Australia

File:Advance Australia Fair.ogg

Bradshaw rock paintings

Landing of Lieutenant James Cook at Botany Bay, 29 April 1770 (painting by E Phillips Fox)

PortArthurPenitentiary

Opening of the first parliament

Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

History

The history of Australia dates back to at least 65,000 years ago when the first humans migrated to the continent from the north. These Indigenous Australians are believed to have arrived by boat from the Maritime Southeast Asia region. Before the first European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by Indigenous Australians, who spoke languages classifiable into roughly 250 groups.

The first documented European sighting of the Australian mainland was made by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606. Over the next century, other Dutch and British explorers charted the Australian coast. The most notable of these was James Cook, who mapped the East Coast in 1770 and claimed the land for Great Britain.

On 26 January 1788, the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the British flag was raised by Governor Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove. This date has become Australia's national day, Australia Day. In the century that followed, the British established six colonies, which became the states of the modern nation.

Geography

Australia is a country of diverse landscapes ranging from the snow-capped mountains of the Australian Alps to the deserts of the Outback, and the tropical rainforests of the Queensland coast. The country is known for its Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, the vast Outback, and unique animal species like kangaroos and duck-billed platypuses.

Government and Politics

Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II as the Queen of Australia. The country has a federal structure of government, with powers divided between the federal government and the states and territories. The Parliament of Australia consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Economy

Australia has a prosperous Western-style mixed economy, with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. The country is rich in natural resources, including coal, iron ore, gold, and natural gas. The service sector, including tourism, education, and financial services, constitutes the largest part of the Australian economy.

Culture

Australia's culture is as broad and varied as the country's landscape. It is influenced by its ancient Indigenous heritage and by the diverse input of the multitude of immigrants from around the world. Australian literature, cinema, opera, music, dance, painting, theatre, and crafts are the cultural institutions that contribute to the vibrant Australian culture.

Flora and Fauna

Australia is home to a vast array of unique flora and fauna. The isolation of the continent for millions of years and the wide range of environments have led to the evolution of species not found anywhere else on Earth, such as the kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus, and a variety of bird species like the emu and kookaburra.

See Also

• History of Australia
• Geography of Australia
• Economy of Australia
• Culture of Australia
• Fauna of Australia
• Flora of Australia