On The Homefront: Domestic Architecture

The end of the war did not immediately result in the construction of large numbers of homes to house a growing population. On 3 January 1948, the Queensland Times reported that "Home building prospects for 1948 are not bright":

Any hopes 'home hunters' may have that they will be able to build their homes more expeditiously and without a repetition of last year's delays, because of material shortages, are not likely to be fulfilled... 

 

Timber, paint, and electrical fittings are not the main worry. The trouble is roofing, be it galvanised iron or tiling. Plumbers expect that the next 12 months will be the worst so far as roofing is concerned.

In the financial year to 30 June 1947, Ipswich City Council issued 241 permits for construction of new houses. Of these, 59 had been completed and 98 started, but work had not been able to start on the remaining one-third due to a lack of materials, mainly roofing iron, but also hardwood timber.

Ipswich builders were not at all confident in government predictions of record numbers of houses being constructed. Not only were roofing materials and timber in short supply, but so too were paint (due to shortages in its base components of zinc and lead, as well as tinplate for manufacturing paint cans) and some electrical components. Builders were understandably reluctant to begin work on houses until they were assured of adequate supplies of roofing materials, fearing the consequences of unroofed, partially-completed houses being exposed to the weather for long periods.

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