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| 1939 - 1948 - World War II | |
In 1939 the entire world was plunged into crisis when global war erupted. To protect the diggers from being exploited once they had left to protect the British Empire, a system of rent and prices control was institutionalised along with other strict measures such as food and petrol rationing. The REIQ's Quarterly Journal continued to be published despite rationing of available newsprint. The Courier Mail was limited to 40 per cent of its pre-war usage. |
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The war years were not a time for commercial development and indeed it could best be described as stagnant. The presidents reported that it was not "business as usual" and the level of sales dropped by 40 per cent during that time. The 1941 Annual Report presided over by F G Pearce thanked members for their support during the troubled times but optimistically discussed the benefits of a sound real estate market. Major J P Love was granted leave of absence from the Board to enlist for war service, as was his replacement Alex Meldrum. Several agents who had died on active service were mentioned. What was to set the tone for building design - and ultimately the character of the Australian urban landscape - came about through government controls immediately after the war. The government knew that there would be a rush on resources as people settled back into peacetime life and put a limit on the size of houses that could be built. There was virtually nothing built during the war, and immediately after there was a ban on houses over 12 and a half squares in size. |
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Order your copy of Dreams, Deeds and Dedication: A History of the REIQ here |
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1939-1948 |
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