If you hunt around on the CASA site you can find a history of the examination requirements in Australia over the decades.
Flight Crew Licensing Procedures - Civil Aviation Safety Authority - PDF
Summary for CPL:
1960s - 7 exams, essay based, sittings a few times a year at DCA offices, all but air legislation done at DCA offices and all but air leg closed book.
1970s - exams changed to multi choice
1985 - introduced a final exam done after all the other subjects passed
late 80s - exams "on demand" not fixed sitting dates
1991 - single exam covering all subjects
1992 - "exam fax" - the exam was faxed to an independent conducting officers (eg TAFEs, training organisations etc) and marked by the officer
1993 - CAA took back marking due concerns about cheating
1996 - resumed scheduled sittings not on demand due concerns about cheating
2002 - 7 part exams - can be done on demand at authorised centres, system we have now