Beginning in 1914, the first world war closed our overseas markets and our significant imports were cut off. Disrupted shipping was disastrous for the Australian economy. At the same time, the country suffered significant drought, and in the winter of 1914 rain failed across most of Australia. Wheat production fell from 100 million bushels in 1913-14 to below 25 million in 1914-15 and for the first time since the 1870s wheat was imported for domestic consumption.