The Land home page
Land ClearingWheatRabbitsMarket GardensOrchardsDairyWineTobaccoWoolPastoral StationsOrd RiverTimberIntroduction

Orchards continued

In the years between the wars the Western Australian orchard industry slowly recovered from the effects of the First World War, which had seen export prices low, export numbers decline due to lack of shipping space, a glut of fruit on the local market and a shortage of labour. By 1939 apple production and exports had recovered. While attempts to export oranges to the United Kingdom in the 1920s were unsuccessful, apple and grape exports expanded in spite of a drop in prices during the Depression.
During this period increased mechanisation in orchard farming became common. Tractors, trucks and other vehicles were in common use by the 1930s, while sizing machines and other labour saving devices were used in packing sheds.

Please note: The content on this website is made available for archival purposes and may not meet the State Library of Western Australia's current standards for web accessibility, mobile device compatibility, historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity.