Australian leisure: From antiquity to modernity

This chapter traces the development of leisure in Australia from antiquity to modernity. It deals with the topic by discussing leisure through slices of time as: prehistoric living; colonization; post-1945; and contemporary Australia. The chapter shows how the earliest people lived. After colonization, the import of leisure activities occurred as indigenous leisure developed in parallel. The development of modern leisure passed through stages of nationhood, wars, and natural disasters to better times when the country’s economy developed and people were more affluent to enjoy improving lifestyles. The development of Australians was affected by social conditions and so was their leisure