AUSTRALIA
Between the Indian Ocean and 
South Pacific Ocean
Capital: Canberra
Languages: English
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:
- Australians are quite direct and will freely discuss a range of subjects.
- Most Australians grow up believing that everyone should have equal rights and be treated the same. Australia was the second country in the world to allow women the vote.
- About 26% of the population was born overseas and 40% have a parent born overseas, so there is a lot of diversity. Many Australians feel that Australia has a culture and identity based on friendship, honesty, sports, and multiculturalism.
FUN FACTS:
- The largest Greek population in the world other than in Athens is in Melbourne, Australia.
- Australia was settled by convicts (criminals) sent over from the UK. The first police force was made up of the 12 most well-behaved convicts.
- The black box, wine cask, bionic ear, ultrasound and pacemakers were all invented in Australia.
One style of Australian aboriginal art has an x-ray appearance to it. Learn more about this style and try making some x-ray art of your own.
Captain James Cook claimed Australia as part of the British Empire while he was looking for a southern continent. Learn more about James Cook and others who explored Australia.
In 1935, the chef of the Hotel Esplanade in Perth, Western Australia, Herbert Sachse, created the pavlova to celebrate the visit of the great Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova. Whilst it has been suggested this dessert was created in New Zealand, it has become recognized as a popular Australian dish. Pavlova Recipe
As Australia is an English-speaking country, the children there sing many of the same songs that we sing in the United States, but sometimes they sing a different version. Visit this site to compare the Australian version of familiar songs with the one you know.
Click on the link to learn more about Australia!
Photos by: Angela Thomas {flickr}, Martin Hipp {flickr}