Historical Background of Government Sponsored Home-Building
Excerpts from Historical Records of Chigwell, 1958
Housing Department of Tasmania, DHHS Wingfield Library
“Prior to the Second World War very little had been done by private investors and Governmental authorities towards providing homes to be rented by families in the middle or lower income groups who were unable to finance the building of homes for themselves.”
“The housing shortage gradually intensified and was further accentuated by a cessation of home-building activity during and until near the end of the War-period. In addition to this, an increased demand for homes was brought about by demobilization and marriage of servicemen.”
“At the same time there was considerable growth in the population.”
“At the end of the Second World War in 1945, the population of Tasmania was approximately 230,000 persons. By the New-year of 1958 it had increased to 341,000.”
“In December 1943 an agreement known as the Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement became effective between the Commonwealth and State Government in relation to the provision of capital funds to enable State Government under agreed terms to build homes for families in need of housing.”
“The township development at Chigwell is one of the projects implemented to meet the shortage of homes under the Government’s housing plans. The shortage has not yet been overcome, and we foresee that Governmental home-building activity will continue to function indefinitely.”
TO YOU OF YOUR OWN DAY
Excerpts from Historical Records of Chigwell, 1958
Housing Department of Tasmania, DHHS Wingfield Library
“Our hope is that the experiences of our time and the manner in which the fruits of our advancement in scientific knowledge have been used have resulted in prosperity, peace and happiness for you.”
“During the last two decades of our time much change has taken place in the lives of the peoples of the world and the relationships between one nation and another. In this period, during the years 1939 to 1945 we experienced a Second World War. The horrors of this War brought suffering and hardship to millions of the civil population throughout the world.”
“Research into development of devices of war also led to remarkable scientific and other advances in the post-war period, particularly in the fields of medicine, surgery, transport, electronics and nuclear physics.”
“We now find ourselves in an age of nuclear energy, jet propulsion, speeds many time faster than sound; we are engaged in new discoveries—the mysteries of outer space.”
“We of our day wonder where these new discoveries will lead. We are hopeful they will be for the benefit and prosperity of future mankind, and not for purposes of destruction which could be more horrible than ever experienced.”
“The fulfillment of the teachings of Jesus-Christ among all peoples of the world is still on the distant horizon. Some progress has been made. But nations are still living in fear of another war: that nuclear devices and new scientific inventions may be turned to implements of frightful destruction.”
“Nevertheless, with all these misgivings we, as a people generally are very happy. We of our Australian Nation have many freedoms: our conditions of living have improved beyond recognition over the last fifty years; we have a 40-hours working week, giving us reasonable time for leisure.”
“We continue to strive for similar freedoms for all peoples of the world, and that enmity between the nations shall be no more. If you of your day can see the achievement of these hopes, our labours have thankfully been rewarded.”