City of Armadale - History House > Records

RATION TICKET - MOTOR SPIRITS

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c. 1948

Overview

Rectangular piece of cream paper with blue lettering in two sections:-
At the top of the paper, there is a rectangular box with an emblem of a swan and [WESTERN / AUSTRALIA].
Below the rectangular box is a square with curved bottom corners and text [MOTOR SPIRIT RATION / TICKET / SERIES / B / VALID IN ALL STATES]. Below this text is [2] with [TWO GALLONS] on either side and then [NOT TRANSFERABLE].
Another rectangular box, below the square, has the test [THIS TICKET MUST BE ENDORSED IN INK / BY CONSUMER WITH NAME, LICENSE NUMBER / AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER].

Historical information

Motor spirit rationing ticket issued to Edward 'Ted' and Elsie Richings of Armadale during World War II. The introduction of rationing in Australia started with petrol in October 1940. On 12 June 1942, food, including tea, sugar and meat, and clothing was rationed.
Rationing was designed to manage shortages caused by the war, ensure everyone received an equal share, stop civilian consumption and spending, limit inflation, and help funnel resources, such as petrol, to Britain.
Locally, the rationing of petrol, clothing, sugar, tea and feed for poultry was felt but thanks to the abundance of orchards, dairies, farms and a local bartering system, there was little need to rely upon ration tickets to stock the pantry.
Rationing continued after the war. Slowly items were taken off the list; sugar in 1947, clothing and meat in June 1948 and tea, butter and petrol in 1950.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2010.40B

Item type

Documents

Themes

People
Social History
War and Conflict

Material

Paper

Width

42 mm

Height or length

61 mm

Keywords

Government of Western Australia

World War Two

RICHINGS Elsie Mrs

RICHINGS Edward ted Mr

Year

c. 1948

Statement of significance

MEDIUM
Historic: It relates to the period during and after World War II when commodities were in short supply and rationing was enforced.
Social: The impact on society by the war and the sudden lack of materials that people were used to having.
Interpretive: How WWII impacted society back in Australia with shortages caused by supplying the war effort.
Provenance: It was used by Edward Richings.

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

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