If you could see AUSTRALIA from space it would look like a huge Island that was surrounded by white beaches).
It is an Island Nation that is as big as the United States. It may be a large Country but the population is small, (a little over 18, 600, 000).
The official languages are a few Aboriginal ones and English. If you hear someone from Australia talking English to you might not understand them at all!
The official Currency is the Australian Dollar. The Australians refer to their Country as Oz.
The Australian landmass separated from the other continents over 50 million years ago. The first people who lived here are called the Aboriginals. They are the World’s oldest Civilisation.
They only make up a little over 1% of the population. They
are a dark brown People with curly hair!
ABORIGINAL HISTORY:
For more than 50, 000 thousand years Australia’s Aboriginal people have lived in Australia.
The vegetation and native wildlife helped them survive. They were a peaceful people and content to live on their land.
HOW AUSTRALIA WAS DISCOVERED:
’’Terra Australis’’ was the last landmass to be discovered by European explorers. It wasn’t until Captain James Cook arrived in Botany Bay in 1770 that this Land was officially discovered by the English.
THE PENAL COLONY:
The white settlers came from England because England didn’t want them. They were all in Jail. In England the jails were overcrowded. Today 94% of the population comes from Europe.
The northern part of Australia is very close to Asia. It is not surprising that the Asians make up about 5% of the population.
STATES AND TERRITORIES:
Australia became a Federation in 1901. Today there are six States and two Territories that are part of this Federation.
The States are New South Wales, Queensland, Southern Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
The Territories the Australian Capital Territory, (this means that Canberra is a City and a Territory), and the Northern Territories.
They are a Democratic Country that has a Constitution. Every male must serve time in their Defence Forces.
G’DAY:
Will be the first word you hear when you visit Australia.
Australia’s speak colloquial language, (called Strine), that confuses visitors when they first hear it.
Some word I learned were:
G’day means good day or hello.
Owyagoin means how are you?
The Outback is in the middle of Australia. It is mainly a dessert that has rusty coloured sand. There are a lot of Cattle and Sheep Ranches and this is where the Aboriginal’s land is. Ayres Rock belongs to them.
Billy lids means little Children.
Anklebiters are older Children.
Uwie is a U-turn on a road.
Amber nectar is Beer.
Barbie is Bar-b-cue.
Bus are Bay Bugs a shell fish that are as big as a Lobster tail.
If you are Crook go directly to see a Doctor because it means that you are sick.
So but some bugs on the barbie, chill some amber nectar and send me an airline ticket because I’d love to say G’day to you and eat dinner at your house!
BIRDS:
Australia has 400, (and 400 you can find some place else), that are only found here.
The Kookaburra Bird sounds like it is laughing. The Emu is the second largest Bird in the World, (the Ostrich is taller). The Fairy Penguins are the smallest Penguins in the World. The Brolga, (are a different type of Crane), the are grey with a red head and play an important part on Aboriginal Myths.
ANIMALS AND OTHER THINGS:
Australia has over 230 species of Mammal, 300 species of Lizards, 140 species of Snakes and two species of Crocodiles.
If you come to Oz I hope you’ll see a Kangaroo, a Kola Bear, (although since the terrible fires near Sydney I’m not sure how many are left).
The wombat looks like a small bear and only comes out at night. If you are driving and see one you might kill it because they the dart across the road.
The Dingo is a Dog that has existed for over 5, 000 years and they were tamed by the Aboriginals. They don’t bark they howl.
Recently they have been attacking People so I wouldn’t get to close to them!
FLOWERS:
There is a variety of Wildflowers that you might see throughout the Country. The Trees and Bushes that have flower on them a quite interesting to look at. In Canada most of our flowering Plants and Trees have flowers that face the Sun. In Australia they all face the ground.
BEERS:
The Australians make great Beer. They don’t like it if you order another State’s Beer in their State.
I’ve only visited three State so I’ll just tell you aboutmy favourites:
New South Wales: Sydney Lager
Queensland: XXXX.
Victoria: Fosters, .
And the winner is XXXX !
WINE:
Australia make wonderful red and white wine. We often drink it at home. We were lucky that when we were in Sydney the Australian Tourist Board had a free Wine Tasting Party for anyone that walked into their Shop.
The Red Wines I liked best Neil Mcguigan’s Signature Chardonnay.
The White Wines I liked best was Black Creek’s Semillon.
BARS:
When I was in Australia you could only drink in public Bars a few hours a day. If you were a guest at a Hotel that had a Bar it was open from noon until midnight. You could invite your guests to have a drink with you.
Some Restaurants and Cafes served drinks with a meal while others were bring-you-own-bottle in a brown paper bag. If you forget to bring a bottle from home you will find a Liquor Store that seem to be everywhere.
SPORTS:
They play all the sports that the English do. There is a great rivalry between the different Cities just as there is in England and Canada.
CLOTHS:
Australia has some wonderful clothing designers. The live in most Cities but Melbourne is the Fashion Design Centre of Australia.
I have been to many places around the World but I have never seen more clothing that had their Countries Flag than I did in Australia.
DUTY FREE SHOPS:
You will find Duty Free Shops in the down town area of the Cities and at the International Airports.
At the Shops in the Cities you don’t have to send the items you buy to the Airport. You can take what you buy with you. When you depart Customs might ask you for a receipt and to show them the things you bought, (so pack them near the top in your suitcase).
GETTING AROUND OZ:
There are both major and small highways. I would be afraid to drive because there are a lot of flash floods and your Car would be covered in water.
I enjoyed the Buses that we took because the seats were wide, comfortable and had foot rests. They reminded me of the seats in the Business Class Section.
Australia’s rail systems comprise 34, 530 km of track and Private Rail Operators own 6023 km of tracks. One is very special. The longest section of straight track, (with no curves), is a 478 km/297 miles track that from Sydney to Perth.
Before we left home we bought a fly-around-Australian Pass from South Australia Airline, (ASA). It saved us a lot of money.
ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA:
When you land don’t expect to get off the Plane when you arrive. Fligh Attendants will be walking through the Plane spraying you! The spray is so heavy that I had to but my Husband’s handkerchief over my face.
You are not allowed to bring food, (canned or fresh), into Australia.
You are not allowed to bring paper goods into the Country, (I didn’t declare the paper shoes and purses I bought in Fiji)!
You must have a Passport and a Visitors Visa. The Visa takes quite a while to get so you should apply for it early.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
As you’re Plane departs you wish you could call Australia ’’home’’!
To be continued with the Cities I visited...
Comments are always welcome.
©LL 2003