The Victorian Year-Book, 1940-41

The 1940-41 Year-Book provides a breakdown of products originating in the various districts of Gippsland.

Gippsland wasn’t known for its wheat production. However, within Gippsland, Tanjil was far ahead of any other district, producing 2,723 acres. Tanjil also produced the most oats, barley and maize.

When it came to potatoes, Buln Buln was miles in front, with 4,786 acres under cultivation.¹ The only other districts in Victoria ahead of this were Grant, Mornington (Central District) and Talbot (North Central District). No other state in Australia produced more potatoes than Victoria.

The use of artificial fertilizers had increased. In 1901-02, 11,439 holdings used 23,535 tons of fertilizer. By 1940-41, the number of farms using it had more than doubled. Now 170,869 tons was being used.²

Buln Buln held the most dairy cows – by far. The figure stood at 156,974.³

The forestry industry had rebounded from the Depression. Sawn Timber production had risen from 42,274,000 to 137,550,470.⁴

How much had livestock herds increased in Victoria from the late 1870s?

In 1871, the number of dairy cows stood at 197,814 while in 1940, there were 954,493. The number of non-dairy cows had gone from 523,282 in 1871 to 870,546. The number of sheep had gone from 10,761,887 in 1871 to 18,251,870 in 1940.⁵

By 1940, the clouds of war were on the horizon. International Harvestor, Miss Dentry, Vice-Commandant, Women’s Auxiliary Training League (WATL) & Farmall A Tractor, South Melbourne, 1940. The WATL were sponsored by the Power Farming Association to operate tractors and other machinery to replace men leaving rural areas for active service during World War II. Image – Museum of Victoria

Victorian Year-Book, 1940-41, p. 388 ↩︎
Ibid, p. 413 ↩︎
Ibid, p. 418 ↩︎
Ibid, p. 465 ↩︎
Ibid, p. 531 ↩︎

Australia and the World Past and Present