Holdens, Victas and Mixmasters: An Australian Homeowner’s Dream
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Following the economic hardships of the 1930s and wartime anxiety from the 1940s, Australia grew and prospered in the 1950s. It was during this decade that three Australian-made products were manufactured and later became icons in cultural history: Holden cars, Victa lawnmowers, and Sunbeam Mixmasters.
These three changed the everyday lives of Australians and became must-haves for homeowners in the suburbs.
The history of Holden started in 1948. Adapted from a stylish American design, the 48/215, later nicknamed FX, became Australia’s first successfully mass-produced car.
Holden’s four-door family car’s performance was excellent and the interior could comfortably accommodate up to two adults and three or four children on two bench seats. They were relatively low cost too.
The rugged construction and powerful 6-cylinder engine made it ideal to cross the country’s rough gravel roads, which were common outside the cities and towns back then. The car was more suited to Australian conditions than its underpowered 4-cylinder British-made counterpart.
Many families owned a Holden as their first car. The vehicle symbolised personal prosperity and boosted national pride.
Advertising brochure for the 48/215 Holden (FX). Photo from Margaret Simpson, MAAS.
Car ownership boomed in Australia during the 1950s.
Post-war, rationing of petrol ceased and families moved away from the old suburbs to build their homes. Tram systems across the country closed down and were replaced by flexible bus routes.
Roads gradually improved, and car-centric establishments such as motels, car parks, drive-ins, drive-throughs, service stations, and roadside cafes showed up everywhere. Shopping centres and supermarkets replaced the old local corner shops.
Car ownership provided mobility and flexibility for the whole family. Photo from Dan Loffler.
Before, holidays were spent only in places accessible by rail: guest houses, rented cottages, etc. Even camping by the coast was a hassle as the gear was required to be sent ahead in a hired truck.
When car usage increased, annual caravanning holidays became part of the country’s cultural norm. In response to the demand, local councils improved roads and established caravan parks by the beach.
‘Rotomo’, Victa’s first production lawnmower. Photo: Sue Stafford, MAAS.
As well as owning a Holden, keeping a household’s grass mown to a park-like lawn with a Victa lawnmower was another status symbol.
The first Victa mower, which was inspired by Lawrence Hall’s 1948 rotary blade lawnmower, was made in 1953. Its manufacture perfectly coincided with the 1950s housing boom. By 1965, company owner Mervyn Victor Richardson was a millionaire.
Powerful Victa mowers saved Australians countless hours of back-breaking work from using push mowers. The latter could only be used on level lawns of short grass. Longer grass needed to be cut by hand first with a scythe. Using a Victa lawnmower meant long grass could be cut, and the mower could also be used on sloping ground.
Victa’s lawnmowers transformed grass into lawns, making the 1950s home as fit and spruce as the shiny Holden in the streets. During this time, appearances were everything.
Advertisements for Victa showed how well the mower could cut grass, a person could even wear sandals while doing it. Photo scan by Kate Pollard, MAAS.
Inside a typical Australian home during the 1950s, various appliances were also introduced. Cast-iron fuel stoves were replaced by electric ones that could be operated with just a dial, complete with oven thermostats. Ice chests were replaced by refrigerators which were able to keep food fresh and cold, and did not need weekly deliveries of ice.
The Model 9B was the first Sunbeam Mixmaster to be made in Australia. Photo by Margaret Simpson, MAAS.
In 1947, another kitchen appliance was introduced: the Sunbeam Mixmaster, which replaced the egg beater and laborious hand-mixing of food.
The machine was advertised as being made for housewives, to help them in looking after the home and the family.
In the 1950s, once they were married, many women had to leave work so as not to take away a job from a potential male employee, despite the huge workforce of women employed a few years earlier during the Second World War.
Did you have any of these iconic Australian made products growing up?
These three changed the everyday lives of Australians and became must-haves for homeowners in the suburbs.
The history of Holden started in 1948. Adapted from a stylish American design, the 48/215, later nicknamed FX, became Australia’s first successfully mass-produced car.
Holden’s four-door family car’s performance was excellent and the interior could comfortably accommodate up to two adults and three or four children on two bench seats. They were relatively low cost too.
The rugged construction and powerful 6-cylinder engine made it ideal to cross the country’s rough gravel roads, which were common outside the cities and towns back then. The car was more suited to Australian conditions than its underpowered 4-cylinder British-made counterpart.
Many families owned a Holden as their first car. The vehicle symbolised personal prosperity and boosted national pride.
Advertising brochure for the 48/215 Holden (FX). Photo from Margaret Simpson, MAAS.
Car ownership boomed in Australia during the 1950s.
Post-war, rationing of petrol ceased and families moved away from the old suburbs to build their homes. Tram systems across the country closed down and were replaced by flexible bus routes.
Roads gradually improved, and car-centric establishments such as motels, car parks, drive-ins, drive-throughs, service stations, and roadside cafes showed up everywhere. Shopping centres and supermarkets replaced the old local corner shops.
Car ownership provided mobility and flexibility for the whole family. Photo from Dan Loffler.
Before, holidays were spent only in places accessible by rail: guest houses, rented cottages, etc. Even camping by the coast was a hassle as the gear was required to be sent ahead in a hired truck.
When car usage increased, annual caravanning holidays became part of the country’s cultural norm. In response to the demand, local councils improved roads and established caravan parks by the beach.
‘Rotomo’, Victa’s first production lawnmower. Photo: Sue Stafford, MAAS.
As well as owning a Holden, keeping a household’s grass mown to a park-like lawn with a Victa lawnmower was another status symbol.
The first Victa mower, which was inspired by Lawrence Hall’s 1948 rotary blade lawnmower, was made in 1953. Its manufacture perfectly coincided with the 1950s housing boom. By 1965, company owner Mervyn Victor Richardson was a millionaire.
Powerful Victa mowers saved Australians countless hours of back-breaking work from using push mowers. The latter could only be used on level lawns of short grass. Longer grass needed to be cut by hand first with a scythe. Using a Victa lawnmower meant long grass could be cut, and the mower could also be used on sloping ground.
Victa’s lawnmowers transformed grass into lawns, making the 1950s home as fit and spruce as the shiny Holden in the streets. During this time, appearances were everything.
Advertisements for Victa showed how well the mower could cut grass, a person could even wear sandals while doing it. Photo scan by Kate Pollard, MAAS.
Inside a typical Australian home during the 1950s, various appliances were also introduced. Cast-iron fuel stoves were replaced by electric ones that could be operated with just a dial, complete with oven thermostats. Ice chests were replaced by refrigerators which were able to keep food fresh and cold, and did not need weekly deliveries of ice.
The Model 9B was the first Sunbeam Mixmaster to be made in Australia. Photo by Margaret Simpson, MAAS.
In 1947, another kitchen appliance was introduced: the Sunbeam Mixmaster, which replaced the egg beater and laborious hand-mixing of food.
The machine was advertised as being made for housewives, to help them in looking after the home and the family.
In the 1950s, once they were married, many women had to leave work so as not to take away a job from a potential male employee, despite the huge workforce of women employed a few years earlier during the Second World War.
Did you have any of these iconic Australian made products growing up?
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