About Australia

A brief history

Aboriginals arrived in Australia from Southeast Asia approximately 40,000 years before European explorers discovered the continent in the 17th century. In 1770 the British Captain James Cook claimed ownership of Australia in the name of Great Britain. Britain decided to use this country as a prison colony, so ships of convicts were sent over immediately. The first fleet of 11 ships carrying 1500 people arrived in Sydney Harbour on 26 January 1788, and this day is celebrated each year on Australia Day. The transportation of convicts to Australia ended in 1868, and many Britons started to emigrate of their own accord from the 1790's.

In the late 18th and 19th centuries the country was split up into 6 colonies which in 1901 became the Commonwealth of Australia.

Geographical information

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world but the smallest continent. It is the world's largest island and located within the continent of Oceania between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. It has a population of over 20 million, the majority of which is situated along the eastern and southeastern coasts with 70 per cent of all Australians living in the ten major cities.

Dangerous creatures in Australia

Australia is home to an abundance of creepy crawlies and scary sea creatures whose venom and stings can prove potentially fatal. However, many of these animals are harmless unless provoked. More people are killed each year in road traffic accidents than by stings and bites. The Box Jellyfish is the most deadly creature in Oz, and is found in North and North-east Australia - stings from its tentacles are fatal but victims can be saved with immediate medical attention. Salt water crocodiles, sharks, Red Back spiders, and snakes are all predators too, but the best advice is to steer clear of areas marked as unsafe, and consult local residents if you are unsure about a certain lake, forest area or beach.

Time Zones

There are three times zones in Australi

Eastern Standard Time (GMT +10)
New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland

Central Standard Time (GMT +9.5)
South Australia and Northern Territory

Western Standard Time (GMT +8)
Western Australia

Facts and figures

• Western Australia is three and a half times as big as Texas
• The Great Barrier Reef is the longest coral reef in the world
• Wherever you visit in Australia, you will never be further than 1000km from the sea
• There are more than 7,000 beaches in Australia
• There is an estimated population of 40 million kangaroos in Australia
• Australia is the world's largest exporter of beef with 24 million cattle
• The name Australia comes from the Latin australis meaning 'southern'.
• Australia is home to more than 7,000 beaches - more than any other country
• Australia is responsible for producing 95 per cent of the world's opals and 99 per cent of its black opals, with Coober Pedy being the world's opal capital
• Australia houses 140 million sheep, which produce over 70 per cent of the world's wool
• Over 25,00 species of plant flouirsh down under, compared to just 17,500 in Europe
• The world's longest stretch of straight railway track is along the Nullarbor Plain from Nurina in Western Australia to just outside Watson in South Australia. The track follows a straight line for 478 kilometres.
• Kalgoorlie in Western Australia has the world's largest politial electorate covering an enormous 2.2 million square kilometres.

Video of Australia