in the carpentry workshop, Working Men's College, Sears' Studios, 1920-1925, H82.288/40
Collins Street, Melbourne, looking easterly towards Elizabeth Street, Ruth Hollick, 1910-1930, H2004.61/395

1930s

Welcome to the 1930s.

In the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the world spiraled into the Great Depression and its impact over the following years was significant.

Income from Australian exports fell, local industries came to a standstill and unemployment rapidly increased. Especially so in the cities, with Melbourne's unemployment rate hitting 30% and thousands of families struggling for survival.

Primary exports such as wool and wheat halted, Victorian farmers were out of work. The standard of living dropped, and slum communities emerged across the suburbs.

Aboriginal people suffered greatly. Not counted as part of the Australian population, Aboriginal people were unable to access the government pension ‘the susso’ or the food rations that would later become available to (non-Indigenous) citizens.

1933 saw the beginning of a slow recovery. Victorians were resilient. Those without work were creative. They made their own products to sell, grew produce and tramped city and country streets selling their wares.

The reestablishment of international trade, manufacturing and large-scale public works and projects would spur Victoria’s rebuild.

As the country emerged from almost a decade of suffering, another challenge arrived. World War II would carry us into the 1940s.

This decade also saw:

Phar Lap make his mark
First Australian women’s cricket match against England
‘Talkies’ arrive in Melbourne
Wonthaggi mining disaster
Burwood’s Clare Dennis win Olympic gold, aged 16
Shrine of Remembrance dedicated
Hume Dam completed
Black Friday bushfires

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Shrine of Remembrance, Victorian Railways, photographer, 1945-1954, H91.50/2439
Carlton. Entrance to a slum pocket, Frederick Oswald Barnett, 1930, H2001.291/12
Man and woman in fruit and vegetable shop, Victoria, 1930, H2003.41/17
West Melbourne. The front view of a Dudley Mansion, 1935, H2001.291/68
Horse teams used in construction at Hume Dam, Victoria. State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, 1900-1953, rwg/3839
State coal mine Wonthaggi, Victorian Railways, 1920-1930, H2019.281/16
Elevated views of Bourke Street, Melbourne, Wolfgang Sievers, 1939, H2000.195/20
'How Phar Lap finished in the Melbourne Cup Race from Second Wind and Shadow King on 5th November, 1930.' Argus Melbourne, 1931, H19100
Paramount's Capitol Theatre, Swanston Street, Melbourne, 1937-1939, H2009.21/64
Elevated views of Bourke Street, Melbourne, Wolfgang Sievers, 1939, H2000.195/21

1940s

Welcome to the 1940s

World War II brought significant change to the daily life of Victorians. From Prime Minister Robert Menzies’s declaration of war in 1939, to Prime Minister John Curtin’s declaration on Japan in 1941, Victorians prepared for invasion and faced years of hardship.

Victoria was at the helm of defence decision-making. Australia’s war was managed from the War Cabinet Room at Victoria Barracks, St Kilda Road from 1939 to 1945.

The Australian mainland came under direct enemy attack for the first time in history and compulsory military service was revived.

Melbourne transformed. Manufacturing factories became munition factories, prominent buildings were sandbagged, the Royal Exhibition Building was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Air Force, slit trenches were dug and Victoria’s treasures were removed from museums for safe keeping.

With men serving, women stepped up. They were recruited to jobs that hadn’t been considered for them previously: welding, machine repair, operating tractors. In Melbourne and regional centres, women became tram conductors and taxi drivers for the first time ever. Women made uniforms, weapons, ammunition and served in auxiliary services.

Indigenous Australians were encouraged to enlist after Japan entered the war. Many served in land, sea and air forces for specialist units, or assisted with labour tasks. Gunditjmara man Reg Saunders enlisted in 1940. He would become the first Aboriginal soldier to receive a commission in the Army. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people served without recognition or pay.

The war waged on until the 15th August 1945, when Japan accepted the Allied demand for unconditional surrender. For Australians, this meant that the Second World War was over. Victorians rejoiced.

By 1948, recovery was underway. Rationing ended, post-war immigration agreements had been established and the 40-hour working week was introduced.

Some 30,000 Australians lost their lives in World War II.

Lest we forget.

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Women of the Red Cross emergency services, 1941, H98.105/345
A.I.F. men at Spencer Street Railway Station, Melbourne, Leader (Melbourne, Vic.), 1942, H28844
Checking the cleanliness of the barrel of a First Class Private's gun, 1942, H2000.200/1395
Civilian staff working in control rooms of possibly, N.E.S, 1942, H99.201/5057
Manufacture of gas masks, 1941, H99.201/3898
Men testing gas masks, 1940, H99.201/3852
A.I.F. sick and wounded returned to Melbourne, 1941, H99.201/5374
Australians here for Victory Day. May 30th, 1946, H99.201/118
Victory Day celebrations in Australia, 1946, H99.206/3240
Crowds at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, H83.307/214

1950s

Welcome to the 1950s.

After the hardship and turmoil of the previous decade, the 1950s offered Victoria an improved standard of living and a shot towards ‘the suburban dream’.

Employment opportunities ramped up, a home of one’s own became an achievable feat and post-war migration programs meant Australia’s population was enriched with new arrivals from Greece, Italy, Poland, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and more.

Peace wasn’t taken for granted, however. As well as involvement in the Korean civil war in the early 1950s, the Cold War had commenced and Victorians were fearful. Tensions rose due to ideological differences and anti-communist fears impacted Australian working-class politics. Compulsory military service for 18-year-old males was introduced as a security measure, in readiness for another war.

In 1956, the Summer Olympics were held in Melbourne as Australia hosted for the very first time. The Olympics were opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on November 22nd and closed on the 8th December. Australia’s medal tally was 35, placing Australia third behind USA and the Soviet Union. Traditions shifted when, for the first time in Melbourne, the athletes entered the stadium together during the Closing Ceremony as a symbol of global unity.

In 1958, the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders was established. This group played a large part in bringing about the 1967 referendum.

This decade also saw:

Melbourne’s first Moomba parade
Television arrive in time for the 1956 Olympics
Polio vaccine produced and rolled out
Queen Elizabeth II arrive for the Royal Tour
ICI building open as the tallest building in Australia
Sidney Myer Music Bowl open

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Opening night, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Wolfgang Sievers, Wolfgang, 1959, H2000.195/173
Photographs of street parade including Moomba, Arthur Gordon Fraser,1950-1959, H2014.11/97
Olympic Village. Heidelberg. Melbourne. Leith & Bartlett, 1956, Peter Wille, H91.244/3389
50 Km. walk, start, Olympic Games, Melbourne, Anthony J. Radford 1956, H2017.311/123
Elevated view of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, during Olympic Games Melbourne, Radford, Anthony J. Radford, 1956, H2017.311/115
People looking at the view from the side of a country road, Mark Strizic,1955 Harvesting, Victoria, 1950, H2012.270/8
Shepparton street and farming scenes, Victoria. State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, 1951, RWP/10005
Two women behind counter in Coles cafeteria Coburg Store No. 21, Coles Myer Ltd, 1840-1990, MS 13468
Tram passing row of shops, Swanston Street, Melbourne, west side, just south of Little Bourke Street, Mark Strizic, 1955-1965, H2008.11/1813

1960s

Welcome to the 1960s.

For Victorians, the 1960s were bookended by heatwaves and bushfires.

An estimated 98 people died as a result of the national heatwave in the summer of 1968-69, and the 1969 Victorian bushfire season saw the loss of another 23 lives.

The 1960s also saw a shift in the Australian cultural landscape. While the Vietnam War waged and Australian troops continued to be conscripted, ideologies shifted.

Children of the post-war era began to exert their influences. On the streets of Melbourne, they campaigned for many things: fair wages, equal rights in the workplace, Australia’s war involvement, free education and the recognition and rights of Indigenous Australians.

By 1965, both major political parties had removed 'White Australia' from their political platforms. In 1967, 90.8% of Australian voters voted 'YES' in a national referendum that proposed to make laws apply to all Australians and not exclude Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to include Indigenous Australians in census counts.

Entertainment wise, Victorians were suffering from a bad case of Beatlemania. The Beatles toured Australia in 1964 and for three nights in June, they played two shows at Festival Hall. The six concerts were watched by a total of 45,000 people.

In the late-60s, Australia was connected to the international satellite system. This meant Victorians could watch the televised moon-landing alongside the rest of the world in 1969. This decade also saw:

Chadstone Shopping Centre open as the largest in Australia
Decimal currency and the Australian dollar first introduced
Prime Minister Harold Holt disappear
The opening of the National Gallery of Victoria
Arbitration Commission adopt equal pay for women

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Alan and Connie Jordan hiking and camping with friends, Alan Jordan, 1969, H2010.105/175a
Entrance and front facade, National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St. Kilda Road, Wolfgang Sievers, 1968, H2000.195/86
Anti conscription demonstrations through Melbourne streets, David Glenn, 1966, H2015.128/77
Chadstone Shopping Centre from the car park, Wolfgang Sievers, 1962, H98.30/284
People shopping in Centre Road, Bentleigh, Wolfgang Sievers, 1967, H2000.195/294
Standing with bull, J. Allen, 1960, H38849/57
Dr Hiram Baddeley accompanied by his wife, Renee, 51, for the last 10 miles of the swim. She did not train for the effort, 1968, H38849/5185
Paper seller on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Maggie Diaz, 1960-1969, H2012.206/15a
St Kilda beach Alfreda Banda at right with Madalena centre and Rai at left, Tony Banda (Tonin Lush),1958-1968, H2000.181/16
Trams travelling along Victoria Parade Melbourne, A. E. Smith, 1967, H83.156/24

1970s

Welcome to the 1970s.

The 1970s was a decade of great economic, social and technological change in Victoria. For the first time in 23 years, the Australian Labor Party took to power. Whitlam’s political slogan ‘It’s Time’ summarised a decade driven by increasing social awareness and cultural diversity.

While social progression was enacted politically, it also took place on Victorian streets. Whether it be for (or against) freeways, the Vietnam War, the demolition of historic Melbourne buildings, women’s liberation, Indigenous land rights, sexuality or identity, Victorians actively protested, rallied and demonstrated.

The music and entertainment scene reflected this turbulent period for Victorian youth and urban subcultures developed. ‘Sharpie’ and ‘surfie’ culture emerged, as well as a vibrant punk and alternative music scene in the late 70s. Venues across Melbourne, including the Exford Hotel and Inflation Nightclub, hosted local and international acts.

In 1970, Victoria introduced the Aboriginal Lands Act, the first Act to recognise Aboriginal people’s entitlement to land in Victoria, and Australia. The deeds for the reserve land at Lake Tyers and Framlingham were transferred to Aboriginal communities under Trusts. In 1973, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) was also established to address the specific medical needs of Victorian Indigenous communities.

This decade also saw:

Tullamarine Airport open
The West Gate Bridge collapse
Seatbelts become compulsory
First colour broadcast on ABC TV
Family Law Court open

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Approaching the West gate Toll Bridge from Geelong direction, Rennie Ellis, Rennie, 1978-1985, H2011.150/2804
Shopping area, with brass band musicians playing, Maggie Diaz, 1950-1970, H2012.240/89b
Shows protesters in Victoria Parade outside Building C of St. Vincent's Hospital, Maggie Diaz, 1970-1980, H2014.1139/52
Two Women At Checkout In Supermarket, Possibly Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Rogers Phillip photographer, 1970-1990, H2009.52/231
Pony club Wangaratta, Vic, Le Dawn Studios, 1970, H2005.100/3173
Roger, Secret Police debut, St. Kilda, Rennie Ellis, 1978, H2012.140/2476
Swimming pool Wangaratta, Vic, Le Dawn Studios, photographer, 1970, H2006.100/1518
Olderfleet Building and South Australian Insurance Building, Melbourne, Mark Strizic, 1974, H2011.55/1419
Moomba procession and crowd in Swanston Street near the corner of Latrobe Street, Melbourne, Vic, Laurie Nicol, 1976, H2008.89/9
Smith Street Fitzroy between Webb and Gertrude Streets - west side. Committee for Urban Action, 1970-1974, CUAFY48/1-3

1980s

Welcome to the 1980s.

After the social revolution of the previous decade, the 1980s followed with equally significant economic change.

While fiscal changes were happening Australia-wide – the dollar was ‘floated’ and the economy deregulated – Victorians were making moves of their own.

The early 1980s brought population growth and diversity to Melbourne’s suburbs and Victoria’s regional hubs.

Cars, quality roads and transport were readily available. Families and local businesses could move across the state with greater ease and small towns or suburban developments became an attractive lifestyle option.

The number of Victorians living in the CBD dropped significantly. Inner-city schools closed, and city-based retail and manufacturing declined.

The state government were concerned that Melbourne was to become a ‘doughnut’ city, with an empty core. Revitalising the CBD became a priority and Melbourne’s 1985 Strategy Plan was delivered.

The following years saw the completion of the City Loop (1985), the Rialto tower constructed as the tallest building in Melbourne (1982), Arts Centre Melbourne opened (1984) and Melbourne Central was under construction from 1986.

This decade also saw some great medical advancements for Victoria. Australia’s first IVF baby was born and in 1984 Medicare replaced Medibank, introducing basic health care for all Australians.

This decade also saw:

Ash Wednesday bushfires
TV show Neighbours make its debut
Retailers GJ Coles & Co & Myer Pty Ltd merge to form Coles Myer
Russell Street Police Headquarters bombed
SBS begin broadcasting multicultural television

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Elevated view of Melbourne looking south east, Vic. Laurie Thomas, 1983, H94.150/152
Groups Of People Sitting At Tables In Closed-off Perry Street, Collingwood, Phillip Rogers, 1970-1996, H2009.52/182
Three young women picnicking on river bank, Rennie Ellis, 1980s, H2011.150/3155
People at a Bush Dance, Rennie Ellis, 1984, H2011.150/1080
John Holland Constructions - Museum Station, The Loop, Melbourne, Wolfgang Sievers,1980, H2004.49/129
Dimmey's Ball And Clock Tower, Swan Street, Richmond, Phillip Rogers, 1970-1996, H2009.52/59
Satays, Filipino festival, Melbourne, Rennie Ellis, 1970-1980, H2011.150/376
Man & his dog Port Melb Melbourne Centennial Bridge, Viva Gibb, 1975-1997, H98.161/196
Man driving a tractor on dirt road, paddocks and trees in background, Rennie Ellis, 1980-1989, H2012.140/3229
View of King Street from Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Vic. Laurie Thomas, 1983, H94.150/139

1990s

Welcome to the 1990s.

Following the social change of the ‘70s and the economic change of the ‘80s, the ‘90s followed suit with not only economic recession, but incredible technological change.

The recession of the early ‘90s was felt deeply in Victoria. A number of financial institutions failed, including the State Bank of Victoria, and employment fell by 8.5%.

In the wake of economic recession, the 1990s witnessed the resurgence of the city centre as a dynamic place to live. Many commercial and industrial buildings were transformed for apartment living, and Victoria welcomed the new retail and residential precincts of Southbank and Docklands.

The arrival of the internet also made for a dramatic technological and social shift. While Australia technically joined the global internet in 1989 – via a connection made by the University of Melbourne – it was mostly used by computer scientists and experts at that time.

By the mid-1990s, ordinary Victorians were setting up their email addresses, e-cafes began popping up in regional Victorian towns, community-based training groups were established, and the world wide web had truly arrived.

This wasn’t the only technological change the ‘90s brought to Victorians, voice-only ‘brick’ mobile phones began to advance, changing the face of telecommunications and entertainment across the country.

Other changes were taking place in Victoria’s social life. The 1990s brought in new, relaxed liquor laws that meant that alcohol could be served without food. Laneway cafes embraced this change and fostered the laneway bar culture that Melburnians now know and love.

This decade also saw:

Joan Kirner become Victoria’s first female premier.
The VFL become the AFL
Optus launch to rival Telecom/Telstra
First official Sorry Day held to acknowledge the impact of forcible removal policies on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
The Wiggles begin performing

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

Women's doubles match at the Australian Open, Rennie Ellis, 1990s, H2011.150/3447
Southbank, Rennie Ellis, 1997, H2011.150/2595
Prime Minister Bob Hawke and student unveiling computer under Coles 'Apples for the Students' programme Coburg North Primary School, 1840-1990.
Mount Feathertop, Snow Covered And With Low Cloud, Phillip Rogers, 1970-1996, H2009.52/448
Port Melbourne, Vic. Women painting, Rennie Ellis, 1981-2000, H2011.130/251
West Lake Chinese restaurant, 189 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Rennie Ellis, 1980 and 1999, H2011.150/3038
AFL Grand Final Kangaroos v. Swans, Rennie Ellis, 1996, H2010.108/898
Man driving a tractor in a field, a green umbrella protecting him from the sun, Rennie Ellis, 1970-2000, H2012.140/749
Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria, Rennie Ellis, 1990s, H2011.150/2701
Alexandra Gardens Melbourne, Rennie Ellis, 1980-1999, H2011.150/3054

2000s

Welcome to the 2000s.

Victoria welcomed the new millennium in style. Melbourne CBD celebrated with fireworks, regional Victorians headed to local parks and halls for community celebrations and those who stayed home tuned in to 2000 Today, a 28-hour television event covering New Year’s midnight celebrations around the world.

The same year saw the Millennium Drought hit south-east Australia. Victorian families installed rainwater tanks, followed stringent water restrictions and found innovative ways to make every drop count.

By the 2000s, the internet had cemented its place in ordinary Victorians’ lives, but the technological advancements didn’t stop. The 2000s saw the very first IPod arrive in Australia, kick-starting the Apple revolution.

In 2001, Australian marked the centenary of Federation. As well as community celebrations, every primary school child across Australia received a Centenary of Federation medallion from the Royal Australian Mint to mark the occasion.

Melbourne welcomed CityLink (2000), Fed Square (2002), the Eureka Tower (2006) and hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The 1990s and 2000s had seen growing public sentiment by many Australians in favour of an official apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders whose lives had been blighted by past government policies of forced child removal and Indigenous assimilation. The federal parliament's apology was given by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 13 February 2008.

In 2009 Victoria experienced its worst ever natural disaster. The Black Saturday bushfires raged from February to March 2009, killing 173 people and destroying over 3000 buildings.

This decade also saw:

La Trobe Reading Room refurbishment completed at State Library Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria International (NGVI) opens after 4-year renovation.
Jetstar launched in Melbourne
Makybe Dive wins back-to-back Melbourne Cups
First female governor-general of Australia swears in first female prime minister of Australia

Take a closer look at the images from this decade:

How Victorians spent the Commonwealth Games, Andrew Marminc, 2006, H2006.166/6
Manchester Unity Building, corner Swanston and Collins Streets, Melbourne, Debra McFadzean, 2000, H2009.170/3
How Victorians spent the Commonwealth Games, Andrew Marminc, 2006, H2006.166/8
How Victorians spent the Commonwealth Games, Andrew Marminc, 2006, H2006.166/22
Images documenting the refurbishment of the Dome of the State Library of Victoria, Adrian Flint, 2001, H2012.53/5a
CFA volunteers make a quick exit as a fire truck rushes past to stop fire spreading across paddocks before it reaches the town of Benambra, Simon O'Dwyer, 2003, H2004.73/15
Garden at Turkeith, Birregurra, Lyn Pool, 2003, H2003.37/6
Carting hay, Vic, Richard Crawley, 2003, H2008.120/95
Dunkeld CFA backburning outside Sazli property, on Woodhouse-Blackwood Road, Vic, Richard Crawley, 2004, H2008.120/4
Views around corner of Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets, Melbourne, Debra McFadzean, 2000, H2009.170/67