A Merry Boomer Christmas: How Aussies celebrated the big day in the 1950s and 60s

In the 1950s and 1960s, Australian Christmas celebrations were a much simpler affair compared to today, blending traditional British customs with some adaptations to our sweltering summer climate. Here’s a glimpse into what Christmas looked like during that era:
Homes and Decorations: Australian homes in the 1950s and 60s were modest, often featuring designs like bungalows or cottages with one bathroom and only two or three bedrooms and an outside laundry and toilet. Decorations included natural Christmas trees adorned with tinsel, baubles, and sometimes candles – generally the same every year. Homemade ornaments and paper chains were also popular, and nativity scenes were common.
Appliances and Cooking: Kitchens were equipped with basic appliances such as gas or electric stoves and iceboxes or early refrigerators. Cooking was done using these stoves, and baking was common. To stay cool in the heat (which like today, was often mid to high 30s Celsius – or more), families used electric fans, and some homes had evaporative coolers.
Traditions and Activities: Attending church services was a common practice, with many families participating in Christmas Eve or Christmas morning services. Heading to the beach on Christmas day was also popular – and remains an Aussie tradition today. Listening to the Queen’s Christmas message was also a tradition back then, typically broadcast on the radio and later on black-and-white television sets as TV became more widespread.
Gifts and Pricing: Popular gifts for children included toys like hula hoops, model cars, and dolls. For adults, items such as perfumes, jewellery, and household goods were common. Prices were modest by today’s standards; for example, a hula hoop might cost around 50 cents, and a doll could be purchased for a few dollars.
Christmas Lunch: Despite the hot weather (and as we still see today), traditional British fare was often served, including roast meats like turkey, ham, and chicken, accompanied by roasted vegetables. Seafood spreads, smoked legs of ham and beverages such as champagne and wine were almost unheard of and out of reach for most families. Desserts featured plum pudding, often with hidden coins for children to find, a tradition that has faded over time.
Carols by Candlelight: Was a much-loved event held in our capital cities and regional towns with the first event in Melbourne to be held in the 1930s. It remains a popular tradition today.
Cars and Transportation: Australian-made cars such as the Holden FX and FJ models were popular and if families were affluent enough to afford a car, it was generally only one per household. As a result, it was common for families to pile into their car – all the kids in the back – to visit relatives or go on holiday trips.
Population and Leadership: In 1950, Australia’s population was approximately 8.3 million, growing to about 10.3 million by 1960. The Prime Ministers during this period included Robert Menzies (1949-1966).
Media and Communications: Television was introduced in Australia in 1956, and by the 1960s, it became a central part of family entertainment. Families would gather to watch Christmas specials and variety shows, all broadcast in black and white until colour TV was introduced in the mid-1970s. In the 1950s and 60s, it was commonplace for only a few families in the street to have a telephone connected in their homes.
While life was certainly different in this bygone era of the Baby Boomers, there are distinct traditions that were developing and have emerged that reflect our uniquely Australian Christmas as we celebrate it today – such as heading to the beach Christmas morning, gathering family and friends at home for a leisurely feast that can last all day, playing backyard games such as cricket, and introducing seafood such as prawns and crayfish, home-cooked spit-roasts and the great Aussie BBQ into our Christmas spread.
However you spend your Christmas with family and friends, we wish you a safe and happy celebration and all the best for 2025.