Homes That Built Australia, The (ATOM Study Guide)

This four-part history series looks at how Australia has been shaped by its many definitions of home. From the end of WWII into the present day, The Homes That Built Australia tells the surprising story of a country building its way into the future.

The series unpacks how key historic moments have impacted our wants and needs as a growing society, from economic booms and busts to the fight for Land Rights and recognition, from various cultural migrations and the unrelenting force of nature. Snowy Hydro, Cyclone Tracy, COVID-19 – these are just a few of the turning points that have had an overwhelming impact on our homes, their designs and the way we live as a society. 

As we dig into the ABC’s fascinating archives, alongside recently digitised footage from the National Archives of Australia (NAA), we’ve taken the Australian history we know to look at the stories beneath our feet, around our living rooms and within our hearts.

Each episode has a separate theme:

• Birth of the ‘Burbs 1945–1960: Building up and out post-WWII 
• It’s Time! 1960–1975: Adapting to significant social and cultural changes
• Hard Country 1975–1990: The forces of nature become impossible to ignore
• Boom or Bust? 1990–Today: Navigating economic pressures, skyrocketing prices, and a global pandemic

Curriculum Links:

The Homes That Built Australia is recommended for upper primary and secondary school students. It is particularly relevant to the teaching of:

• History
• Geography
• Civics and Citizenship

It is a useful resource to address the Australian Curriculum General Capabilities of – Ethical Understanding, Critical and Creative Thinking and Intercultural Understanding.