Not just Oz. Same thing happened in the US. Dates were probably the same. Made about as much sense as the Tulip craze in Holland in the 1600s. At least the Tulips didn't kick.
I know plenty of people who paid up to $30,000 for a breeding pair. People who couldn't afford a breeding pair were paying $5000 for an incubated egg. All were worth nothing once the hype was over. C