AN INTRODUCTION TO AUSTRALIA.
Mainland Australia, with an area of 4.9 million square miles, is the largest island and the smallest continent on Earth. It stretches some 2300 miles from its most northern to its most southern point, and about 2500 miles from east to west.
In area, Australia is the sixth largest nation after Russia, Canada, China, the United States of America and Brazil. Its population, however, is relatively small (now estimated at just over 22 million). Australia's average elevation is 1100 ft, the lowest of all the continents, and its highest point, Mount Kosciuszko, is only 6400ft. What its landforms lack in height they more than compensate for in variety. The giant monolith Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the striking beehive mountains of Purnululu (the 'Bungle Bungles') in Western Australia attract visitors from many parts of the world.
Australia's federal government and the governments of the six States and two self-governing Territories share the responsibilities of governing such a vast land area.
European settlement began in New South Wales in 1788, at Sydney, the nation's largest city and host of the 2000 Olympic games. Sydney's Harbour Bridge and Opera House are national icons, and its airport is the country's major international gateway.
Victoria is the smallest of the mainland States but the second most populous and the most densely populated. Its capital, Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, hosted the Olympic Games in 1956. Victorians' enthusiasm for sport is legendary and the nation stops each November for the Melbourne Cup, Australia's premier horse race.Queensland stretches from the tropical rain forests of Cape York into the temperate zone. Its northeastern coastline is fringed by the Great Barrier Reef. The capital of Queensland is Brisbane. Three international airports, in Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville, service visitors from overseas.
Australia's National Identity When such questions as "What is an Australian? What does an Australian look like? ... Now with a clear definition, it would seem relatively easy to determine Australia's National Identity. ... The reason to this uncertainty is because the very nature of Australia itself. ... In simple terms, Australian's want to believe that being an Australian should imply more than simply living here. ...
But, at the same time, it imposes on all of us on obligation to put Australia's interests first. " Australia is a land of migrants. The first group of migrants came to Australia over 40,000 years ago. ... Many of them paid their own fares to migrate to Australia. ... In today's society approximately three million Australians, which is one in every five, were born outside of Australia. ... When a large group of experienced and well-educated people migrate to Australia it is very much an advantage for Australia. ...
Australian democracy guarantees us our civic freedoms and our fundamental rights and equality, and it is the institutions of Australian democracy that enable diversity in our society to flourish. ... Diversity works for all Australians. ... They have made an enormous contribution to Australia, along with the unique contribution of Australia's Indigenous people, earlier migrants and their descendants. ... The Government is committed to mlticultural Australia, with policies and programs that unite us as Australians working to advance Australia fair. ... Every Australian benefits from...
As Australian film seeks to define an essential Australianness, they tend to adhere closely to a particular template, while slightly varying the ways in which they represent and resolve conflicts and the ways in which they relate to the broader issues of Australian identity and cultural values. The two films will be analysed to show the various ways in which they represent ideas of Australia and Australianness. ... Australian national identity in the past was created on the basis of an assumed masculinity; this unwritten proclamation appeared to lie at the heart of Australian self-image. .....
Multiculturalism has been a reality for Australia since the first fleet. ... It is due to this that most Australian citizens opposed non-white immigration, to preserve British culture and traditions as the dominant influence in Australia. Thus the "White Australia Policy" was developed, primarily allowing only white British and Irish settlers to migrate to Australia. ... "Australia should concentrate on eliminating immigrants' old ideas, on destroying the old worlds in the interest of a new Australia." ... Hence modifications were made to the "White Australia Policy". ...
Prior to WWII Australia was a very hard country to get into. ... It has allowed Australia to gather much needed population. ... As more and more migrants came to Australia until Approximately 1/5th of Australia's population was born overseas. "Immigration's the key" Prior to 1945 the White Australia Policy prevented anyone to enter Australia unless they were from Britain. ... With the introduction of this new policy any person in Europe can enter Australia as long as they gave up their culture and learned to live the Australian way of life. ...
Being Australian Being Australian means to enjoy life and live it to the full and is a feeling of joy and pride, being able to share its freedom, its riches and its happiness. ... To be an Australian is to be proud of what your country stands for. To most Australians, being an Australian means doing whatever you think is best for your country. ... To them, being an Australian meant sacrificing their life. ... To every person, being an Australian may mean different things. ...
Australian Climate (107 words) Rainfall in Australia is low as well as unreliable because of its size, and has a variety of climates. Its excessive dryness contributes to two thirds of Australia's land surface which is classed as desert or semi-desert. ... In summer, Northern Australia receives heavy rainfall, where as Southern Australia experiences dry conditions and is generally cooler. During winter, Northern Australia is still fairly sunny and warm while South Australia has cool wet winters, and Eastern Australia remains fairly wet all year round, in comparison to the western parts ...
Analysis of Australia *Geography* Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. ... The mainland of Australia has an area of 2,967,909 square miles. The country is divided into six states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia. ... There is no dominant religion in Australia. ... *Money* The exchange rate of a US dollar to an Australian dollar is as follows: 1 US dollar = 1.94 Australian dollars. ...
