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The 1950s - A decade of change
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During the 1950s, the role of women was generally considered to be that of the 'homemaker'. Bright television and magazine advertisements encouraged women to stay at home and create a domestic haven for their families using the new appliances on offer
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Electric stoves, refrigerators, toasters and kettles revolutionised the kitchen, and vacuum cleaners and washing machines were released after the sudden WWII
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Communications
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many small appliances that were at first considered luxuries, like kettles and electric mixers, were now considered 'must-have' items. Other appliances, like washing machines and refrigerators, however, were still expensive and out of reach for many famil
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developments in manufacturing technology led to a huge increase in mass production. This included the production of electrical appliances. Coupled with an increasingly prosperous economy, mass production meant that most appliances became not just afforda
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Manufacturers, however, realised that they were facing a major problem. If they continued to design high-quality products that lasted decades, then consumers would have no reason to keep buying their products. Thus, many manufacturers began to produce low
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Appliances became a prime consideration for consumers in the late 1960's
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Microwave ovens did not gain widespread popularity in Australia until the early 1980s, although they had been available since the late 1950s. Microwaves revolutionised food preparation - making it possible to defrost, cook or reheat food in very little ti
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Australian home appliances focused on energy efficiency
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This encouraged consumers to buy the most environmentally-friendly option available
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1990s - Environmentalism and the era of improvement
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Many of the home appliances used by Australians in the 1990s were essentially the same ones used in the 1950s with minor improvements and added features. Some brand new appliances were also available
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The design of most appliances also made them difficult and expensive to repair and many devices were often discarded after a short period of time. Large numbers of old home appliances began to pile up in landfill areas.
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Many appliances, especially older ones, contained toxic substances like lead, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), oil and grease. These substances could leach into soil and water and have serious health and environmental effects
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Despite owning more appliances, Australians in the 1990s spent less time preparing meals than in the past
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By the end of the 1990s, many Australians ate a large proportion of take-away or supermarket convenience meals, and spent just 30 minutes in the kitchen each day
