The Australian home front during the Second World War

During the Second World War many Australians experienced profound change and a sense of uncertainty in their everyday lives. Austerity measures were introduced and air raid precautions were put in place as the fighting came close to home. As some went overseas to serve, others helped with the war effort on the home front. Women joined military services and replaced men in factories and on farms, while children collected items for recycling and took part in fundraising events.

Australian cities such as Darwin, Broome, Sydney, and Townsville became the target of air and sea attacks from 1942. Thousands of American soldiers were deployed to Australia, and a strong alliance was formed between the two countries as they worked together in the south-west Pacific.

Germans or Australians born in Germany were considered “enemy aliens”, and some were interned in Australian camps, some of which also housed enemy prisoners of war. They were later joined by people of Italian and Japanese heritage.

This page links you to some of the Australian War Memorial’s resources relating to the home front in Australia during the Second World War.