Why australia prospered is a fascinating historical examination of how australia cultivated and sustained economic growth and success beginning with the aboriginal economy at the end of the eighteenth century ian mclean argues that australias remarkable prosperity across nearly two centuries was reached and maintained by several shifting . Why australia prospered is a fascinating historical examination of how australia cultivated and sustained economic growth and success beginning with the aboriginal economy at the end of the eighteenth century ian mclean argues that australias remarkable prosperity across nearly two centuries was reached and maintained by several shifting . Why australia prospered is a fascinating historical examination of how australia cultivated and sustained economic growth and success beginning with the aboriginal economy at the end of the eighteenth century ian mclean argues that australias remarkable prosperity across nearly two centuries was reached and maintained by several shifting . By contrast the second world war was a much better war than the first when assessed solely in terms of its economic effects on australia real gdp in 1919 was 4 percent below its prewar level in 1914 whereas between 1939 and 1946 real gdp increased by 26 percent. Why australia prospered is a fascinating historical examination of how australia cultivated and sustained economic growth and success beginning with the aboriginal economy at the end of the eighteenth century ian mclean argues that australias remarkable prosperity across nearly two centuries was reached and maintained by several shifting