Photograph showing old cloth tents in a backyard with trees and a building visible. The image appears faded in sepia tones.
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What the page says
I can remember some incidents from my early life in Caulfield. One part that springs to mind was about a day that I recall my younger brother sitting in his cot, his bassinet and he demanded he have the razor blade sharpener. I had pulled it to bits; I pulled everything to bits! It was the little square box with blades - he demanded them so he got them! Actually, I got a spanking! That's one thing I remember! (amidst chuckles)
BACKYARD TENTS
I also remember sleeping in the tents! The house became too small after my aunt and uncle came from Europe. My brother and I had to sleep in the backyard in old cloth tents for nearly six months! I'm not kidding! It was in December, Christmas time; it was warm weather at the start but later it started to deteriorate. They actually took a long time to find a house!
Places: Caulfield, Europe
Interesting facts
The housing shortage was real and long. Almost no houses were built in Australia between 1939 and 1945, while the population kept growing. Families doubled up, and sleep-outs, verandahs, garages and tents were ordinary accommodation into the early 1950s.
