The Roaring Twenties
The 1920s heralded the brave new world that emerged from the devastation of World War I
Vast social and industrial changes are coming, perhaps upheavals which may, in their magnitude and effects, be comparable to war itself.
J C Smuts, The League of Nations: a practical suggestion, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1918.
The 1920s heralded the brave new world that emerged from the devastation of World War I. Australia’s allegiance to the British Empire’s war effort had come at a high price: thousands of young men had been slaughtered, families had been dislocated, and returned soldiers often struggled to fit back into the rhythms of society. Similar stories played out in other countries around the globe. Eager to put the horror and drudgery of war behind them, people began rebuilding their lives.
The Roaring Twenties saw dramatic changes in technology, entertainment, architecture and society. Young women sought new freedoms, movies began influencing the way people lived, and technological developments such as faster, more reliable motor cars improved the lives of millions. Change brought opportunity, and criminals around the world found ways to cash in on developing illegal markets. Police forces, their numbers reduced by war, were caught on the back foot. Their work was made harder by the fact that laws did not always keep up with the pace of criminal evolution.
Underworld
Fallen soldiers
After the universal upheaval of World War I, many soldiers found it difficult to take up their former occupations and adjust to civilian life
Underworld
Flappers
The flapper was an alluring vision of sophistication and freedom for young women globally
Underworld
Gangs
The lure of easy money from the illicit alcohol, drug and gambling trades encouraged the formation of new crime gangs
Related
Underworld
The Black Hand in Sydney
Restrictions on the sale of alcohol offered tantalising opportunities for organised crime groups around the world. A Mafia-style organisation known as the Camorra began to make inroads into Australia during the 1920s
Tilly Devine & the Razor Gang Wars, 1927–1931
Learn about the Razor gangs and their leaders Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh
For hire
Touring exhibition
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties
This exhibition is available for hire