History of Australia

Australian Prehistory: Humans are thought to have arrived in Australia about 30,000 years ago. The original inhabitants, who have descendants to this day, are known as aborigines. In the eighteenth century, the aboriginal population was about 300,000. The aborigines, who have been described alternately as nomadic hunter-gatherers and fire-stick farmers (known for using fire to clear the brush and attract grass-eating animals instead of cultivating the land), settled primarily in the well-watered coastal areas.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 

Some observers believe that poor treatment of the environment by aborigines over many centuries may have led to the barren nature of much of the Australian interior. Higher forms of mammals never reached Australia because the land bridge from Asia ceased to exist about 50 million years ago.

European Discovery and Settlement to 1850: The period of European discovery and settlement began on August 23, 1770, when Captain James Cook of the British Royal Navy took possession of the eastern coast of Australia in the name of George III. His party had spent four months in exploration along eastern Australia, from south to north. Unlike Dutch explorers, who deemed the land of doubtful value and preferred to focus on the rich Indies to the north, Cook and Joseph Banks of the Royal Society, who accompanied Cook for scientific observations, reported that the land was more fertile. Cook’s fame in Britain helped to fix the attention of the British government on the area, which had some strategic significance in the European wars of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 

eventually brought a total of about 160,000 prisoners to Australia. The initial character of a penal colony lasted for about 60 years in the areas of major original settlement. It ended in 1840 in New South Wales and in 1852 in Van Diemen’s Land (modern Tasmania), which became a colony in 1825. Western Australia, which was founded in 1830 by free immigrants, added convicts to its population by its own choice from 1850 to 1868. Convicts were not sent to South Australia, which became a colony in 1836. 

Transportation of convicts 

Aboriginal Rock Art, Anbangbang Rock Shelter, Kakadu National Park, Australia. Photo: © Thomas Schoch.

Captain James Cook

Aborigines from Bathurst Island (1939), one of the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory.

Public holidays in Australia

In this section I will present you about the Holidays in Australia ,so let’s go….

Name Date

New Year 1 January

Australia Day 26 January

Labour Day 2nd Monday in March

Good Friday Friday before Easter

Saturday before Easter Sunday Day before Easter

Easter Monday Day after Easter

Anzac Day 25 April

Queen's Birthday 2nd Monday in June

Melbourne Cup Day 1st Tuesday of November*

Christmas 25 December

Boxing Day 26 December

New Year's Day [1 January]

Australia Day [26 January]

Labour Day [ 2nd Monday in March]

Easter [Friday before Easter]

Anzac Day [25 April]

Queen's Birthday[2nd Monday in June]

Christmas Day [25 December]

Economy of Australia

The Australian currency

Australia was the first country in the world to have a complete system of bank notes based on plastic (polymer). These notes provide much greater security against counterfeiting. They also last four times as long as conventional paper (fibrous)

notes.

The innovative technology by which the notes are produced, developed entirely in Australia, offers artists brilliant scope

for the creation of images that reflect the histories and natural environments of their countries. At the same time the

polymer notes are cleaner than paper notes and easily recyclable. Australia's currency consists of coins of five, 10,

20 and 50 cent and one and two dollar denomination; and notes of five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar denomination. 

The Reserve Bank of Australia has information on current Notes / Bills & Coins

Money of Australia

One. Australian economy.Australia's economy grew steadily from 1998-

2012 averaged about 3.3 percent per year as the developed countries first. That could recover from the financial crisis, the U.S. and the world in 2008 by GDP in 2011 with the (GDP) of approximately U.S. $ 1,300 billion and is ranked the 13th largest economy in the world (measured by nominal GDP).

The trade of Australia

In 2011, the Australian economy continues to grow. The rate of accumulation of gross domestic product in the year 2010 is 3.5 percent of percent of 3.0 and is expected to increase steadily in 2012 to recover from the flooding at the end of 2010 and stimulate investment. of the private sector in the mining and export of commodities, including iron and minerals which promote overall economy in Australia driven continuously. Although available in retail (Retail services) and tourism industry is still recovering.

Culture of Australia

Australia cultureAustralia’s diverse culture and lifestyle

reflect its liberal democratic traditions and values, geographic Australia is a product of a unique blend of established traditions and new influences. The country’s original inhabitants, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, are the custodians of one of the world’s oldest continuing

Australian fashion mostly is relaxed and playful than in Europe. Due to the warm weather and outdoor lifestyle including a multiplicity of cultural influences.

Fashion of Australia

Clothing

The types of clothing that people wear reflect the diversity in Australian society and the variations in climate. How ever, Australia does not have an official national dress.

 Country music  R&B and soul mus

ic Rock and popHardcoremetal Hip-hopClassical musicJazz

Australia Music

ustralian cuisine has the most diverse range, quality, and inventiveness than many others in the world. For example Fish and Chips , BBQ , Beef Pie.

Food from Australian

Language

Them speak English languages mostly and, The most commonly spoken languages after

English are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic,

Vietnamese and Mandarin. Australians speak more than 200 languages, including Indigenous Australian languages.

Religious worship

Australia is a predominantly Christian country, with around 64 per cent of all Australians identifying as Christians. However, most other major religious faiths are also practised, reflecting Australia’s culturally diverse society.

1. Australia Economy , March 9 , 2012 from http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/australia/

2. History of Australia, 2012 , from http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Australia-history.htm

3. Public holidays in Australia.December 6, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Australia

4. People, culture and lifestyle. February 2012 , from http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/people_culture.html

APA Reference