Australia
Most people harbour a particular image of Australia, such as the Opera House or the dusty red of the outback, home to the prominent Ayres Rock (Uluru). Yet these famous icons do scant justice to the richness of Australia's natural treasures and its cultural diversity. Australia offers a variety of settings, from the dramatic scenes of the outback, to the spectacle of the Great Barrier Reef and its islands, the cosmopolitanism of Sydney and arguably some of the best beaches in the world. It is this sheer vastness, and the friction between the ancient lands steeped in Aboriginal lore and the New World cultures being heaped upon it, which gives Australia much of its character.
Full country name: Commonwealth of Australia
Area: 7,682,300 sq km
Population: 19.5 million
Capital city: Canberra (pop: 313,000)
People: 94% European descent, 4% Asian, 1.5% Aboriginal
Languages: English, Aboriginal languages (plus numerous other European, Arabic and Asian languages)
Religion: 75% Christian, 1% Muslim, 1% Buddhist, 0.5% Jewish
Government: Independent member of the British Commonwealth
Prime Minister: Kevin Rudd
Governor-General: Quentin Bryce
GDP: US$418 billion
GDP per head: US$22,000
Annual growth: 4.5%
Inflation: 3%
Major products/industries: Minerals, oil, coal, gold, wool, cereals, meat.
Major trading partners: Japan, China, ASEAN, South Korea, US and the EU.
Australia's premier city is the oldest settlement in Australia, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country's capital in everything but name. Built on the shores of the stunning Port Jackson, it would be a challenge to find a more spectacular setting for a city. It's a vital, self-regarding metropolis, determined to retain a key position in the global market, while maintaining a relaxed attitude. The Olympic Games, held in Sydney in 2000, confirmed the city's reputation as an accomplished, fun-loving and friendly place to be.
Australia's original inhabitants, known as Australian Aborigines, have the longest continuous cultural history in the world, with origins dating back over 40,000 years. Europeans began to encroach on Australia in the 16th century and finally settled and named a British Colony in 1788. The first settlers consisted mostly of convicts, but free settlers were attracted to Australia over the next decades. It was the discovery of gold in the 1850s that brought the first influx of migrants and changed to social structure of the colony. Post WWII immigration brought a flood of European immigrants, many of them non-British and Australia accepted large numbers of Asian refugees, especially from Vietnam. The immigrants have since made an enormous contribution to the country, enlivening its culture and broadening its vision.
Australia is a multicultural society. A large number of immigrants from Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Turkey came after the war and these have been supplemented by more recent influxes of immigrants from Asia. There are also about 380,000 Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Consequently, many Australians speak Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese or Arabic as their first language, while English remains the national language.
Australia has a rich artistic heritage and a vibrant contemporary art scene. Modern Aboriginal art has undergone a revival in the last decade or two as Aboriginal artists have explored ways to both preserve their ancient values and share them with a wider community.
Sport is the Australian religion, and as with the Olympic Games held in Sydney in 2000, Australia is always proud and eager to showcase its sporting talent.
A vast island continent situated south of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian oceans. The world's sixth largest country, Australia measures some 4000km (2500mi) east to west and 3200km (2000mi) north to south. Much of the interior of the country is flat, barren and extremely sparsely populated. The bulk of the population lives on the narrow, fertile eastern coastal plain and on the south-eastern coast. There are more than 500 national parks, incorporating rainforests, deserts, mountain ranges and coastal dunes, which naturally blesses Australia with a fascinating mix of native flora and fauna.
Australian seasons are the antithesis of those in Europe and North America: summer starts in December, autumn in March, winter in June and spring in September. Seasonal variations in temperature are not extreme except in the deserts, where scorching daytime temperatures can approach freezing by night. Otherwise, it's rare for temperatures to drop below zero on the mainland except in the mountains. As you head north, the seasonal variations become even less distinct except that summer is much wetter and more humid. Darwin, in the far north, is in the monsoon belt, where there are just two seasons: hot and wet (when floods can occur) and hot and dry.
The main international airports are Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, followed by Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and Cairns. There are plenty of connections to and from Asia, Europe and the USA.
Australia is so vast that approximately 80% of long-distance trips by public transport are made by air. There are several long-distance bus companies. Buses are comfortable, but trips are long between major cities. Australia has a skeletal rail network linking all major cities except Darwin. Many visitors hire or purchase a car. The latter can be an economical way of travelling around Australia.
