Australia is unique. The only country to also be a continent, this great island is the 6th largest nation when measured by land area, yet home to only 20 million people. Perhaps because of this geographic isolation, Australians have become one of the most innovative and technologically advanced people in the world.

Two-thirds of Australia is desert, yet we have one of the richest and most varied ecosystems to be found anywhere. Home to many plants, birds and animals found nowhere else, Australia’s extraordinary natural environment has something to please everyone.

Officially claimed for England in 1770 by Captain James Cook, Ausralia was declared terra nullius (land not belonging to anyone). However, indigenous Australians (the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) had occupied Australia for thousands of years.

As the language of the new English colony began to develop into the form of English we speak today, many words were borrowed from Aboriginal languages. Our nation’s capital Canberra is a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘meeting place’.

Following Federation in 1901, our national emblems were gradually developed to identify us to the rest of the world. You will often see the Australian flag being waved enthusiastically at international sports events. And it is waved as proudly by new Australians as by those who are native-born.

Australia’s population includes migrants from roughly 200 countries. This diverse population has resulted in a rich multicultural community---each migrant group contributing to the nation’s cultural heritage.

Aussies, as we like to be called, are known around the world as friendly, relaxed people with a love of life. With so much to appreciate in this great country of ours, it is easy to see why.

A few interesting facts about Australia;

Land area: 7.69 million km2
Population: 20 million
Language: English
Currency: Australian dollars (A$)
Time: Australia has 3 time zones Eastern Standard Time: GMT + 10 Central: GMT + 9.5 West: GMT + 8 (Some States and Territories also have ‘Daylight Saving’, where clocks are turned forward an hour in summertime.)

Flight time Sydney to Perth: 5 hours
Flight time Adelaide to Darwin: 3 hours 40 minutes
Highest point: 2228 metres above sea level (Mount Kosciuszko, New South Wales)
Lowest point: 15 metres below sea level (dry bed of Lake Eyre, South Australia)

Australia is divided into 6 States and 2 Territories:

Territories:

Australian Capital Territory (ACT), National capital --- Canberra
Northern Territory (NT), Territory capital --- Darwin

States:

New South Wales (NSW), State capital --- Sydney
Victoria (VIC), State capital --- Melbourne
Tasmania (TAS), State capital --- Hobart
South Australia (SA), State capital --- Adelaide
Western Australia (WA), State capital --- Perth
Queensland (QLD), State capital --- Brisbane

In addition, there are various offshore territories including Norfolk Island, which is self-governing.

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