Survey of Living Conditions in Melbourne (1964-1970)

The Survey of Living Conditions in Melbourne was the first systematic attempt to measure poverty in Australia by estimating the extent of the problem in the city of Melbourne. It was conducted between 1966 and 1970 by the Institute Of Applied Economic And Social Research led by Professor Ronald Henderson.

The survey set a poverty line at $33, which was close to the basic wage plus child endowment for two children. Based on this figure, 7.7% of all family units in Melbourne lived on or below the poverty line, while an additional 5.2% "hovered dangerously close to the minimum level"

The results of the survey were published in 1970 as People in Poverty: a Melbourne Survey. Publication of the survey's findings led to a Commission of Inquiry into Poverty in August 1972, to which Ronald Henderson was appointed as Chair. The commission resulted in the definition of the Henderson Poverty line in 1973.