Bourke General Information Australia is the largest island in the world and the smallest continent. We are the world's sixth largest country. We are the flattest of all continents. Australia covers an area of 7 686 850 square km (2 967 893 sq mls) We have a population of approximately 18 400 000 people, a large percentage of them living in urban areas .

Geography Australia is split up into 6 States and 2 Territories. The States include Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. The Territories include Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The capital of Australia is Canberra and it is located in the Australian Capital Territory. Australia is a relatively flat country with few mountainous areas. The longest rivers in Australia are the Murray and Darling Rivers.

New South Wales is brown.

Climate Australia has a varied climate and this is due to the size of country. Australia is said to be one of the driest continents on earth.

Animals Australia has a wide variety of unique animals. We have about 230 species of mammals, 140 species of snakes, 360 species of lizards, 2 species of crocodiles. Here are a few of our favourites. Click on the animal that you would like to know more about.

Exports Australia is a producer and exporter of farm products, particularly cattle, wheat and wool. Grapes grown for winemaking are also important. It is a producer of minerals, oil and natural gas. Metals, minerals and farm products account for the bulk of exports.

Favourite Aussies Sports - Pat Rafter, Ian Thorpe Actors - Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman Music - Savage Garden, Midnight Oil Authors - Paul Jennings Medical Heroes - Victor Chang, Fred Hollows

Coat of Arms King George V gave us our Coat of Arms in 1912. It consists of a shield consisting of six parts, each containing one of the state badges. The shield is supported by two Australian Animals, the kangaroo and the emu.

Emblems The National Floral Emblem is the Golden Wattle. The National Animal Emblem is the kangaroo.

Australian Anthems National - 'Advance Australia Fair' (Used during other ceremonies) Royal - 'God Save the Queen' (Used in the presence of Her Majesty or a member of the Royal Family)

More Aussie Info. Prime Ministers: Founding - Edmund Barton Current - John Howard Currency - The dollar ($A) Neighbouring Countries: New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia

Aussie Slang G'day - Hello Crook - Feeling sick Fair Dinkum - No kidding Beauty mate - Well Done Blue - An argument Digger - ANZAC Veteran Snag - Sausage Sheila - Female Bloke - Male

Australian Flag The Australian Flag was proclaimed as the National Flag in 1951. The Union Jack in the upper left hand corner represents our British connection. The large star underneath the Union Jack is the Commonwealth Star and this signifies the states in the country. It also contains the five-starred Southern Cross.

History The Aboriginal people of Australia entered the continent from South-East Asia more than 60 000 years ago. In 1770 the British Captain Cook explored the east coast and, in 1788, the first British settlement was established for convicts on the site of what is now Sydney. Today a Federal Constitutional Monarchy exists as our form of government. Our Head of State is still the Queen of England.

Aboriginal Culture The Aborigines existed on their own in Australia for over 60 000 years. They do not have a written history as such, but through their Dreamtime stories, cave paintings, music and dance we have learnt much about traditional Aboriginal culture. Before white settlement, over 600 tribes based their lifestyle on hunting, fishing and seed gathering.

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