It covers, not just the Great Depression, but also the years leading up to this world-wide, catastrophic event and the years proceeding. Beaumont shows the interlinking of the national and international forces that affected the Australian economy. 

Two revelations immediately struck me when I started reading this book. Firstly, the Australian economy was already in a disastrously precarious situation from the mid-1920s, leading up to the Depression. Secondly, Beaumont explores the real reason for the Depression, hint - it wasn't just the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Thirdly, the Scullin labour government triumphantly won the 1929 election but, almost immediately, realised the state of the economy and soldiered on through the worst years of the Depression - really, they didn't stand a chance.

The book dives into the state of the nation during this epoch. We see how people coped at the national level, the state level, the community level and the family level. 

There are many, many interesting accounts of people from all stratas of society. 

How World War 1 was still affecting society. 

The accounts of the Catholic/Protestant divide in the early years of the 1920s. 

The rise of the Communist movement after the 1917 Russian Revolution. 

The creation of a right wing paramilitary organisation, a splinter group of 'The Old Guard' called 'The New Guard', inspired by the rise of Mussolini, Hitler and Franco in Europe. 

The trials and tribulation of the National government, fighting to get their policies adopted. 

They was a Labor Lower House, with a Nationalist Upper House and they had to work closely with a conservative Commonwealth Bank and other peripheral banks which in turn had to work with the Bank of England.

Also, there were sparks flying between the Federal Government and the State Governments. The people had some relief from these troublesome times, by enjoying a game of cricket. Beaumont discusses the 1932 Ashes ‘Bodyline' series and how it sparked an international incident that had to be diffused at parliamentary level.

Beaumont takes us on a journey at street level, to show how the grass roots Australians coped with the unemployment, defaulting on loans, shocking evictions from rentals and mortgaged homes which caused chaos, how the returned servicemen, who mostly were not farmers, managed to cope on scrappy bits of land given to them by the Government - and most didn't. 

But, through it all, she writes about the underlying resilience of Australians and how they slowly bounced back from the abyss (although some long term unemployed did not find work for almost a decade, until the onset of Word War 2.).

'Australia's Great Depression' is a must read for anyone interested in the recent history of Australia. Especially for younger readers, for whom it might show the early 20th century in a different perspective.

Although Beaumont uses some sophisticated words the meaning is quickly grasped within the context.

I found it a compelling page turner and when I did put it down, I looked forward with anticipation for my next reading session. However, I came across several typos, but this did not detract from the pleasure of reading the book.

I thoroughly recommend this book.

The author

Joan Beaumont is Professor of History at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, and author of the magisterial and multi-award winning account of Australia's experience of World War I, Broken Nation.

Reviewed by Ken C.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review - Buy me a coffee 

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