Value of $1 from 1935 to 1972
$1 in 1935 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $4.58 in 1972, an increase of $3.58 over 37 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 4.20% per year between 1935 and 1972, producing a cumulative price increase of 358.33%.
This means that prices in 1972 are 4.58 times as high as average prices in 1935, according to the Bureau of Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1935 was 4.35%. The inflation rate in 1972 was 5.77%. The 1972 inflation rate is higher compared to the average inflation rate of 4.87% per year between 1972 and 2026.
⌃
| Cumulative price change | 358.33% |
| Average inflation rate | 4.20% |
|
Converted amount
$1 base | $4.58 |
|
Price difference
$1 base | $3.58 |
| CPI in 1935 | 2.400 |
| CPI in 1972 | 11.000 |
| Inflation in 1935 | 4.35% |
| Inflation in 1972 | 5.77% |
| $1 in 1935 | $4.58 in 1972 |
Buying power of $1 in 1935
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1935 (price index tracking began in 1922).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $4.58 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $1 is equivalent to $4.58 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single Australian dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1935 dollars, the chart below shows how $1 is worth less over 37 years.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, each of these AUD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1935 amounts in 1972 dollars, based on the 358.33% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1935 | $4.58 dollars in 1972 |
| $5 dollars in 1935 | $22.92 dollars in 1972 |
| $10 dollars in 1935 | $45.83 dollars in 1972 |
| $50 dollars in 1935 | $229.17 dollars in 1972 |
| $100 dollars in 1935 | $458.33 dollars in 1972 |
| $500 dollars in 1935 | $2,291.67 dollars in 1972 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1935 | $4,583.33 dollars in 1972 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1935 | $22,916.67 dollars in 1972 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1935 | $45,833.33 dollars in 1972 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1935 | $229,166.67 dollars in 1972 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1935 | $458,333.33 dollars in 1972 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1935 | $2,291,666.67 dollars in 1972 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1935 | $4,583,333.33 dollars in 1972 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1935 to 1972
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1935 and 1972:
CPI in 1972CPI in 1935
×
1935 AUD value
=
1972 AUD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Australian CPI was 2.4 in the year 1935 and 11 in 1972:
112.4
×
$1
=
$4.58
$1 in 1935 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $4.58 in 1972.
To get the total inflation rate for the 37 years between 1935 and 1972, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1972 - CPI in 1935CPI in 1935
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (37 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
11 - 2.42.4
×
100
=
358%
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1935 worth in 1972?
$1 in 1935 has about the same buying power as $4.58 in 1972, based on the consumer price index published by the Bureau of Statistics. Prices in 1972 are 4.58 times as high as they were in 1935.
What was the inflation rate in 1935?
The Australian inflation rate in 1935 was 4.35%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1934 to 1935. See inflation in 1935 for more detail.
What has the average inflation rate been from 1935 to 1972?
Prices rose by an average of 4.20% per year between 1935 and 1972, a cumulative increase of 358.33%. Because inflation compounds, these yearly changes add up over 37 years.
How is this calculated?
Divide the CPI in 1972 (11) by the CPI in 1935 (2.4), then multiply by the original amount: 11 ÷ 2.4 × $1 = $4.58. See the step-by-step formula above.
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Australia's annual (CPI) as provided by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The consumer price index was established in 1922 and is tracked by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$1 in 1935 → 1972 | Australia Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 6 Oct. 2026, https://www.officialdata.org/australia/inflation/1935?amount=1&endYear=1972.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.
| Cumulative price change | 358.33% |
| Average inflation rate | 4.20% |
|
Converted amount
$1 base | $4.58 |
|
Price difference
$1 base | $3.58 |
| CPI in 1935 | 2.400 |
| CPI in 1972 | 11.000 |
| Inflation in 1935 | 4.35% |
| Inflation in 1972 | 5.77% |
| $1 in 1935 | $4.58 in 1972 |