 On the whole Australian commerce was expanded due to the war , although the cost of the war was quite considerable and the Australian government had to borrow considerably from overseas to fund the war effort . In terms of value , Australian exports rose almost 45 per cent , while the number of Australians employed in the manufacturing industry increased over 11 per cent . This was due in the most part to the reduced ability of traditional sources to continue supplying Australia with manufactured products , which out of necessity stimulated the development of the Australian manufacturing industry . 
