Lexi Webster
The 1970s in Australia was a period of great social, economic, and political upheaval. The Labor Party, led by reformist Gough Whitlam, took power for the first time in 23 years in 1972. This political shift came amidst a backdrop of social change, with women, Indigenous people, migrants, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities demanding a shift in the status quo.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political upheaval | Labor Party elected after 23 years of Liberal-National Coalition government |
| Social change | Women, Indigenous people, migrants, and LGBTQ+ communities demanded changes to the status quo |
| First female students at Emmanuel College | 1975 |
| First government funding of childcare | 1972 |
| First refuges for women and children fleeing domestic violence | 1974 |
| Withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam | 1970-1973 |
| First Mardi Gras parade in Sydney | 1978 |
| Free university education | Introduced in 1974 |
| First health warnings on cigarette packaging | 1973 |
| First personal computers | Altair 8800, released in 1975 |
| Natural disasters | Cyclone Ada (1970), Kin Kin tornado (1971), Cyclone Tracy (1974/1975) |
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What You'll Learn
Gough Whitlam elected Prime Minister
The 1970s in Australia were a time of significant social change and political upheaval. One of the most notable events of the decade was the election of Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister, leading the Australian Labor Party (ALP) to victory after 23 years in opposition. Whitlam became Prime Minister on 5 December 1972, and his time in office was marked by a series of progressive policy reforms and significant changes for the country.
Gough Whitlam was an Australian politician and lawyer who introduced a range of social reforms during his time as Prime Minister. He was born in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, on 11 July 1916, and served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia from 1972 to 1975. Whitlam joined the Australian House of Representatives in 1952 and became the deputy leader of the Labor Party in 1960. In 1967, he was elected leader of the party and became Prime Minister in 1972 with the slogan 'It's Time'.
Whitlam's government instituted a range of progressive reforms, including ending military conscription, lowering barriers to Asian immigration, and promising greater independence from the United States in foreign affairs. He established new Commonwealth agencies, such as Aboriginal Affairs, Environment, and Urban and Regional Development, and introduced universal healthcare with the Medibank Scheme. Additionally, the Whitlam government provided free university education, made the contraceptive pill affordable, and reopened the equal pay debate, with the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission setting an equal minimum wage for all regardless of gender in 1973.
However, Whitlam's administration faced challenges, including administrative blunders, rising inflation, and unemployment. The declining economy, impacted by the 1973 oil crisis and the global recession, as well as a political scandal known as the Loans Affair, created difficulties for his government. Ultimately, Whitlam became the only Australian Prime Minister to be removed from office by a governor-general, Sir John Kerr, in November 1975, amid a constitutional crisis. Despite his controversial dismissal, Whitlam is often ranked highly by political experts and academics for the significant reforms and innovations introduced during his time in office.
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First female students at Emmanuel College
The 1970s in Australia were marked by significant social change and activism. The country saw large-scale protests against its involvement in the Vietnam War, with the first moratorium march taking place in 1970, and subsequent marches in 1971. The anti-war sentiment led to the withdrawal of Australian troops, completed in 1973. This decade also witnessed the continuation of the Women's Movement, which had begun in the mid-1960s, advocating for access to employment, contraception, and childcare. The first government funding for childcare was provided in 1972, and the first refuges for women and children escaping domestic violence were established in 1974.
During this transformative era, Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts, underwent its own evolution. Founded in 1919 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Emmanuel College was the first women's Catholic college in New England. For decades, it played a pivotal role in preparing women for professional careers in fields like education, nursing, law, medicine, and social work. The college thrived in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, witnessing growth in student numbers, academic programs, and campus expansion. The construction of Alumnae Hall, a science center, in 1949, underscored the college's strength in the sciences.
The 1950s and 1960s brought another wave of development, with Emmanuel College transitioning into a residential college. New buildings, such as Marian Hall, served as residential, dining, and student centers. By 1968, the number of residential students exceeded commuters for the first time. During this period, the college continued to foster co-curricular activities, including student publications and athletics, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience for its female students.
In the 1970s, Emmanuel College expanded its academic offerings to include degree completion programs for adult learners, demonstrating its adaptability to meet the evolving needs of higher education. This decade in Australia was marked by a continued push for progress and equality, with the Whitlam government introducing free university education and making the contraceptive pill more affordable. While I cannot confirm the exact timeline of female students' admission to Emmanuel College, the college's rich history as a women's Catholic college in the 1970s aligns with the broader societal shifts toward gender equality and women's empowerment in Australia during that decade.
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The Female Eunuch published
The 1970s in Australia was a decade of significant social change. The election of the Whitlam government in 1972 brought about notable reforms, including free university education, affordable contraception, and a renewed focus on equal pay for men and women. The Women's Movement, which had been gaining traction since the mid-1960s, continued to advocate for women's access to employment, contraception, and childcare. The first government funding for childcare was provided in 1972, and the first refuges for women and children escaping domestic violence were established in 1974.
Published in 1970, Germaine Greer's "The Female Eunuch" became an influential text within this social context. The book challenged traditional notions of womanhood and the expectations imposed on women by society. Greer argued that the "traditional" nuclear family structure repressed women sexually, rendering them eunuchs. "The Female Eunuch" encouraged women to question authority figures and to break free from societal moulds. The book's structure was unorthodox, divided into four parts: Body, Soul, Love, and Hate, with each part exploring specific subsections. For example, the "Body" section included topics like "Bones", "Curves", and "Hair".
The book received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its witty honesty and accessibility, while others found it controversial and contradictory. By March 1971, it had nearly sold out its second printing and had been translated into multiple languages. "The Female Eunuch" played a pivotal role in the feminist movement of the 1970s, inspiring women to recognise their power and take action. It provided a framework for women to challenge societal expectations and pursue their own paths towards liberation.
Greer's work built upon other influential texts of the time, such as Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" and Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique", which sparked the second wave of feminism. "The Female Eunuch" stood out due to its unique style, combining scholarship with a direct and humorous tone. Decades later, the ongoing struggle for gender equality demonstrates the enduring relevance of Greer's insights and the need for continued advocacy for women's rights and empowerment.
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Protests against the Vietnam War
The 1970s saw a wave of protests against Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Moratorium rallies, held around Australia on 8 May 1970, were the largest public demonstrations in the country's history at the time, with 200,000 people marching against the war. The protests represented growing discontent with the government's commitment to the war and conscription. The first moratorium march in 1970 was the largest street protest, with the second and third moratorium marches in 1970 and 1971 also drawing large crowds.
The Vietnam War was the first war to be televised, and the Australian public was routinely exposed to horrific scenes of suffering. This, along with the My Lai massacre, sparked widespread protest and sit-ins across the nation. The war was seen as the most damaging policy of a conservative government, and as the conflict dragged on, a wider range of people began to object on moral grounds. Draft resisters, death notices, and protesters all contributed to a shift in public opinion.
The Communist Party of Australia (CPA), active in the peace movement, had opposed American and Australian military intervention in Vietnam. Its youth wing, the Eureka Youth League, may have staged the first demonstration as early as 1963. Anti-war protests gained momentum, with a few hundred protesters in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra staging Australia's first sit-down demonstrations in 1965.
The protests were effective in shifting policy. The withdrawal of Australian troops began under a Liberal government in 1970 and was completed by the Labor government in 1973. The 1970 protests were seen as a turning point, demonstrating the power of taking to the streets to create change.
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First Mardi Gras parade
The 1970s in Australia was a decade of significant social change and political activism. The first Mardi Gras parade, held in Sydney in 1978, was a reflection of this era. The parade, originally called 'International Gay and Lesbian Solidarity Day', was organised by activists like Ken Davis and marked a significant moment for the LGBTQIA+ community in Australia.
Footage of the event, unearthed in 2025, shows crowds of revellers celebrating and marching in capes and flags, with signature 70s fashion, down Oxford Street. The parade was a far cry from its beginnings, as Ken Davis recalled: "At night, I wasn't sure anyone was going to come to Taylor Square, and people turned up late, it was very cold, we had one truck with one banner."
The event, however, ended with violent arrests by the police, with a particular focus on lesbians. Fifty-three people were arrested, and the footage also shows scenes outside the Darlinghurst Police Station, where people pooled money to bail out their arrested friends. The parade has grown in recognition and acceptance since 1978, now generating millions in tourism revenue and sponsorships from large companies.
The Mardi Gras parade has continued to be a platform for various communities in Australia. In 1988, the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander float entered the parade during Australia's Bicentenary celebrations. In 2003, a 'Welcome to Country' procession was invited into the parade by New Mardi Gras, marking another special moment in the history of the event. The parade has also seen entries from groups like 'The Northern Territory Stars', celebrating the uniqueness of the Northern Territory, and 'Queers for Reconciliation', formed in response to the federal government's Wik legislation.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1970s in Australia was a period of great social and political upheaval. The Labor Party was elected in 1972, ending 23 years of Liberal-National Coalition government. Gough Whitlam became Prime Minister, and his government introduced significant changes, including free university education, affordable contraception, and the reopening of the equal pay case.
Women, Indigenous people, migrants, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities demanded changes to the status quo. The Women's Movement, which started in the mid-1960s, continued to gain supporters, with access to employment, contraception, and childcare as key issues. Germaine Greer's book, *The Female Eunuch*, published in 1970, became an international bestseller. The first government funding of childcare was in 1972, and the first refuges for women and children fleeing domestic violence were set up in 1974.
The 1970s saw the first Mardi Gras parade held in Sydney in 1978. Surfing also took off in this decade, with legends like Fred Hemmings, Randy Rarick, and Jack Shipley forming the International Professional Surfers (IPS). Several natural disasters also occurred, including Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and the Brisbane River flood in 1974, which caused several deaths and left thousands homeless.
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