It was a dark and gloomy night and I was bored there was nothing much to do. I was sitting alone thinking of something interesting and fun to do. So I went up to my dad and begged him to tell a story about anything. So dad had remembered about the time when he was studying about Australia and how things were back then.

So my dad started of with in the magnificent year of 1901 at this time “The six British colonies in Australia were officially declared a federation. At that time there were various bands, floats and dignitaries. On Sydney’s streets, there lined people waving British flags. There was a massive crowd to cheer and celebrate this magnificent occasion in Sydney’s Centennial Park. At this stage Australia’s first Governor-General was chosen & Australia’s first Prime Minister Edmund Barton” Dad finished. “WOW” I said.

“Throughout the years many new things had developed which helped the society in general and shaped Australia. I had remembered while he had researched that there were no cars and most people had to walk besides those rich people who lived in pure luxury rode on horses. If you were walking you would have to walk through mud, dust and horse manure, which had to be cleaned up each evening. Flies and smells were a part of everyday city life”. “That’s Disgusting Dad”, I said. “Yes it sure was a disgusting thing son” Dad replied.

Dad also remembered that “Many men had to work very hard and earn money for family members to survive and had not much time to do whatever they want. On the other hand the women had to stay at home and care for infants and do the household work”. Dad said sadly.

Now Dad said he was going to tell me the schooling of the kids. Dad said “The kids learnt only the basics which were reading, writing and day to day maths. That most boys would leave school at the age of 12 and would go straight to work. But the richer families would be able to afford to send their son to secondary school”. “That seems unordinary” I replied with amusement.

“Back then women would have to wash the clothes which was a much different process to what it is now using washing machines. They used to wash clothes in a copper, which was heated over a fire. The wooden sticks helped to agitate the clothing and remove it from the boiling water”, Dad explained. “Wow, I glad that the washing machine was made” I agreed.

“Back then there was no means of hygiene and many people had died from diseases. The main killers were tuberculosis, typhoid, diarrhoea and diphtheria. Smallpox and outbreaks of bubonic plague were common. Some of these are still common today. I thought that the diseases would be gone from now. When people became sick they usually tried to cure themselves. Doctors were very expensive and hospitals were places to avoid. Dad also added that doctors didn’t know how the diseases had spread.”

Dad was now going to introduce to me the first type of toilet which was odd. “In the process my son you would dig a hole and do your business and use something to cover it up”. “I am going to vomit!”, listening to this so I told my Dad to eagerly move on. So he move to the technology in that time.

“In 1901 there was no televisions, aeroplanes or computers which meant no form of entertainment. Wait I’ll tell you something else that was quite important at that time people use to use gas for lighting and heating until well into the 1920s. The most common stoves were gas and wood which were powered by gas. On the other hand the rich could afford electric power in their homes.”

“Wasn’t it a dull and boring time then” I said. Dad replied “ Not really since you didn’t really need it then”. “But they were lucky since the magnificent telephone was made which was a great means of communication in 1880. Also there was a man named Marconi who discovered about radio signals which helped many people” Dad stated. “That must have helped many people out during that time” I said. “Yes it sure did son”.

“The Upper-classUpper-class people were very rich and owned large amounts of land.”

“The Middle classMiddle class was made up of small shopkeepers.”

“The Working class generally worked under a boss and usually in a manual job. Most people were in this class. They had little money and had no time leisure that the others in society enjoyed.”

“Amazing Dad I didn’t know there were classes back then”. Also many people that time had read books mainly from the famous Charles Dickens. “That’s why my teacher refers to him during class!” I reasoned. “There was also many forms of entertainment during that time which included music usually from a gramophone or piano”.

“Man that must have been so boring I think I’ll stick to MP3 songs”, I confessed. “They also played card games along with dancing. “Doesn’t that still happen now?” I said. “Yes, son that still happens now”, Dad said. “The main destination for those middle class people would be the club to do various things”.

“At that time there were many larrikins who wanted to terrorise the poorer areas of Sydney by causing trouble and things like that you shouldn’t do in society”. “They were the people who had caused the problems during that time?” I said. “ I couldn’t agree more”, Dad denied.

“You know we go to the beach now back then there were beaches too but there were very strict rules which were to not go in the water unless to wet your feet”. “That’s scary” I said. “Yes, also the men and the women had to separately swim with specific places to bathe”.

“Also during that time there were only two public holidays”. “Which ones were there?” I questioned. “There was Federation Day and Empire day. At the night rich families lit fireworks in their backyards or attended community bonfires to celebrate this wonderful day”.

“During times of work. People use to work more hours and still get less pay which was not fair and also the government didn’t help them even when they were sick”. “That’s so sad for those who are poor” I stated. “Yes, it sure made it hard for everyone else in the family to do their work”.

“Children at that time also had to work. They were paid about 2 cents an hour. But women were only 2 cents extra which isn’t so good. Many poor parents relied on their children to work to provide enough money for the family. The factory owners wanted to make profit so they rather pay a child a small amounts of money than pay an adult wage”.

“Mainly in 1901 there were many servants which were 20% unmarried women. The rest were servants and chefs. If a married person would want to do work they were not permitted because they were allocated to do chores”. “Dad that must have been a boring life just taking care of the house and the children and not much fun”, I said.

“You’re becoming sleepy! I guess you should go to sleep now”. “Ok”.