An IntroductionAn Introduction• Full Name: Commonwealth of Australia• Population: 19,200,00• Capital City: Canberra• People: Original Inhabitants – Aborigines

Colonized by Britain 1788 (Penal Colony-Punishment/Prison Colony)

Immigration – European and AsianCurrently - 94% European Decent

4% Asian1.5% Aboriginal

• Languages: EnglishAboriginalVarious European/Asian Languages

• Religions: 85% Atheism 10% Christian 1.5% Muslim1.5% Buddhist 0.5% Jewish

An IntroductionAn Introduction• Government: Independent Member of British Commonwealth• GDP: US$418 Billion• GDP Per Head: US$22,000• Major Products/Industries: Minerals

Oil, Coal, GoldWool, Cereal, Meats

• Major Trading Partners: JapanSE AsiaUS & EU

• Environment: Vast Island Continent6th largest country in the worldInterior – barren & sparsely

populatedUnique flora and fauna (e.g.

Kangaroos)

PHYSICAL FEATURESPHYSICAL FEATURES

• 6th largest continent with an area of 7,682,300 sq kilometers.

• Flattest continent and lowest level of precipitation after Antarctica (mean annual rainfall is only 20 inches)

• Vast areas of arid or semi-desert landscapes unsuitable for settlement.

Desert

Arid & semi-desert landscapes of the ‘Outback’

PHYSICAL FEATURESPHYSICAL FEATURES

• Main mountain range travels North-South for 1900mile along the east coast (the Great Dividing Range) with the tallest mountains in the southeast (Australian Alps).

• The Great Dividing Range separates rivers that flow east to the coast from those that flow across the great plains to the interior.

The Blue Mountains – “Three Sisters”

REGIONSREGIONS

• Has six states and the territories:

1 - New South Wales (NSW)

2 - Victoria (VIC)

3 - Queensland (QLD)

4 - South Australia (SA)

5 - Western Australia (WA)

6 - Tasmania (TAS)

- Northern & Australian Capital Territory (NT & ACT)

REGIONS: New South WalesREGIONS: New South Wales

• Capital City: – Sydney (largest city in Australia)

• Land, People & Culture:– Has most important rivers (Murray, darling and

Murrumbidgee) to water the most productive farmland in the country

– Ethnically diverse with Europeans and Asians – Have over half of the aboriginal population– Many beaches & parks– Sports & Entertainment important– Meeting places are Pubs (bars) & Coffee shops

• Attractions:– National Parks– Blue Mountains– Beaches

SydneySydney

Indigenous Australians – Aborigines

Bondi Beach (Sydney)

• Industry & Economy:– Cattle & sheep production for wool and meat

– Mining: Gold, Silver, Copper, Coal, Lead & Opals

– Agricultural producers of wheat & dairy

– Large-scale fishing & Seafood distribution

– Wholesale and retail trade

– Tourism SydneySydney

REGIONS: New South WalesREGIONS: New South Wales

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Major seafood industry

REGIONS: QueenslandREGIONS: Queensland

BrisbaneBrisbane

• Capital City: – Brisbane

• Land, People & Culture:– Sprawling system of mountain ranges

running north-south– Rolling grasslands – Fine beaches for water sports– Over 80% of people were Australian born– One-quarter of native Aborigines live in

QLD

• Attractions:– Great Barrier Reef– Tropical Rainforests– Sunshine & Gold Coast Beaches

The Gold Coast

The Great Barrier Reef

REGIONS: QueenslandREGIONS: Queensland

BrisbaneBrisbane

• Industry & Economy:– Australia’s largest producer of beef cattle

– World’s second largest producer of sugarcane

– Agricultural producers of Tropical fruits, wool and cotton

– Mining: Copper, coal, lead and zinc and bauxite (world’s largest deposit)

– Tourism

Sugarcane Farming High producer of Tropical fruits

REGIONS: VictoriaREGIONS: Victoria

MelbourneMelbourne

• Capital City: – Melbourne

• Land, People & Culture:– Smallest mainland state– Large European population – Hosting large sporting events (Australian Open – Tennis; Grand

Prix racing)– Meeting places are Pubs (bars) & Coffee Shops

• Attractions:– Historic Buildings– Great Ocean Road– Twelve Apostles – Rock Outcrops

The Great Ocean Road viewing the 12 Apostles

Australian Open Tennis – Michael Chang

REGIONS: VictoriaREGIONS: Victoria

MelbourneMelbourne

• Industry & Economy:– Produces one-third of Australia’s

manufacturing output

– Major industries of Shipbuilding and refining of Petroleum

– Production of metals, motor vehicles,

textiles, printed materials and clothing

– Agricultural producers of field crops, vegetables and livestock

Victorian Ship building yards

Motor vehicle production in Melbourne

REGIONS: South AustraliaREGIONS: South Australia

AdelaideAdelaide

• Capital City: – Adelaide

• Land, People & Culture:– Consists of largely arid wasteland– Most people are of British, Irish, or other European descent.– City of churches – High migration of German Lutherans – Arts & festivals– Two-thirds of the state population live in Adelaide

• Attractions:– Barossa Valley Wineries– Nature & Wildlife– Yearly festivals

Adelaide – City of Churches

Pelican colonies along the South Australian coast

REGIONS: South AustraliaREGIONS: South Australia

AdelaideAdelaide

• Industry & Economy: – Smelting and production of lead and silver for export– Quarrying of marble and granite and mining of coal &

iron– Large reserves of Uranium– Agricultural producers and exporters of wheat, wine and wool

Barossa Valley Wines Major industry of smelting lead and silver

REGIONS: Western AustraliaREGIONS: Western Australia

PerthPerth

• Capital City: – Perth (most isolated city in Australia)

• Land, People & Culture:– WA is the largest state covering almost

one-third of Australia– Most of WA is sandy and dry with

little vegetation– World’s most sparsely populated

region

• Attractions:– Kimberly Wilderness Area– Pristine coastline for boating and

beaches– Historical goldfields

Sparsely populated dry & sandy regionsBeautiful scenic roads along the Western Australian coast

REGIONS: Western AustraliaREGIONS: Western Australia

PerthPerth

• Industry & Economy: – Produces more than 10% of world’s

iron ore– World’s leading supplier of diamonds– Production of gold, bauxite, nickel,

petroleum, natural gas and coal– Agricultural producers of wheat, oats,

hay, potatoes, tobacco and orchard fruits

– Livestock production of sheep, cattle, pigs and horses.

– Forestry (timber production) and pearl farming are significant producers to the states economy

Diamond Mining Pearl Farming

REGIONS: TasmaniaREGIONS: Tasmania

HobartHobart

• Capital City: – Hobart

• Land, People & Culture:– A mountainous island state– More than one-fifth is National Park– Half of the population live in Hobart

• Attractions:– Fine Colonial architecture– Nature & Wildlife– Sailing Regattas

Colonial HousingSydney to Hobart Yacht Race

REGIONS: TasmaniaREGIONS: Tasmania

HobartHobart

• Industry & Economy: – Reliant upon farming and natural resources– Main products include: wool, hops, vegetables, beef, lambs and dairy– Natural resources include timber, silver, copper, iron, lead and zinc

Reliance on farming - vegetablesDairy farms

REGIONS: Australian Capital & Northern TerritoryREGIONS: Australian Capital & Northern Territory

CanberraCanberra

DarwinDarwin

Northern Territory• Capital City:

– Darwin• Land, People &

Culture:– Population only

175,891.– Largest concentration

of native Aborigines• Attractions:

– Kakadu National Park– Uluru (Ayers Rock)

• Industry & Economy:– Mineral deposits

Australian Capital Territory

• Nations Capital: – Canberra

• Land, People & Culture:– Population of 281,125

with life revolving around the Federal Government

Uluru (Ayers Rock) – Northern Territory

The Capitol Building - Canberra