What it used to cost

Provides prices for groceries, houses and wages for Victoria, spanning the 19th to the 20th century.

Welcome

This guide provides past prices for groceries and houses in Victoria as well as wage figures spanning the 19th to the 20th centuries.

Click onto the tabs across the top of this page for more detailed information on each topic.

If figures for your area of research are not included in this guide, please consult the bibliography in the Further resources tab.

The figures in this guide are dependent on the records kept at the time and these records can be inconsistent. In some cases, an answer could not be found. But if you do find an answer which may be useful in this guide, please let us know!

We hope this guide gives you answers to your questions or points you towards resources which may help.

Good luck in your research.

In 1901...

...a quart of milk cost 4 pennies.

 

 Empire condensed milk, H2000.180/216

From our Pictures Collection

 

 Woman standing with display of ecologically friendly products sold by Kmart under K Green logo

 Woman standing with display of ecologically friendly products sold by Kmart under K Green logo YMS 13468

 

Coles supermarket  display of products

Coles supermarket display YMS 13468

Coles display window promoting the cafe with shop mannequins including children YMS 13468