Newspaper Talks Up Our Patch

BIG WRAP FOR OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 1932 STYLE

In September 1932 Richmond was on its way to the VFL Premiership. The VFL's leading goalkicker was George Moloney of Geelong with 109 goals (all scored during the home-and-away season). The winner of the 1932 Brownlow Medal was Haydn Bunton, Sr of Fitzroy with 23 votes.

The Sydney Harbour bridge had been open for 6 months.

The Australian economy had collapsed and unemployment reached a peak of 32 per cent in 1932.

Things were not so bleak about Heidelberg and Ivanhoe as The Age article seems to imply..........

The Age, 17.09.1932, Page 5 (referenced by the diligent Nilss)

The Great Roads of Melbourne.

HEIDELBERG ROAD

Once we have crossed the Darebin Creek below Alphington we are into the picturesque districts of Ivanhoe and Heidelberg.

The story goes that one of the earliest of Melbourne' land jobbers, a dandy of the period named Brown, took a picnic party to this district to view some land he had purchased, and proposed cutting up for settlement.

They were so charmed with the views that are opened up from the hills overlooking the river — here a pleasant stream flowing through timber, from which rolls grassy land — that Brown, in a moment of poetic fervor named it all as far as he could see Heidelberg, after that beautiful Heidelberg of Germany.

The road forks at the railway bridge entering Ivanhoe.

The lower road will take us towards Kew, and skirt Eaglemont, the perch of many modern mansions and many fine gardens.

The Upper road will take us through the busy, thriving shopping centre of Ivanhoe, and give us magnificent views of the rolling undulations towards Kew, with the blue ridge of the Dandenongs as the far, misty wall.

The gardens of Ivanhoe are noted for their roses; the panoramas are unparalleled. Through this suburb, and from the top of a fairly steep pinch, we see straggled at our feet the picturesque village of Heidelberg.

Old homes in irregular plots of rioting garden, modern residences cheek by jowl with cottages nearly a hundred years old, an ill-conditioned, straggling old-world shopping street; an inn hidden behind a high hedge, and through it all streaking the lazy, pleasant Yarra.

Who was buying newspapers when 32% unemployment oppressed the collective psyche?

Remember that in those days this was essentially 32% adult male unemployment - very few women had been in paid employment, so were not reflected in the unemployment figures.

Our current interest rates, our rent stress, our housing costs and inflation making food too costly are real issues to many of our community - but need to be kept in perspective.

A contemporary childrens' rhyme -
We’re on the susso now,
We can’t afford a cow,
We live in a tent,
We pay no rent,
We’re on the susso now.