Australia Yearbook - 2001

952 Year Book Australia 2001
A look at some common food items shows that
some are relatively more expensive today, some
are relatively cheaper and some are about the
same. In 1901 a loaf of bread cost about 2 cents
(equivalent to $1.00 today), while the actual
price today is about $2.30; milk was 3 cents a
litre ($1.50) compared with $1.40 today;
180 grams of tea cost 6 cents ($3.00) compared
with $3.40; potatoes were 2 cents ($1.00) a
kilogram compared with $1.30; eggs were
12 cents a dozen ($6.00) compared with $2.90,
and rump steak was 14 cents a kilogram ($7.00)
compared with $12.50 a century later.
A man’s cotton business shirt cost about 85 cents
(or $42.50 today after inflation), while a pair of
ladies shoes was about $1.45 ($72.50). These items
could be purchased for comparable prices today.
The average weekly rent for a three bedroom
house in 1901 was $1.30, equivalent to about
$65.00 today. The actual value today varies
depending on location, but the average of 8 capital
cities for a three bedroom house is about $250 a
week. In the house, a metal-framed double bed,
mattress, a pair of blankets and two pillows cost
about $12.10 ($605.00) in 1901. Today, you could
expect to pay upwards of $830.00.
At the time of Federation, motor cars were
almost unheard of. Most people relied on public
transport or walking to get around. While
walking was free, a return train trip, travelling
first class, from Sydney to Penrith was 60 cents
($3.00). Today, the same return trip costs
$12.80. In 1901 such a journey was considered
to be a day excursion, whereas today people
commute regularly between Penrith and Sydney
for work. Bicycles were starting to be seen on
the streets, but were a luxury item for most
people. A new bicycle at about $31.00
($1,550.00) cost the equivalent of more than
seven weeks wages, whereas today you can buy
a good quality bicycle for about $320.00, less
than half a week’s wages.
Although wine was not as popular in 1901 as it is
today, people still enjoyed a drink. A bottle of
whisky cost 38 cents, or $19.00 after inflation.
Today you would pay about $26.00 for a bottle
of popular brand scotch whisky. For beer
drinkers, only full strength beer was available.
A carton of a dozen bottles cost 70 cents in
1901, or $35.00 after inflation, whereas the
actual price today is about $28.00. For the
smokers, a packet of cigarettes was 5 cents
($2.50) whereas today you pay about $11.20.
Of course, cigarettes carried no health warnings
in 1901. In fact, an advertisement for a brand of
cigarettes appearing in an issue of the Sydney
Morning Herald of the time carried the
endorsement that they were “guaranteed not to
harm the throat or lungs” and, perhaps more
disconcertingly, “recommended by doctors”.
For recreation, there are far more choices today
than there were a hundred years ago.
Nevertheless, there are still some common
forms of amusement. A newspaper cost 1 cent
in 1901, or 50 cents after inflation, whereas the
actual cost of a daily newspaper today is about
$1.00. A new release novel cost about 25 cents
($12.50) compared with an actual price of about
$45.00 for a hard cover new release today,
although of course paperbacks are often
available at cheaper prices. A concert at the
Tivoli cost was 75 cents ($37.50) in 1901, much
the same as the cost of a concert today (about
$40). Admission to a game of football in 1901
was 10 cents ($5.00), considerably cheaper than
the $21.70 you would pay today. However,
some things do not change much—Essendon
won the 1901 VFL Premiership and the 2000
AFL Premiership!
Table 28.7 summarises the costs of a common
‘basket’ of goods and services in 1901 and today.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics:
—Average Retail Prices of Selected Items
(6403.0).
—Average Weekly Earnings, States and
Australia (6302.0).
Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics:
—Labour and Industrial Branch Report No. 1,
Prices, Price Indexes and Cost of Living in
Australia, December 1912;
—Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of
Australia, No. 21, 1901–1928.
Coopers Brewery Ltd.
Sydney Morning Herald 1901, various issues.
The Age 1901, various issues.
The Advertiser 1901, Adelaide, various issues.