The first nine months were a period of 'phoney war', when there was little actual combat. Life for Australians at this stage was fairly normal.
In June 1940, however, the German war machine struck, and the countries of Europe rapidly fell to the German Blitzkrieg of 'lightning war'. By September only Britain stood undefeated, and even then it had been badly mauled at Dunkirk, and was suffering the impact of the bombing of its industrial cities. The war was increasingly desperate and serious.
Then with the entry of Japan into the Pacific War, there was a real fear and threat of invasion. During 1942, civilians were evacuated south in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. And Australians were put under greater government controls than any time since the convict era. There have never been such controls since that time.
To investigate this aspect of the Home Front experience by using evidence from the time, see Home Fronts at War, Ryebuck Media for ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee of Queensland.
More about the book HOME FRONTS AT WAR