Most people probably know that it is the smallest continent, but did you know that it is also the flattest continent?
Most of the people live along the east coast or the southeast coast.
It is the only continent made up of only one nation.
Advance Australia Fair is the national anthem. Its national colors are green and gold. And the nation’s only flag features images of the Union Jack, a seven-pointed star, and the Southern Cross constellation.
Sydney is the largest city there and a popular tourist destination. But did you know that the lesser known city of Canberra is the country’s capital city? The cities of Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the capital city; but because of the disagreement, they formed a city in the middle of the two which would be the capital.
January 26 is Australia Day.
Interesting Facts About Australia – History Facts
The majority of people who first came to the country were convicts. Britain had decided to use the land as a penal colony. Australia Day marks the anniversary of the first convicts who arrived by ship in 1777. Britain ended up shipping about 160,000 convicts to the country during an almost 80 year period of time.
The national anthem was originally God Save the Queen. The current national anthem was made the national anthem in 1984.
From 1838 to 1902, it was not legal to swim during the day at the beach.
In 1933, Western Australia voted to secede and become an independent country. The attempt to secede failed though because the British Parlaiment never gave their permission to do so, which was needed at the time.
Interesting Facts About Aussie Animals
You can find 400 species of birds there that you cannot find anywhere else.
Emus and kangaroos are among the most recognizable animals of the country. The two animals share an interesting animal fact: neither emus or kangaroos can walk backwards.
Interesting Facts About Aussie People
The majority of convicts sent to the country were not the serious or violent criminals that most people think of when they hear the term convict. In fact, according to Convict Creations, “crimes punishable by transportation included recommending that politicians get paid, starting a union, stealing fish from a river or pond, or being suspected of supported Irish terrorism.
The majority of Australians speak English and are of Caucasian decent. Only about one percent of the population are Aboriginal.
Interesting Facts About Australia – Other Random Facts
A few things we might not have without Australia: macadamia nuts, the secret ballot, didgeridoos, Aussie rules football, Google maps, Speedo swimwear, boomerangs, the notepad, and Foster’s.
Las Vegas is not the only city in the world to be nicknamed “sin city. Sydney is also nicknamed sin city.
Sources:
About-Australia, Facts. URL: (www.about-australia.com/facts)
Convict Creations, Unusual Facts. URL: (www.convictcreations.com/culture/facts.htm)
White Hat, Australian Inventions. URL: (www.whitehat.com.au/Australia/Inventions/InventionsA.html)
