CHAPTER 20 Boom Times Again
T he 1950s were an exciting decade for Australian fine wine. The ambition to prove ourselves to the rest of the world had not dulled. This desire for validation from Britain and the United States was a national trait. Even though Australia had pulled its weight through two world wars and implemented strong nation-building projects, including the Snowy River Scheme, there was an underlying lack of confidence in its position on the world stage. The wine industry had taken great steps by the turn of the century, but the intervening years and emphasis on fortified wine production had diminished a sense of achievement within the wine community. Many had forgotten the marvellous reviews and medals given to 19th-century wine producers for their expressive, fine table wines. The demand for bulk Australian burgundy and fortified wines in export markets overshadowed progress. So, when the 1940 Seppelt Great Western Champagne won a gold medal at the 1950 International Wine Show in association with the California State Fair, there was a feeling that Australia could compete favourably with the rest of the world again. In those days, a gold medal was the first prize, and winning against California and France’s Champagne region was a significant event. By the 1950s, Australia’s multicultural identity continued to emerge as immigrants and refugees introduced new ways of living into Australian culture. Aside from the beginning of a thriving cafe and restaurant scene, it also marked the beginning of a coffee culture and a more relaxed lifestyle. Melbourne’s 1956 Olympic Games shined an international spotlight on Australia’s post-war
PREVIOUS PAGE: Ladies drink at the bar of the Newcastle Hotel on George Street, Sydney, 26 May 1958. Their presence would have raised eyebrows amongst the male patrons as women were not permitted to drink in public bars until 1963. [ Sydney Morning Herald , Photo by RICE]
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