Australia suffered badly during the period of the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. As in other nations, Australia suffered years of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement. The Australian economy and foreign policy generally largely rested upon its place as a primary producer within the British Empire and Australia's important export industries, particularly primary products such as wool and wheat,... suffered significantly from the collapse in international demand. Unemployment reached a record high of 23% in 1938, and gross domestic product declined by 10% between 1929 and 1931. There were also incidents of civil unrest, particularly in Australia's largest city, Sydney.
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