The personal archive I inherited from my grandmother was eclectic, and included some unexpected items. Among them were some World War Two ration coupons which had been issued to my great-grandmother in Australia.

In the 1930s, more than half Britain’s food came from overseas. That meant agricultural production at home suddenly became important when World War Two began. Food rationing began in 1940, and rationing of clothing, fuel, and other products soon followed. Britain’s rationing for many items continued until July 1954.

In Australia, rationing was implemented later, with regulations formalised from 14 May 1942, and coordinated by the Rationing Commission. Ration coupons were printed by the Reserve Bank of Australia, to draw on its experience and make them difficult to counterfeit. At the time, Prime Minister John Curtin was quoted as saying “The darning needle is a weapon of war these days”. It was a message intended to also encourage re-use and recycling as a means to support economic austerity.

It limited spending for everyone in Australia, and rationing remained in place until 1950. It aimed to to cap demand, “curb inflation, reduce total consumer spending, and limit impending shortages of essential goods”. Food was in reasonable supply, but rationing meant greater equity of access, and greater savings in uncertain times.

Formal rationing may have ended many years ago, yet many of the actions and messages about smart choices and sustainable living are still quite applicable today.

Above: These three posters from World War Two demonstrate some of the Australian rationing campaigns. The originals are held by the Australian War Memorial, and the images are in the public domain.

Select references

‘Rationing of food and clothing during the Second World War’, Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/homefront/rationing, accessed 22 June 2025.

‘Empty shelves: Rationing in Australia’, National Archives of Australia, https://www.naa.gov.au/blog/empty-shelves-rationing-australia, accessed 22 June 2025.

‘When we, too, live on coupons’, The Wireless Weekly: The hundred per cent Australian radio journal, 13 June 1942, vol. 37, no. 23, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-726274707, accessed 22 June 2025.

‘Buying panic follows announcement that clothes will be rationed: Reasons for restrictions outline by Prime Minister Curtin’, Worker, 12 May 1942, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71443313, accessed 22 June 2025.

‘What you need to know about rationing in the Second World War’, Imperial War Museum, https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-you-need-to-know-about-rationing-in-the-second-world-war, accessed 22 June 2025.

‘What was rationing, when did it start and when did it end?’ Who Do You Think You Are?, https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/feature/rationing-second-world-war, accessed 22 June 2025.

‘Rationing, austerity and the black markets’, Reserve Bank of Australia Museum, https://museum.rba.gov.au/exhibitions/make-your-money-fight/rationing-austerity-and-black-markets/, accessed 22 June 2025.

‘Join the army on the food front: Grow your own vegetables’, poster, photolithograph, ARTV02158, 1939-1945, Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C97711, image in the public domain (copyright expired).

‘Note: all cows are kindly requested to produce more milk’, poster, photolithograph, ARTV02583, 1939-1945, Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C98127, image in the public domain (copyright expired).

‘Meat for Britain’, poster, photolithograph, ARTV00260, c1943, Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C95837, image in the public domain (copyright expired).