Coming after the hectic excitement of the Swinging Sixties, the 70s saw an ebbing of confidence in the developed world and a general mood of disillusionment. The sudden rise of oil prices in 1973 disrupted international trade and brought about the return of widespread unemployment. This decade was also a decade of terrorism instigated by groups such as "Black September", the "Red Brigades", the "PLO" and the "IRA". The war in Vietnam intensified and spread to Cambodia before the impact of anti-war demonstrations forced the Americans to withdraw from Vietnam. After the tanks of North Vietnam rolled into Saigon, the world witnessed the "killing fields" of Cambodia and the phenomena of the "boat people". The world also witnessed President Nixon resign after the Watergate scandal, a coup in Chile, the Yom Kippur war in the Middle East, the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, Civil War in Lebanon, violence in Africa (perpetrated by men such as Idi Amin), the invasion of Afghanistan by the USSR, the Shah fleeing from Iran and a near nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island in the USA.

Tragedy at Kent State in Ohio	Victim of a napalm bomb attack
"Boat People" flee Vietnam	Red Brigade kill Aldo Moro
Nixon resigns over Watergate scandal	Shah Pahlavi flees from Iran

The 70s in Australia was a time of change. The success of the Vietnam Moratoriums (peace movement) in hastening the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam encouraged further protest movements - for nuclear disarmament, environmental issues, and equal rights for minority groups and women. 'Youth culture' became a far more vocal force in society at this time. In politics, after 23 years of Liberal Party rule, the Labor Party gained power with Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister. His government was one of change ("It's Time") and led to three years of major reforms. Unfortunately, financial mistakes were made in the process. When the Liberal Party under Malcolm Fraser decided to block Supply in the Senate, a Constitutional crisis had developed. This in turn led to the dismissal of Gough Whitlam's government in 1975 by Sir John Kerr, the Governor General. Malcolm Fraser's Liberal government then began eight years of austerity. Disasters also dominated this decade - a span of Melbourne's West Gate Bridge collapsed during construction, Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin, Hobart's Tasman Bridge was knocked down and Granville had an horrific train crash.

Moratorium March in Melbourne	Opening of the Sydney Opera House
Gough Whitlam wins government	Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin
Sir John Kerr dismisses Whitlam	Tasman Bridge is knocked down

To visit the School Archives for this decade,
simply CLICK on any one of the YEAR PLAQUES listed below.