Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Queensland is a state situated in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous Australian state. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean. To its north is the Torres Strait, separating the Australian mainland from Papua New Guinea.

With an area of 1,852,642 square kilometres (715,309 sq mi), Queensland is the world’s sixth-largest sub-national entity, and is larger than all but 15 countries. Due to its size, Queensland's geographical features and climates are diverse, including tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges and sandy beaches in its tropical and sub-tropical coastal regions, as well as deserts and savanna in the semi-arid and desert climatic regions of its interior.

The capital and largest city in the state is Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city. Ten of Australia’s thirty largest cities are located in Queensland, with the largest outside Brisbane being the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns and Toowoomba.

Queensland was also first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. It has the third-largest economy among Australian states, with strengths in mining, agriculture, transportation, international education, insurance and banking. Nicknamed the Sunshine State for its tropical and sub-tropical climates, Great Barrier Reef and numerous beaches, tourism is also important to the state's economy.

These amazing photos from show what Queensland looked like during the 1930s.

Delivering wheat to dump, Clifton, circa 1930s

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Hamilton Road and Brisbane River, November 1930

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Queen Street, Brisbane looking south, October 1930

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Sailing on the Brisbane River, October 1930

Abbott Street, Cairns, 1931

Bourbong Street, Bundaberg looking west, October 1931

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Brisbane City Hall, Adelaide Street, Brisbane, January 1931

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Steel structure of State Government Building, Anzac Square, September 1931

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

The Bruce Highway at Pomona looking towards Mount Tuchekoi, 1931

Aerial view of the Brisbane central business district showing Victoria Bridge and the Brisbane River, 1932

Broadbeach, 1932

Flinders Street, Townsville, 1932

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Jubilee Bridge, Southport, 1932

The Shrine, Anzac Square, Adelaide Street, Brisbane, 1932

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Echo Point, Lamington National Park, Beaudesert Shire, September 1933

Flinders Street, Townsville, 1933

Longreach, 1933

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Windmill Tower, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane looking west towards the William Jolly Bridge, December 1933

Baseline measurement in Bowen Terrace, Brisbane, June 1934

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Looking up Currumbin Creek from Pacific Highway, Currumbin, 1934

Main Beach, Southport, 1934

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Main Pacific Highway crossing Tallebudgera Creek, Burleigh Heads, 1934

Abbott Street, Cairns, 1935

Lake Street, Cairns, 1935

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Lake Street, Cairns, 1935

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane, 1936

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Rankin Street, Innisfail, 1936

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Sydney Street, Mackay, showing the Former Mackay Town Hall, 1936

Bathers and Moora Park, Sandgate, December 1937

Picking Tomatoes at Victoria Point, 1937

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

The Jetty and shark-proof enclosure, Sandgate, December 1937

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Main Street, Tully, 1938

Palmerin Street, Warwick, 1938

Sugar cane train, Kalamia, Ayr, 1938

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Bargara Golf Club House, near Bundaberg, circa 1930s

Locals and tourists sun bathing and surfing at Main Beach in Southport, circa 1930s

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Nielsen Park Beach, circa 1930s

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

Stackbuilding at Clifton, Darling Downs, circa 1930s

Thirties Queensland: The Decade Consumed by the Great Depression and the Lead Up to WWII

The skyscape of Brisbane City from near the Roma Street Parklands, circa 1930s

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Topics: australia old 1930s Australia street life & culture Queensland