INTERESTING FACTS
Geography
Australia is the sixth largest country on Earth.
There are many different terrains in Australia - inland desert, fertile plains, forests, tropical rainforests, reefs and mountains.
The population is concentrated along the fertile eastern coasts.
The Sydney area is bounded by beautiful beaches in the east and the Blue Mountains in the west.
Weather
In the north there are hot, tropical climates and in the south colder, temperate climates.
The average temperatures in Sydney are 26 degrees in summer, 16 degrees in winter.
Generally, Sydney weather is sunny and pleasant.
Animals
Australia has much unique wildlife due to its isolated geographical position.
Marsupials (animals with a pouch) include kangaroos, koalas and possums.
Dangerous animals include brown snakes, red-back spider and sharks.
In the Sydney metropolitan area, you can see many different types of native birds, ring-tail and brush-tail possums, snakes and insects, and a colourful ocean life.
Population
The population of Australia is just over 20,000,000 (2005 est.).
Sydney is the largest city with over 4 million people, while the capital Canberra has around 300,000.
Culture
Australia is a multi-cultural society.
About 30% of the population was born overseas - e.g. the UK and Ireland, continental Europe, Asia, New Zealand.
The original people - Aboriginals - are 1.5 % of the population.
The main religion is Christianity.
The official language is English.
Public Holidays
(Note: some of these dates change from year to year):
Christmas Day Dec 25
Boxing Day Dec 26
New Year's Day Jan 1
Australia Day Jan 26
Good Friday Apr 18
Easter Monday Apr 21
Anzac Day Apr 25
Queen's Birthday Jun 9
Labour Day Oct 6
Politics
Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901.
Australia is a democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign.
The capital is Canberra.
Economics
Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies.
Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.
The fiscal year is 1 July-30 June.
Useful Phrases
G’day = Hello
How’s it going? = How are you?
Did you have a good weekend?
Excuse me, where is the _________?
Could you/I possibly __________?
How much is that?
Ta = thanks
For more information about Australia, go to www.dfat.gov.au/facts/index.html
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