Australia: the story in the numbers

Australia was founded on Jan 1, 1901, in the Year of the Rat—a sign known for cleverness, adaptability, and building long-term success. But in 1930, a Horse year—the Rat’s enemy—the country was rocked by economic collapse. The national budget flipped from surplus to a deficit larger than all other Australian states combined. With it came mass social disruption. Jobs vanished, charity lines grew, and many barely survived on part-time work or the dole. A textbook example of how enemy years can bring heavy tests—even for nations.