History, Culture, and Geography of Australia and

New Zealand

History of Australia

Aborigines arrived from southeast Asia by boat about 50,000 years ago.

One million Aborigines lived on the continent in tribal land

Captain James Cook claimed Australia for Great Britain in 1770.

Australia became Great Britain's new penal/prison colony in 1771.

Aborigines forced onto reservations in small areas of the country

Many Aborigines died to European diseases

Cheap land and gold rush in 1851 attracted many people from Great Britain and Europe

Australia became a nation on January 1, 1901.

Many Australians fought and died during WWI and WWII

Many people in Europe came to Australia for jobs after World War II ended in 1945.

History of Australia-Reasons people came

Culture of AustraliaEnglish is the most common language of Australia

The Aborigines have their own language

Most Australians are ChristiansChristian=76.4%Non-Christian=11% Other religions=12.6%.

Australia’s flag has a UK flag to honor their beginnings as a British penal, or prison, colony.

Australia’s food is a mix of traditional English cuisine and a blending of many Asian cuisines

Culture Continued

Literature in Australia is made up of many traditional English tales mixed with Aboriginal tales. The land, people, and climate of Australia are important.

Australians listen to popular music but is also influenced by traditional aboriginal music.

Culture Continued

Geography of AustraliaStates-

Queensland, Western Australia Tasmania South Australia New South Wales Victoria

Territories Northern Territory Australian Capital Territory

Australia is generally arid and partly arid and it is temperate in the south and east and tropical in the north.

Wombat

Koala Bear

Kookaburra

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