preview

In the 1960s, continuing affluence and cheaper building technology meant that Australians could

Decent Essays

In the 1960s, continuing affluence and cheaper building technology meant that Australians could afford to pay for bigger homes. The addition of second bathrooms and extra bedrooms became common. Many families built a 'family' or 'rumpus' room, providing two living areas and some homes were air-conditioned. As car ownership increased, many new houses were built with a garage or carport. New building materials like plastic paints, linoleum floor coverings and laminex kitchen benches made household cleaning even easier.
Other designs had rooms being extended rather than being added. The picture provided below showcases an example where the bedroom and laundry being viable for an extension if desired 11 Areas for patios are left open for the …show more content…

The “modest” modern Australian home is at least twice the size of the post war model. It used to be possible to buy a house for three times your annual salary, now it's nine times. And where once "home" was about shelter and security, now it's also a means of accumulating wealth and status for which many are finding it impossible to pay12
Housing is a national crisis issue and the professional solution has priced itself beyond the reach of the majority of citizens.(Archer) To own a house implies commiting oneself to a mortgage and guaranteed income level for the majority of one’s working life.
Remarkably, no matter how high the prices go, the Australian Dream endures. Successive Australian Governments have kept it alive by providing special grants to first home buyers and generous tax incentives to new investors12

12 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "Episode 2 - The Australian Dream."

CONCLUSION
The Do It Yourself culture was created to meet the needs of the people, the need to have a house they can call home which was influenced through a large number of factors including the baby boom, immigration,money. The culture provided people the needs to their homes, offering a wealth of skills and experiences.The Do It Yourself culture also influenced the design and materials of the houses at the time. The act of building the Australian, to build your

Get Access