Relative in his 70's tells of a house they lived in that had the thunderbox down the back yard and cut up newspaper speared on a nail was the go.
Bath water was shared and hot water came from a chip heater at the end of the bath. Waste water went to a French drain which was on tight clay so overflowed frequently. When the bath plug was pulled a plethora cockroaches would enter via the drain
Cooking was via a Metters #6 wood fire. Refrigeration was provided by a kerosene fridge and a Coolgardie safe.
He shared a bedroom with his older brother that had linoleum straight onto the dirt and the walls were lined with flattened out cyanide drums.
I reckon they were not too soft.
Things started to improve from the mid to late 1960's.
