The 1930s were a time of economic hardship, resilience, and rising civic awareness. The Great Depression left over 30% of Australians unemployed, forcing families to rely on charity, backyard gardens, and informal economies. The government introduced ‘the susso’ in 1932, but women were excluded. First Nations activism gained momentum, with the 1938 Day of Mourning marking the first national protest against discrimination.

• 1929: The Stock Market Crash triggers global depression. The Wall Street crash leads to widespread economic collapse, with Australia facing soaring unemployment, wage cuts, and mass hardship.
• 1930: Phar Lap wins Melbourne Cup. The beloved racehorse becomes a Depression-era icon of hope and resilience, capturing the hearts of Australians during tough times. Amy Johnson flies solo from England to Australia. The pioneering British aviator completes a record-breaking solo flight, inspiring admiration and advancing women’s visibility in aviation.
• 1932: ‘Susso’ introduced as unemployment relief. The government implements the sustenance payment (‘susso’) to support jobless Australians, although women are excluded due to gendered assumptions. Sydney Harbour Bridge opens. A symbol of national pride and engineering achievement, the bridge connects Sydney’s north and south and provides vital jobs during the Depression. ABC begins radio broadcasting. The Australian Broadcasting Commission launches, bringing news, music, and drama into homes and shaping national identity through radio.
• 1935: Cane toads introduced. Released in Queensland to control beetles in sugarcane crops, cane toads quickly become an invasive species with lasting ecological impact.
• 1936: Last Tasmanian Tiger dies in captivity. The extinction of the thylacine in Hobart’s Beaumaris Zoo marks a tragic loss in Australia’s biodiversity and conservation history.
• 1937: Cummeragunja Walk Off by Yorta Yorta people. Over 200 First Nations residents leave the mission in protest of poor conditions and government control, an early act of Indigenous resistance.
• 1938: Day of Mourning protest led by William Cooper, Pearl Gibbs, and Jack Patten. On Australia Day, First Nations leaders hold the first national protest against colonisation and injustice, demanding civil rights and recognition.

First Nations Focus: 
First Nations activism, resilience, and protest shaped civic identity and challenged injustice during the 1930s. The 1938 Day of Mourning marked the first national protest against the treatment of First Nations peoples, led by William Cooper, Pearl Gibbs, and Jack Patten. This event, and earlier actions like the 1937 Cummeragunja Walk Off, highlighted the fight for fair wages, freedom of movement, and family rights. These stories offer powerful insights into leadership, resistance, and the enduring struggle for recognition and justice.