Private motorists issued with enough petrol to drive about 20 miles per weekIn order to cope with the huge demands placed on agricultural producers and manufacturing industries resources to feed civilians and troops and to support the war effort, rationing was introduced in Australia. The Commonwealth Rationing Commission was set up in June 1942, introducing personal identity cards and ration books for clothing and food.

The new rationing regulations included food items such as meat, tea, butter and sugar as well as clothing and footwear. Prices were pegged and daylight saving and shorter holiday periods introduced to boost production hours. Power blackouts and ‘brownouts', standard wartime air raid precautions in cities and coastal areas, also saved precious resources.

Butter rationing was particularly difficult as it was used for both baking and frying and there was no margarine available. Weigh out 170 grams of butter, your weekly ration. Divide it into seven equal parts (one for each day of the week). Is there sufficient to butter your toast and sandwiches for the week? Remember that it is also needed for baking biscuits, cakes or puddings, all of which were homemade, and for frying foods such as sausages.