How did living conditions in Richmond between influence the lives of the rich and the poor?

Growing Up POORMiddle-classRICH - No education at all because they would have to work - Expected to attend a public school until their parents couldn’t continue to pay the fees -Completed a private education - Children worked from the age of 7 to help support their families -often left school early to begin work in factories - divided by their sex - GIRLS: literature, French and home management lessons - BOYS: more academic based subjects (to become lawyers, doctors)

Children’s Lives and Entertainment POORRICH - Played in alleyways or in the streets-Children and their families held garden parties and played wealthy sports such as tennis and golf. - Forced to grow up quickly, as they had to work from a young age. - Because rich children didn’t work they spent more time playing in their gardens - Had a reputation of joining gangs and being rowdy in the streets Rich children were more than often forbidden to play with the poor children.

Housing for the Poor Families were much than today, containing around 10 people, which made the houses very crowded. Houses usually only contained two or three rooms. Poorer families lived at the bottom of hills. Houses were generally made out of timber or sometimes simple tents. When the Yarra River flooded, water would collect and weaken the houses, causing dampness rust. Ultimately, this would influence the quality of life and hygiene of low class citizens. The Richmond slums were developed during the industrial revolution to allow easy access to the factories for workers. They developed into dumps covered in toxic waste. Also, because they were located at the bottom of the hill, they were vulnerable to floods and sewerage overflow. Consequently this affected the health and hygiene of many people. Families had limited access to clean water and toilets. Houses often contained an ‘outhouse’, which was cleaned by the night man. However, if families couldn’t pay the night man they were a risk to diseases and infections.

Housing for the Rich Wealthy families lived near churches and gardens, often on top of a hill. In Richmond, wealthy families lived on Richmond Hill. Commonly, houses contained a garden or area for children to play. The houses were often significant larger than that of the poor, and they often consisted of two levels. Generally, they were made of weatherboards, timber or brick, resulting in a stronger house far less prone to damage. Wealthy families could afford to have a clean toilet, often inside the house. Overall, these homes were much more hygienic. Therefore, the high class citizens were less exposed to diseases and they could afford the necessities of a clean and fulfilling lifestyle.

Women’s Role in Society Poor women worked in factories to help support their family. However, they were paid only half the wage of a man completing the same job. However, companies such as Bryant and may provided suitable and attractive jobs for women. Once a women was married, she commonly stayed at home and worked in the house or cared for the children. Rich families could afford to have maids to clean and care for their children. Therefore wealthy women had more time to socialise and care for their status in society.

Employment Working conditions in Australia in the early 1900's were very poor. Many people had to work long an tiring hours in very unhygienic conditions. The machinery used was very dangerous and caused many injuries and deaths throughout society. Rich workers had jobs in a safer environment as doctors or business men, this meant that they were not paid unfairly, or at risk of injury or inflection. Working Conditions: Difference between poor and rich employment: The rich would usually receive tertiary education, which enabled them higher class jobs such as doctors or business men. However, because the poor hadn’t received the same education, they would be forced to work in the factories. The lack of education left the poor caught in the cycle of poverty.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:  slums/1430/richmond.-the-childrens-playground/ slums/1430/richmond.-the-childrens-playground/  nt-exhibitions/melbournestory/bfa/record/?irn= nt-exhibitions/melbournestory/bfa/record/?irn=  / /  Corby, Sue and Haskin, Leon, Hard Yakka, 100 years of Richmond Industry  McCalman, Janet, Struggle Town, 1998  Melbourne Museum  Richmond Historical Society