The world’s passions and conflict of the early 20th century were to shape the new nation’s history, despite its physical distance from their epicentres. In some respects this was the least positive of the major periods of Australian history. Nationalism grew in strength, but it killed and sterilized as much as it inspired; egalitarianism tended to foster mediocrity; dependence on external power and models prevailed. Yet creativity and progress survived, and Australia’s troubles were small compared with those of many contemporary societies. Drabness was most evident in economic affairs. At the broadest level of generality, the period did little more ...(100 of 51163 words)