Uncovering the Emotional Impact of World War One in a Western Australian Street

Over the four years of World War One, the residents of Olive Street in the Perth suburb of Subiaco farewelled 54 local men to war, and then waited to hear news of their fates. Through a wide range of historical records, it has been possible to draw out the emotions experienced by these neighbours during and after the conflict, and to examine how networks of connection between individuals and the broader community amplified the emotional impact of war in both negative and positive ways. This exploration of Olive Street uncovers the emotions experienced at home during wartime in unprecedented depth. By situating Olive Street within its community and country, a more nuanced understanding of war is gained that acts as a counterpoint to the more generic perspective often provided by broad national histories.