1940s

War dominated the early 1940s, followed by years of recovery and optimism. This collection shows Australians enduring conflict and seeking renewal. On the home front, familiar comforts took hold – Milo and Vegemite, surfing and horse-racing. Glamour returned through fashion and cinema, with Dior on show in Sydney and The Overlanders on screen. Entertainment legends including cricketer Don Bradman and singer Jack Lumsdaine lifted spirits. The 1940s swung from endurance to opulence, from ration books to ballgowns, charting Australia’s path out of the grim wartime years.

Please be advised that this page contains names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.