REGULAR FEATURES
A VERY DIFFERENT LIFE 100 years after settlement Barry Clark Bribie Island Historical Society
As Australia Day passed, we were reminded of First Fleet convicts who arrived to establish a new colony in 1788. At that time, 750,000 aboriginal people were here and had occupied this continent for tens of thousands of years. One hundred years later, in 1888, there were 3 million “New” Australians, and only 120,000 original ones. This article is about aspects of Australian life in 1888, which were so very different from today. I hope this will encourage families to talk about these things, about how fortunate we are now, and how they would cope today.
HEALTH
In the 1880’s most people, including Doctors, were ignorant of the causes of many deaths and diseases. Parents were anxious about the fatal throat infection Diphtheria, as well as 38
tuberculosis, Smallpox, Measles, Polio, and Scarlet Fever. Some extraordinary treatments were offered by Quacks and some families had a regular spoonful of treacle or yeast from the
brewery, or nasty tasting liquid, usually from coloured bottles. Gradually the connection between disease and germs was linked to contaminated water, and vaccinations were progressively developed for most virus infections.
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FAMILY LIFE Clear roles were expected for each family member. Fathers were breadwinners providing for family needs, masters of the home, and expected to be stern but affectionate towards
wives and children. Mothers were devoted to the comfort of husbands and children, keeping homes spotless and serving meals on time. Children respected their parents and were polite to all adults. Boys were to be brave and honest little gentlemen, and girls well
mannered with good home skills. All children from age 6 to 12 were supposed to go to school, often having to walk long distances, and all were required to write only with their right hand.
Seaside visits were popular, although men and women were not permitted to swim together until the early 1900s. Bathing costumes covered the body from neck to knee and were very heavy when wet. Some used bathing machines, wooden boxes on wheels,
