Supporting Banks, Liberals and the 'Australian Way': The Freelands and the 1949 Election

Abstract

In the lead up to the 1949 Federal Election, a barrage of anti-Labor publicity campaigns was maintained by a range of groups and organisations. One of these campaigns was the Australian Way series of press advertisements. Created by the banking industry, it had appeared nationally between 1947 and 1949. By examining the origins of the Australian Way campaign, as well as the images and themes it contained, this study will suggest that the oft neglected supporting advertising campaigns also played a significant role in the Liberals’ 1949 electoral success.