What it used to cost

• Australia in facts and figures. Provides national consumption statistics on different types of food and beverages and expenditure figures (look under ‘food and nutrition', p.105) 

• Australians, historical statistics -- [v.10]. Look under ‘Prices and consumption' (p.210). This provides detailed tables of prices indexed by state, annual average retail prices and wholesale price by commodity group

• Emigration (Australia): return to an address of the Honourable the House of Commons, dated 5 May 1854. Pt. 1, New South Wales and Victoria. Volume 4, part 1, pages 188-192, shows the wages, prices and miscellaneous charges current in Melbourne, during April 1853. This is also available online pp119-120.

• Index to the historical microfiche series: statistical publications since Federation. Contains statistics on earnings, overtime and industrial disputes

• Prices, price indexes and cost of living in Australia. Includes rates of wage in main occupations in each state. Some tables date back from 1891 to 1915

• Historical value of the Australian dollar. Provides past money values in terms of today's dollar. For guidance on how to use this chart, see this page from Melbourne University

• Labour report. Issued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, these reports include itemised costings for food, groceries, wages and rent. They span 1922-1973.

• Statistical register of the colony of Victoria for the year. Compiled from official records in the Registrar-General's Office 1874-1900 (use microform copy).

• Statistics of the colony of Victoria. 1852-1873 (use microform copy)

• McIlrath's groceries and provisions: price list: March, 1941. Includes tobacco, wines, patent medicines, station supplies and soaps as well as the usual food items.

How much is that? provides tools to help convert past values into current values (and vice versa) from America and the United Kingdom.

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