Australia

Australia
Australia is a country located between the South
Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It’s the biggest
island of the world. The first European settlers, who
arrived in 1830, were English convicts that were sent to
Australia to be punished for their crimes.
 Capital
Australia’s capital is Canberra.
Located on the ancient lands of the
indigenous Ngunnawal people, Canberra’s name
is thought to mean ‘meeting place’, derived
from the aboriginal name Kamberra. This area
was chosen for federal capital in 1908.
National institutions, museums and
galleries are common in Canberra, and they
hold the treasures of that nation.
 Population
Australia is the 53rd most populous
country in the world. It has more than 20
million people, who live in cities by sea. The
most important cities are Sidney, Melbourne
and Canberra.
Australia is a muticultural society with
people of diverse origins. About 1% of the
population is aboriginal (the aborigines were a
group of people that has lived in Australia
since the earliest times).
 Language
Althought English is the official
language, many other languages are
spoken in Australia. Almost four million
Australians speak another language
besides English; more than 800,000
people speak one European language and
another 800,000 speak one Asian
language.
 Flag
Australia’s national flag has a star with seven tips, known as
the Commonwealth Star, each tip representing one of the five
States (Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, New
South Wales and Victoria and Tasmania) and the two territories
of the country (the Northern Territory and the Camberra
Capital Territory). On the right side of the flag, we can see a
group of five stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation. There is also a miniature of the England flag
(Union Jack) on the left corner, that represents the
colonization of Australia by the English.
 Government
Australia is a parliamentary democracy and a
constitutional monarchy. The queen is Elizabeth II,
the same sovereign of England. Australia is also a
federation united with one government, whose chief
is the Prime-Minister John Howard.
 Religion
Most Australians are Christians:
Protestants and Catholics make 74%
of the population. There is freedom
of religion in Australia, which allows
the rest of the population to be able
to choose their beliefs.
 Curiosities
•Australia’s national day is on 26th January.
•This country is the 6th biggest country of the world.
•The currency used is the Australian dollar.
•The most populous city in Australia is Sydney. Sydney is
known by the Sydney Opera House, which is a fantastic
building.
• The climate of Australia is varied: we can find
tropical rain forests, mild temperate climate
and deserts.
• Many people in Australia live hundreds of miles
away from the nearest school or hospital.
Children study at home and talk to their
teachers by radio. If someone is ill, the “flying
doctor” will visit them by plane.
• Australia has unique animals such as the
kangaroo, the koala and the platypus. It also
has two of the most poisoned spiders in the
world – the black widow and the Sydney funnel
web. All children learn first aid for spider bites
at school.
 Australian National Anthem
Advance Australia Fair
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth
for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's
gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every
stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us
sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"
Beneath our radiant southern
Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and
hands;
To make this Commonwealth of
ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across
the seas
We've boundless plains to
share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"
Gallery of Images
 Work Done by:

• Ana Catarina Queirós nº1

• Andreia Cardoso nº6
• Luís Pinto nº14
• Mónica Moura nº16
• Rita Neves nº21