In 1931 in the time of the 'Great Depression', public demonstrations in all states protested against unemployment and poverty.

In Adelaide an estimated 2,000 people marched along King William Street on 9 January 1931 in protest against the government's cost cutting measure of removing beef from the meat ration provided to the unemployed. This demonstration became known as the 'Beef March'.

The Advertiser report on 10 January (p. 9) printed the following headlines: 'Iron Bars And Spiked Sticks In City Riot'; and 'Communist Demonstration Leads To Pitched Battle With Police'.

In 1932 unemployment in Australia reached 30 per cent.

Anderson, Hugh. Australia in the depression, [Melbourne]: Hill of Content, 1972

The Beef March - coping: making ends meet: the South Australian experience, [Adelaide: State History Centre, 1993]

Fox, Len, ed. Depression down under, Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, 1989

Lowenstein, Wendy. Weevils in the flour : an oral record of the 1930s depression in Australia, Carlton North, Vic.: Scribe Publications, 1998

Zweck, Wayne T. Unemployment in South Australia during the depression, 1929-32, Thesis (B.A Hons.) University of Adelaide, 1963

The Great Depression - Stories from Australia's Culture and Recreation Portal