2 December 2005
Many baby-boomers regard the Sixties as the best years of their lives, but for others the decade unleashed social changes that are symptomatic of everything that is wrong with the modern world.
Circa Books has published a new book examining how this decade of cultural upheaval changed Melbourne.
Go! Melbourne in the Sixties was initiated by Monash School of Historical Studies senior lecturer Dr Seamus
O'Hanlon and historian Dr Tanja Luckins from Latrobe University. It explores life in Melbourne during this heady decade.
The book features a collection of essays by expert commentators and senior academics. Many are based on personal recollections.
Topics include: Beatlemania (1964 visit by The Beatles), Melbourne's theatre scene, Mediterranean food culture, the end of six o'clock closing at pubs (1966), anti-Vietnam war rallies, youth culture, the mini-skirt furore caused by English model Jean Shrimpton during the 1965 Melbourne Cup carnival, Aboriginal rights, living with the motor car, Jewish music culture, Greek-Australian activism, and the rise of alternative publications and the concept of the 'working mother'.
"In contrast to the Anglocentric, smug, morally conservative 1950s, the Sixties were a golden decade of innocence, youth and ambition; of social freedom, new cultural expressions and political dissent," Dr O'Hanlon said.
"Young people distinguished themselves from the older generations via attitudes, dress, politics, style - mods, sharpies and hippies; pop music, drugs, and involvement in the 'counter-culture'.
"This was a vibrant decade and Melbourne underwent a period of rapid change. People married in record numbers and they married young. Migrants were also arriving in record numbers and there was a baby boom. Outer suburbs such as Doncaster and Frankston boomed, the Eastern Freeway and suburban shopping complexes such as Chadstone were planned and built, and many nineteenth century buildings in the CBD were demolished to make way for skyscrapers.
"At the same time, these changes to Melbourne's fabric were leavened by tradition. People could still catch a W-class tram, shop at Myer's and Queen Victoria Market, see their favourite footy team at the MCG or a suburban oval on a Saturday afternoon and attend their local church on a Sunday," Dr O'Hanlon said.
Copies of Go! Melbourne in the Sixties are available for review from the Melbourne Publishing Group. Contact Mary Mumford on mobile 0419 885 847.
For interviews or information contact Dr Seamus O'Hanlon on +61 3 9905 2169 or mobile 0411 526 414, or email: seamus.ohanlon@arts.monash.edu.a u, or Dr Tanja Luckins on mobile 0401 804 451, or Ms Karen Stichtenoth, Media Communications on +61 3 9905 1253.
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