THERE were 5.5 million babies born in Australia between the end of World War II and 1965, the year oil was found in Bass Strait, Prime Minister Robert Menzies sent a combat mission to Vietnam, Roma Mitchell became the first female judge in Australia and Charles Perkins led a freedom ride through NSW in an attempt to end Aboriginal segregation.
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For the next half century, and more, the "Baby Boomers" generation has influenced Australia's culture, politics, traditions and economy more than just about any other generation.
Boomers have been called "the bulge in the belly of the snake" - equating a generation so large compared to those before or since with a snake struggling to digest a large animal.
The Australian economy has benefited from its Boomers, but it has also struggled to digest its needs.
Boomers remain consistently the largest segment of the consumer population, and not only in numbers. Boomers in the 21st century have the purchasing power that comes from decades of benefiting from progressive political policies - think free university education, for example - and having Boomer representatives in power as they head into retirement.
Boomers have been able to make the most of Australia's housing laws and market cycles. They were able to buy into the market when it was possible to get a mortgage on one wage, and imagine owning it outright before retirement. They're the generation which has capitalised on some of the world's most generous investment property tax and capital gains laws.
Now Boomers are either retired, getting ready to retire, or planning retirement, and they're having a huge impact on Australia's housing market yet again.
The Hunter is experiencing something of a retirement living boom because of the Boomers. Licensed club giant Wests is just the latest group to announce big plans for a new seniors living redevelopment at Mayfield, joining a long line of other clubs which have seen money in retirement investments.
The proposal for 262 serviced dwellings and a 216-bed aged-care facility will cater for one sector of the seniors living market, while upmarket tower proposals and golf resort complexes will meet another. They might be retiring, but Boomers aren't going quietly.
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