Australia's Great Depression: How a nation shattered by the Great War survived the worst economic crisis...

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Joan Beaumont

Australia's Great Depression

How a nation shattered by the Great War survived the worst economic crisis it has ever faced...

Joan Beaumont

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English

Allen & Unwin
01 November 2022

History; Australasian & Pacific history; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Social & cultural history; Financial crises & disasters

Highly Commended in the 2022 NSW Premier's History Awards

Some generations are born unlucky. Australians who survived the horrors of the Great War and the Spanish flu epidemic that followed were soon faced with the shock of the Great Depression. Today we remember long dole queues, shanty towns and destitute men roaming the country in search of work. With over a third of the workforce unemployed in 1932, Australia was one of the hardest hit countries in the world. Yet this is not the complete story.

In this wide-ranging account of the Great Depression in Australia, Joan Beaumont shows how high levels of debt and the collapse of wool and wheat prices left Australia particularly exposed in the world's worst depression. Threatened with national insolvency, and with little room for policy innovation, governments resorted to austerity and deflation. Violent protests erupted in the streets and paramilitary movements threatened the political order.

It might have ended very differently, but Australia's democratic institutions survived the ordeal. Australia's people, too, survived. While many endured great hardship, anger, anxiety and despair, most 'made do' and helped each other. Some even found something positive in the memory of this personal and communal struggle. Australia's Great Depression details this most impressive narrative of resilience in the nation's history.

'A magisterial account of an immense tragedy, told with authority, poignancy and drama.' - Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, The Australian National University

'Vividly illustrates the clashes and complexities of the crisis' - Geoffrey Blainey, The Australian

'Beaumont's brilliant study is the comprehensive history of the Great Depression that we have been waiting for.' - Stephen Garton AM, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The University of Sydney

By: Joan Beaumont
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
Weight: 896g
ISBN: 9781761068874
ISBN 10: 1761068873
Pages: 576
Publication Date: 01 November 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

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.

Reviews for Australia's Great Depression: How a nation shattered by the Great War survived the worst economic crisis it has ever faced

'By restoring the prominence of the Great Depression in public memory, Beaumont has produced an exceptional work that powerfully demonstrates we forget this at our peril.' - Joy Damousi, Sydney Morning Herald 'What distinguishes this book is an immersion in the Depression moment...outstanding history' - Benjamin Huf, Australian Book Review 'A masterpiece by one of Australia's most esteemed historians' - David Day, historian