LIFE IN AUSTRALIA IN THE 1960s
http://www.abc.net.au/archives/timeline/1960s.htm
http://www.gold1043.com.au/videos/life-in-australia-melbourne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s
British influence on the Australian culture
British settlers arrived in Australia in 1788 and the extent of the British
influence is still evident today. The British Union Jack features predominantly
on our national flag and the Queen is Australia's Head of State. British models
also form the basis of Australia's legal and political systems, as well providing
our national language.
Up until World War II, Britain remained the dominating cultural influence in
Australia. Britons also dominated the make-up of Australian society - most of
Australia's citizens were either born in Britain, or had British descendants. In
the years following the war, British subjects were encouraged to migrate to
Australia under an 'assisted package' scheme, which helped with the cost of
migrating to Australia and provided housing and employment options upon
arrival. Between 1945 and 1972, over one million British migrants settled in
Australia.
Before 1945, many people, including Australians themselves, considered
Australia to be nothing more than a British colony; a nation whose national
identity was relatively indistinct from the British. During this period of
Australia's history, our modes of entertainment, food, fashion, sporting culture
and our social values and attitudes were largely dictated by British culture.
American influence on the Australian culture
One of the most significant changes to have taken place in Australian society
since the end of WWII, however, has been its drift towards American, rather
than British culture. As the American way of life was projected further into
Australia via popular culture, it would rapidly alter the ways we spent our
money, entertained ourselves, dressed and socialised. Eventually, many of
our British cultural legacies would give way to new American ideals.
In the decades since World War II, however, the penetration of American
popular culture into Australian society has raised ongoing concerns about
Australia's ability to carve out its own national identity. Local cultural products
like films and music are an important way for people of a country to explore
and share their common culture and heritage. Australian characters, themes
and issues, however, are often outweighed by representations of the
American way of life.
American films and television programmes depict American people in
American settings, and American music deals with American, not Australian
concerns. Many people have feared that if Australians are starved of distinctly
Australian cultural products, the national identity will be at risk.
Reasons for American cultural dominance in the 1960s
During the 1960s, American cultural influences rapidly filtered into Australia primarily via music, cinema, and television. There are a number of historical
reasons for this.
America emerged from World War II as the dominant global economic power
and was well-placed to export its cultural products to the world, including
Australia.
At the same time, Australians in the 1960s were well-placed to receive
American cultural influences. People were more affluent than ever before and
communications and transport technology was advancing rapidly, enabling an
easier transmission of American products and ideas into Australian society.
American concepts like consumerism and material aspirations also fitted well
with Australia's new pleasure-seeking suburban ideals.
Music and radio
Commercial radio play lists were dominated by mostly imported American and
British music throughout the 1960s, quenching the teenage thirst for rock 'n'
roll.
The public's taste was changing, though and 1950s rock 'n' roll stars like Elvis
Presley made way for the 'British Invasion'. Teenagers were infatuated with
British acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks and adopted
the wild fashions and hairstyles of their idols.
Cinema
Prior to World War II, Australia had a small but thriving film industry. After the
war, however, the local film industry struggled amid an influx of mostly
Hollywood-produced films. Most cinema chains were foreign-owned, and
Australian films struggled to reach the screen.
Local film industries are generally considered an important way for people to
examine and share their own culture and heritage. Starved of local stories in
the late 1960s, many people feared that Australia's cultural identity was at
risk.
Very few quality Australian films were produced during the 1960s. While some
films were shot in Australia, many were financed by British and American
interests and featured foreign stars in the leading roles.
Reasons for American domination at the cinema
American films dominated Australian cinemas during the 1950s and 1960s for
a number of reasons.
Firstly, American film-making technology was the most advanced in the world,
making it possible for them to produce many more high-quality films at a
faster rate than their competitors. Local production companies could not
compete with the dazzling technicolour and bright, big-budget promotional
campaigns of American film companies.
Secondly, the abundant budgets and superior technological resources
attracted the best actors, writers and directors to America. In many cases, this
meant that the American creative output was of a higher standard than that of
other countries.
Television
The first two decades of Australian commercial television were largely
dominated by American comedy and drama. In 1959, the ten most popular
programmes on Australian television were all American. British programmes
dominated the ABC's schedules, which modelled itself on Britain's public
broadcaster, the BBC.
Between 1956 and1963, almost all content screened on Australian television
was sourced from overseas. Of this, 83 percent was American, with the rest
from Britain.
Throughout the 1960s, American TV shows like Perry Mason and I Love Lucy
continued to rate among the nation's favourite programmes. Many other local
programmes produced during this period were based on formulas set by
American programmes.
Although the ABC broadcasted many Australian programs, concerns were
voiced during this time about the lack of local content on Australian
commercial television. In the late 1960s, the government imposed a local
content quota in order to protect the Australian television industry being
swamped by American products.
Food and shopping
Prior to the 1960s, traditional British meals, such as roast dinners, chops or
sausages and vegetables, were the typical dinner for most Australians.
Breakfast usually consisted of porridge, toast, eggs, or simple cereals like
cornflakes.
Food was usually purchased from specialist vendors - bread from a baker,
vegetables from a greengrocer, meat from a butcher and other staple items
like sugar and flour from a local corner store.
By the 1960s, new American-inspired shopping centres and supermarkets
had become common, particularly in the newly-built suburbs. These contained
a number of shopping facilities under one roof and markedly changed
Australian shopping habits.
In the 1960s, American-style, convenient, pre-prepared foods like frozen
French fries, and entire frozen dinners became available. These foods were
particularly attractive to time-poor women who had recently joined the paid
workforce, but were still responsible for the preparation of family meals.
In 1968, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) opened its doors. Kentucky Fried
Chicken was Australia's first American-style takeaway store and would soon
be followed by other fast food chains. These fast food restaurants would
significantly alter Australia's eating habits.
The quest for an Australian identity
While the British and American influence has played a major role in defining
the shape of Australia that we know today, a number of other influences have
contributed to the development of the Australian identity.
As settlers in an unfamiliar land, the Australian identity was long bound to the
stereotype of the tough, heroic bushman who fought to tame a difficult
landscape. Australian values like 'mateship', 'fair go' and the 'Aussie battler'
emerged as a result of this myth. Throughout the prosperous post-war years,
however, a new Australian ideal emerged, and Australians were thought to be
part of a more laidback culture that enjoyed the 'good life'.
As migrants arrived in Australia over the decades, they introduced new
stories, traditions and perspectives to Australian culture. The traditional
concepts of an Australia as a white British colony, or a land of struggling
bush-dwellers, no longer seemed to fit with the diverse new reality of society.
As Indigenous peoples were finally acknowledged as the original owners of
the land, the role of Indigenous values in the construction of a true Australian
identity had become apparent.
As such, the Indigenous and migrant influence has intervened in the American
and British effect on Australian culture.
As Australian society adapted to changing cultural influences across the
decades, whether they be British, American, Indigenous, Asian or European,
the national identity continually evolved in response. In the face of
globalisation, however, the future of Australia's unique national identity was
increasingly challenged by the development of a global culture.
The 1960s in context
The 1960s were a decade of political and social upheaval in Australia. Young
people challenged the traditional values of their parent's generation and
actively opposed the decisions of the government. Women demanded equal
rights and others called for racial equality and a new consideration for the
environment. Many more demonstrated against the Vietnam War, conscription
and the nuclear industry.
Many of these protests were part of wider social movements taking place in
other Western countries. Advances in communications technology meant that
revolutionary ideas and voices of dissent could rapidly be transmitted and
received around the world.
Australia's population increased throughout the decade, as European and
British migrants continued to arrive. The late 1960s also saw changes to the
White Australia Policy, which permitted a small number of skilled Asian
migrants to settle in Australia.
Women's rights and the Pill in the 1960s
In the late 1960s, many Australian women began to question the restrictive
roles that society had assigned to them. Many women felt that there was more
to life than raising children and taking care of the home. Others were
dissatisfied at being confined to traditionally 'female' occupations like
teaching, administration and secretarial work.
Women marched, protested and pressured governments in a bid to gain equal
rights in all spheres of life including the workplace, education, politics and
sport.
The contraceptive, or birth control pill was introduced in Australia in the
1960s. It had a significant impact on society, granting women greater sexual
freedom and allowing them to control when and if they had children. The Pill
also sparked much moral debate during the 1960s about pre-marital sex and
promiscuity.
Indigenous rights in the 1960s
In a 1967 referendum, Australians voted overwhelmingly to recognise
Indigenous peoples as citizens and allow them to be counted as part of the
Australian population. This result followed a long campaign by both
Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, who demanded better rights for
Indigenous people and highlighted the poor conditions in which many lived.
The 60s hippie revolution
Throughout the 1960s, many young people became disillusioned by what they
perceived to be the shallowness and materialism of contemporary society.
Towards the end of the decade, many adopted an alternative 'hippie' lifestyle.
Among other elements, the hippie movement included a rebellious style of
dress, a reverence for nature, Eastern spiritual philosophy and
experimentation with drugs like marijuana and LSD.
These radical changes in society were reflected in the new fashions,
hairstyles and styles of music that emerged throughout the decade. While
rock 'n' roll retained its popularity, the rise of hippie culture permeated
mainstream fashion and music.
The Vietnam War
War broke out between communist North Vietnam and democratic South
Vietnam in 1959. America and her allies, including Australia, sent thousands
of troops to Vietnam in an effort to stop the spread of Communism. In total,
around 50 000 Australians served in the conflict between 1965 and 1972.
Many of them were conscripted, which means their military service was
compulsory.
Australians became divided over the issue of conscription and whether or not
Australia should be involved in the war. Towards the end of the decade,
thousands of people demonstrated against the government and some
protests became violent.
Politics in the 1960s
Robert Menzies served as Australia's Prime Minister throughout the 1960s,
until his retirement in January 1966. He was replaced by Harold Holt, who
faced the challenge of defending Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.
On 17 December 1967, Holt went swimming at Cheviot Beach in Victoria. He
was never seen again and two days later was officially presumed dead. His
remains have never been found.
After Holt's disappearance, John Gorton was elected as the new Prime
Minister. In 1968, in the face of mounting opposition to the war, Gorton
announced that no more Australian troops would be sent to Vietnam.
Fashion in the 1960s – Introduction
Clothing styles have always mirrored the prevailing attitudes of the times and
this is certainly true of fashion in the 1960s. The decade was marked by
sweeping social change and the domination of youth culture - baby boomers
were growing up and demanded their own fashion style.
Designers responded with a much more liberal, daring approach to fashion,
boasting colourful fabrics and bold designs.
The 1960s saw fashion reject the conventions and niceties of previous eras.
Clothing broke with social traditions that dictated what could be worn when
and by whom. In the past, attire had been divided in to 'formal' and 'casual'
wear, and distinct separations were made between the styles of clothing worn
by men and women. The 1960s, however, saw the emergence of unisex
clothing such as denim jeans, which could be worn by both sexes.
1960s Mod fashion
Mod, short for 'modern', refers to a youth lifestyle that emerged from London
during the 1960s, and quickly spread to America, Europe and Australia.
Centred around London's thriving pop music, art and fashion scene, the mod
lifestyle focused on innovation and the 'new'.
Mod fashion was slim fitting and featured bold geometric shapes. Colour was
also a key concern - the conservative greys, browns and pastels of the 1950s
were replaced by bright, wild hues. In contrast to fashion trends of the past,
these garments were mass-produced and affordable.
Rising hemlines and the mini-skirt
The 1960s saw the appearance of the mini-skirt. Up until that time, skirts and
dresses in Australia finished sensibly at the knee. New soaring hemlines
created huge controversy when they first appeared, exposing centimetres of
thigh never before seen in public.
At the Melbourne Cup in 1965, English model Jean Shrimpton created
controversy by wearing a synthetic white shift dress with a hem high above
her knees. She did not wear stockings, gloves or a hat. Shrimpton's outfit was
considered scandalous, and made headlines around the world. By the end of
the decade, however, shift dresses and mini-skirts had become widely
accepted.
Mini-skirts represent more than just a fashion landmark of the decade - they
have become an icon of the general culture of rebellion that characterised the
1960s. Young people were rejecting the social standards of the past and so
too was their fashion. Many devotees of the feminist movement of the 1960s
also saw the mini-skirt as a claim to the right of women to proudly display their
bodies as they wished.
1960s Fashion icons
Throughout the 1960s, a number of famous people sported distinct fashion
styles that were copied all over the world.
British teenage supermodel Leslie Hornby, also known as Twiggy due to her
stick-thin figure, was a fashion idol to young girls everywhere. Her short,
boyish haircut and leggy, waif-like frame graced the covers of every major
fashion magazine.
While 1960s fashion was largely youth-driven, fashion icons also dictated the
style of older women. Throughout her career, movie star Audrey Hepburn
wore simple, flat shoes, three-quarter length pants, and plain black shift
dresses. Her clothing style and her beehive hairdo, would be copied by
millions of women worldwide.
Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of US President John F. Kennedy, became widely
known for her beauty, grace and elegant style of dress. Her many public
appearances popularised pearl necklaces, the pillbox hat (a small hat with a
flat top and straight sides) and simple, big-buttoned suits.
1960s 'Hippie' fashion
Towards the end of the 1960s, the hippie movement had arrived in Australia.
Many young people had become dissatisfied with the prevailing mainstream
social values, considering them to be shallow and materialistic. Others
strongly opposed Australian involvement in the Vietnam War. Whatever their
motivation, many young people began embracing the values of peace, love
and freedom and sought an alternative way of life.
Many people embraced communal living and a nomadic lifestyle, explored
Eastern religions, experimented with drugs and adopted a rebellious style of
dress.
Clothing styles and fabrics were inspired by non-Western cultures, such as
Indian and African. Natural fabrics and tie-dyed and paisley prints were also
popular. Many people handcrafted their own clothes and accessories and
personal items were often decorated with beads and fringes. Bare feet or
leather sandals were typical hippie fashion and flowers and peace signs
became symbols of the movement.
Both men and women let their hair grow long and men commonly grew facial
hair.
The hippie movement also influenced other clothing styles. Denim jeans,
which had remained a staple wardrobe item for many young people
throughout the decade, were inspired by hippie fashion. New styles of denim
jeans emerged, such as the bell-bottomed, tie-dyed, marbled and painted
jeans.
Clothing fabrics in the 1960s
1960s fashion was influenced by the excitement surrounding space
exploration and the first moon landing. Innovative synthetic materials like
polyester, plastic, PVC and vinyl enjoyed huge popularity throughout the
decade.
New blended fabrics were also developed, mixing man-made fibres with
natural materials like cotton and wool. Prompted by the animal rights
movement, new fabric technology also produced the first artificial fur and
leather fabrics.
Improved fabrics and mass production techniques meant that clothes could be
produced much faster and more cheaply than ever before. This, coupled with
quickly changing teen fashion fads, meant that clothes were also discarded
more quickly than before.
Television in the 1960s
As television technology developed throughout the 1960s, the medium
continued its domination as the entertainment form of choice for most
Australians. By 1965, it was estimated that 9 out of 10 Australian families
owned a TV set.
Programs imported from overseas enjoyed massive popularity; in particular
the American comedies I Love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver and the British
soap Coronation Street. Locally-produced content, however, was also
receiving an enthusiastic response. Hit music shows like Bandstand and Six
O'Clock Rock proved popular with teenagers, while young children were
tuning in to Play School and Mr Squiggle.
Adults were also well-catered for. In 1961, the ABC premiered the current
affairs programme Four Corners, which is still running today. Homicide,
the first Australian-produced drama series, debuted in 1964, as did The
Mavis Bramston Show, a satirical sketch comedy. Both attracted a huge
following.
Programs like The Mavis Bramston Show and Homicide were crucial turning
points in Australian television history. Their success proved that local
audiences wanted to see Australian-made programmes, featuring local actors
and Australian humour, themes and concerns. Through television, a unique
Australian identity was slowly emerging.
Television and satellite technology
In the late 1960s, Australian television was connected to the international
satellite system. Programs could be broadcast live between capital cities and
people in remote parts of the country could receive television broadcasts.
Along with the rest of the world, Australians could now be involved in globallysignificant televised events, like the first moon landing in 1969.
Cinema and theatre in the 1960s
While television was still proving to be a major blow to cinema attendance in
the early 1960s, cinemas regained some strength in the following years. In
1965 there were around 1000 cinemas in Australia, screening mostly
American and British films.
Cinema in the 1960s reflected the youth-driven culture of the time, catering
less to the taste of families and more to the teenage 'baby boomer' crowd.
Movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and Easy Rider
(1969) reflected the fashion, music and changing social values of the decade.
Locally-made Australian films were in short supply throughout the 1960s and
the period is widely considered to be a low point in Australian film-making. A
boost in government funding at the end of the decade, however, would see an
improvement throughout the 1970s.
Ballet, opera and theatre became more popular in the 1960s, although they
still remained a minor form of entertainment. In 1969, the musical Hair opened
in Australia. Featuring nudity, drug references and 'hippy' themes, its success
signified a perceptible shift in the nation's conservative social values.
Radio in the 1960s
Australian radio in the 1960s generally followed the format set by radio
broadcasters overseas, particularly in the area of news broadcasting and
music programming.
Commercial radio was increasingly tailoring its programming to the youth
market, filling the airwaves with upbeat, mostly imported music that was
popular in the charts.
Whilst popular, the overseas radio models were creating dissatisfaction
amongst many minority groups in the late 1960s, who firmly believed that the
current programming models did not reflect their needs. Ethnic communities,
students, activists, classical music lovers may have had little in common, but
in the late 1960s they were all pushing for more access to the airwaves.
Music in the 1960s
The rock 'n' roll craze of the 1950s and 60s was changing the way young
people entertained themselves. Teenagers clad in the latest fashions would
gather in dance halls, or discos, and perform dance fads like the stomp and
the boogaloo. The twist, named after the popular Chubby Checker song, was
especially popular. It was the first major dance style that did not require a
partner, so anyone could try it.
Some of the world's biggest bands toured Australia in the 1960s, including the
Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and in 1964, the Beatles. Australia was
gripped by Beatle-mania as thousands of hysterical, screaming fans mobbed
John, George, Paul and Ringo wherever they went.
Australian music charts in the 1960s were dominated by American and British
music, and local acts were strongly influenced by overseas trends. Some
Australian musicians enjoyed international success. Folk outfit the Seekers
were extremely popular in America and Britain, becoming the first Australian
group to sell over a million records.
In 1964, Jimmy Little became the first Indigenous Australian to achieve chart
success, with his song Royal Telephone.
By the late 1960s, the American psychedelic and acid rock movements had
filtered into Australia. This music was prompted by, among other factors,
Vietnam War protests and the new drug and counter-culture scene. Lyrics
from this music style spoke of peace, love, freedom, social protest and civil
rights - the social revolution had arrived.