Gough Whitlam’s Labour Government (1972-1975)
Paddy playing Gough Whitlam
The Whitlam Labor Government (1972 – 1975) was an important chapter in Australia’s history. Whitlam’s government made a series of major reforms, but 1975, Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Whitlam as Prime Minister. It remains the only time in Australia’s history the monarch (or their representative) has stepped in to remove a federal government.
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NARRATOR (CLANCY): In 1972 Gough Whitlam became Prime Minister of Australia and brought a lot of big dreams with him. One of those dreams was ‘the hyphen’ in Albury-Wodonga. During his election speech he announced, if elected, he would transform the Albury-Wodonga region into a National Growth Centre. That here was the perfect spot to build a great new inland city – another Canberra if you like.”
GOUGH: Men and Women of Australia! The decision we will make for our country on 2nd December is a choice between the past and the future, between the habits and fears of the past, and the demands and opportunities of the future. There are moments in history when the whole fate and future of nations can be decided by a single decision. For Australia, this is such a time. It's … It’s time to create new opportunities for Australians, time for a new vision, of what we can achieve in this generation, for our nation, and for the region in which we live. It's time for a new government.
Whitlam’s famous address on the steps of Parliament after the government had been dismissed.
Other useful images:
Whitlam 1972 policy speech
The Albury Wodonga Development Corporation (1973-2014)
In At The Hip, the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation is mentioned a lot by Jean, Bruce and John. The Development Corporation was set up in 1973, as an agency of the Australian Government, to help fulfil the National Growth Centre plan of the Whitlam Government.
The corporation was to provide engineering, architectural, town and country planning, building, construction and other services – as well as establish places of commerce, and to help facilitate the settlement of migrants to the area.
Gough Whitlam attending the launch of the Corporation.
Going Places
The development corporation had big dreams – and they tried to communicate them with tours, and even a song – but not everybody shared those dreams.
In At The Hip, the cast perform a dance number with umbrellas to ‘The Growing Place’.
Winding Up
Hothouse Theatre (1997 and ongoing)
The home of Hothouse Theatre - the Hume Bank Butter Factory
The Hothouse Theatre is located in Albury-Wodonga, on the border between Victoria and New South Wales, and has a vision to be a creative force in Australian theatre-making, and a cultural force in the regional community.
Under the Lyn Wallis, the Artistic Director and CEO, they run a number of programs to produce and present high quality Australian theatre, as well as holding artistic and professional development programs for artists and the broader community.
Origin Stories
Hothouse began itself with a big dream, that started in 1996, which you can hear Chris Thompson – one of the founding directors of Hothouse – explain.
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The home of Hothouse is the Hume Bank Butter Factory, set amongst the bushland of Gateway Island on the banks of the Murray River. Originally built in 1928, the building was previously home to the Holdenson & Neilson dairy. It was transformed into a professional theatre in 1997, for HotHouse productions, workshops and rehearsals, as well as community events.
Links:
HotHouse History
Ausstage Database of Productions
The HotHouse Theatre grew from the Murray River Performing Group (MRPG) which was founded by Robert Perrier, Mark Sherrifs and Lloyd Suttor on 12 January 1979. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus was also another much loved company that emerged from the MRPG.
You can see more about the Murry River Performing Group here, and browse their many productions here.