Private Lives: Australians at Home Since Federation

by Peter Timms

Witty, irreverent, inventive, and full of fascinating information and insight, this account is a sympathetic—but not uncritical—look inside the suburban house as an exhibition of the revolutionary changes that have shaped domestic life. Beginning at the front door and journeying through each room, this discussion examines the evolution of furnishings as well as the technological and social developments that affect the homes’ layout and deign, such as how the changes in the kitchen technology represent different dining rituals and advancements in women's roles, and how mattress fillings link to altered sex roles and child-rearing practices. Beautifully presented, this exploration is the first-ever cultural history of Australia’s suburbia.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008