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Australia. The Flag. The Flag. The upper left quarter of the flag is called the Canton and pictures the flag of the UK. The Australian flag pictures a large seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star which represents the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901
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The Flag • The upper left quarter of the flag is called the Canton and pictures the flag of the UK. • The Australian flag pictures a large seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star which represents the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901 • The Commonwealth Star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing the six original states and the territories of Australia
Geography • Australia is the only country occupying a whole continent. It has a total area of 7,682,300 km2. • Its is the sixth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the US and Brazil. • Australia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean in the East, the Arafura Sea to the north and the Indian Ocean to the west.
Geography • Australia is the flattest of all the continents, its highest point is Mt. Kosciuszko (2228m.)
Geography • The longest river, originating in Queensland, is the Darling measuring 2736km.
Climate • Australia’s seasons are opposite of the northern hemisphere – summer starts in December, autumn in March, winter in June and Spring in September. Due to its size, geographical location and lack of extensive mountain ranges Australia has a wide range of climates but generally no extremes. The average temperature ranges from 23-26°C.
Environment • Australia has more than 2,000 national parks and nature reserves, protected wilderness areas of natural and environmental importance that range from desert landscape to high mountains to coastal dunes and rainforests. • There are areas of Australia that haven’t been explored, being so wild and inaccessible.
Environment • Australia has thirteen areas on the UN’s World Heritage List, they are: Kakadu National Park, Uluru, the Wet Tropics of north Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island, Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves, Willandra Lakes, Lord Howe Island, Tasmanian Wilderness, Shark Bay, Australian Fossil Mammal Sites at Riversleigh (Queensland) and Naracoorte (South Australia), Macquarie Island, Heard and McDonald Islands
Flora and Fauna • Australia’s isolation for more than 55 million years has created a unique sanctuary of animals and plants found nowhere else in the world. • Australia hosts a really interesting animal group, the monotremes, egg laying mammals, that are often referred to as living fossils, like the platypus – a river dwelling animal with a duck bill and a agile furry body resembling an otter.
Flora and Fauna • The echidna or spiny anteater is also a member of the monotremes group.
Flora and Fauna • Wombats have been in Australia for 15 million years and are found in many parts of Australia. They are Marsupial (they have a pouch for their baby.)
Flora and Fauna • The Tasmanian Devil, a carnivorous marsupial.
Flora and Fauna • There are 520 species of Lizard in Australia that range from small geckos to the goanna that can reach a size of 2m.
Flora and Fauna • The Great Barrier Reef along the east coast of Queensland is the longest and most complex living coral system in the world and provides a habitat for a wide range of marine animals.
Flora and Fauna • Another area noted for its prolific wildlife is Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory – with water birds, crocodiles and wild buffaloes.
Population Approx. 22, 530, 543
Cities • The Australians are one of the world’s most urbanized societies- nearly 90 per cent of the population live in cities along the coast • The largest and most populated city is Sydney with 3.8 million people. • Next is Melbourne with just over 3 million. • Third is Brisbane 1.5 million • Perth 1.2 million • Adelaide 1.07 million
Aboriginal History and Culture • It is generally thought that Aborigines have been living on the continent for the last 50 000 years, originally migrating from Indonesia. • The oldest skeleton found in Australia was at Lake Mungo in New South Wales, believed to be 38 000 years old. • Today most Aborigines live in cities and towns or in isolated settlements near tribal lands.
Arts and Culture • Sydney Opera House – an architectural masterpiece and Australia’s foremost tourist attraction. • One of the busiest performing centers in the world. • Around 3,000 events and performances are staged each year in four venues, attracting audiences of approximately two million.
Education • The first school in Australia was set up in Sydney by a convict named Isabella Rosson in 1789 and the oldest university, the University of Sydney was established in 1850.
Education • Education remains the responsibility of state governments and it is compulsory for children to attend school between the ages of five to fifteen. • Children in the Australian Outback (far from any school) receive radio lessons through the School of the Air and do their homework by correspondence.
Education • Secondary schooling begins at the age of 12 and students have the choice of leaving school at 15, or continuing on to 17 or 18 to qualify for entry into university or a college of further education. • There are fees in Australian universities, but the students can apply for a government loan which must be repaid when they enter the workforce.
Important Information • Australia is officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia comprises of six states, two mainland territories and numerous islands that lie on the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Important Information • The states in Australia are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. The two major territories of Australia are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
Capital City • The capital city of Australia is Canberra. It is located in the Australian Capital Territory.
Administrative and political system • Australia became an independent nation on 1 January 1901. Australia is the federal constitutional monarchy and is a part of the British Commonwealth. Under the Constitution, the reigning British monarch is also the Australian one and therefore Australia's Head of State. The Constitution grants the monarch - currently Queen Elizabeth II - certain governing powers that place them above all other levels of the government. Because of the large distance between Australia and Britain, the monarch is permitted to appoint a Governor-General who can exercise the monarch's powers in their absence.
Administrative and political system • In Australia, power is divided between the Commonwealth Government and the governments of the six colonies, which were renamed 'states' by the Constitution. • Each state has its own state Constitution, which divides the state's government into the same divisions of legislature, executive, and judiciary as the Commonwealth Government. • The six state parliaments are permitted to pass laws related to any matter that is not controlled by the Commonwealth under Section 51 of the Australian Constitution. • The head of each state government is known as the Premier.
Governor General • Ms Quentin Bryce.
Prime Minister • Julia Gillard
