INTERPRETATION ACTIVITY ON HOUSING IN THE POST-WAR YEARS

1. What problem had developed in housing during the years of World War Two? Why had this occurred?

There was a housing shortage of between 250,000 and 300,000 homes. The shortage was caused by the need to allocate available resources to the war effort, rather than to civilian housing. There was a serious lack of materials and skilled labour for housing construction.

2. What organisation did the Federal Government set up to deal with the housing problem?

The Commonwealth Housing Commission was set up to deal with the problems of providing housing.

3. Who was eligible for assistance from the Federal Government to build a home under the War Service Home Scheme?

Ex-Service personnel were eligible for assistance under this scheme.

4. What were the two purchase options available to home owners under this scheme?

  • Rent and purchase scheme - this required a deposit of 5% for a house and land package
  • A scheme loan to buy or build a house.

5. Name some of the Perth suburbs where new estates were established as a direct result of the Federal funding available for housing.

New estates were concentrated around Floreat Park, Scarborough, South Perth, Applecross, Manning, Victoria Park, Doubleview, Mt Pleasant, Hilton and Yokine.

6. Give three reasons why house designs were so simple in the immediate post-war years.

  • Lack of money
  • Shortages of building materials
  • House size was limited by legislation until 1952

7. Study this photograph from the Virtual Tour of the Families display showing a new suburb under construction in the post-war years.

a. What can you see in the background of the photo?

The background shows the suburb flanked by bushland.

b. What does this tell you about the location of the new suburb?

The suburb is on the fringes of the metropolitan area.

c. Describe what has been done to prepare the suburb for housing construction.

The land appears to have been cleared except for a few low scrubby bushes.

d. How would you describe the size of the houses?

The houses are small.

e. What materials have been used in the construction of the houses?

  • roofs - tiles
  • walls - timber and fibro
  • fences - timber
  • foundations - timber

f. How are the houses positioned on their blocks?

Generally they appear to be located centrally on their blocks.

g. The houses are missing a feature which was usual in pre-war houses and which would have been desirable in both sunny and wet weather. What is it?

The houses do not have verandahs, just small front porches.

h. Homes today nearly always include another feature which is missing from these post war houses. What is it?

The houses do not have garages.

i. The photo shows that the suburb was supplied with at least one service. What is it and how does the photograph reveal this?

The suburb has an electicity supply as evidenced by the power lines and light poles.

j. What evidence is there that this was a newly created suburb?

Construction work is still going on and there is not much evidence of established gardens and trees around the houses.

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