History

The first inhabitants of Australia were the Aborigines, who migrated there at least 40,000 years ago from Southeast Asia. There may have been between a half million to a full million Aborigines at the time of European settlement; today about 350,000 live in Australia.

Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish ships sighted Australia in the 17th century; the Dutch landed at the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1606. In 1616 the territory became known as New Holland. The British arrived in 1688, but it was not until Captain James Cook's voyage in 1770 that Great Britain claimed possession of the vast island, calling it New South Wales. A British penal colony was set up at Port Jackson (what is now Sydney) in 1788, and about 161,000 transported English convicts were settled there until the system was suspended in 1839.

Free settlers and former prisoners established six colonies: New South Wales (1786), Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) (1825), Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1834), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). Various gold rushes attracted settlers, as did the mining of other minerals. Sheep farming and grain soon grew into important economic enterprises. The six colonies became states and in 1901 federated into the Commonwealth of Australia with a constitution that incorporated British parliamentary and U.S. federal traditions. Australia became known for its liberal legislation: free compulsory education, protected trade unionism with industrial conciliation and arbitration, the secret ballot, women's suffrage, maternity allowances, and sickness and old-age pensions.

Culture

Australian art

Australian contemporary arts reflect the world's oldest continuous cultural traditions and also a diverse, multicultural society. Our visual and performing arts communities receive international acclaim for their vibrancy, originality and cutting-edge work in the arts, literature, stage and cinema, dance, classical music and contemporary Australian rock music. The NationalMuseum of Australia opened as part of Australia's Centenary of Federation celebrations in 2001. It is co-located with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in the nation's capital city of Canberra and adds to more than 1000 museums throughout Australia

Multiculturalism

More than 100 ethnic groups are represented in Australia, making Australia one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Australia's dynamic multiculturalism can be attributed to its unique combination of Indigenous cultures, early European settlement and immigration from all parts of the world.

• Australians born in another country 25%
• Australians with at least one parent who was born overseas 25%
• Australian migrants are from more than 140 countries
• Asian-born Australians 1 million
• Australians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander decent 2%

Australians value the wealth of cultural diversity and social sophistication that international students bring to our campuses and our communities. We take great care in looking after international students and helping them to adjust to the Australian way of life. International students also gain great benefits from their education in

Australia and make lifelong friendships.

Language

Although English is the official language, a host of other languages are spoken in Australia. As one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world many Australians are naturally fluent in other languages. More than 2.4 million Australians speak a language other than English at home. Within the education and training system about 15 per cent of those of working age studying for an educational qualification have English as a second language. More than 800,000 Australians speak a European Union language, apart from English, in the home. Another 800,000 Australians speak an Asian language in the home.

In Australia not only is there the opportunity to improve your English through specialist study in an English-speaking environment but all sectors of Australian education and training provide tuition in many other languages as well.

English as it is spoken in Australia is very easily understood by nearly all people from other English-speaking nations. While there are some minor differences in accent between the cities and country areas the difference is much less than you will find in America, Britain and Canada where French is also spoken. As you improve your English in Australia you will learn some of our slang, and have much fun explaining the meanings to your friends and relatives at home.

Religion

Australia is predominantly a Christian country; however, all religions are represented in our multicultural society. Australians respect the freedom of people to practice their choice of religion. Churches, mosques, temples and synagogues are located in most major cities. Some universities have their own spiritual groups on campus.

Attractions

The lure of Australia lies in the great number of unique Australian attractions.

Right in the heart of the continent, for instance, lies Australia's iconic rock monolith, Uluru, once better known as Ayers Rock, with its shifting colors as the day progresses. It is one of the Outback's Australian attractions.

Close to the north Queensland coast and extending for some 2000 kilometres lies another of the many Australian attractions: the Great Barrier Reef and its many coral beach islands, an underwater haven of colorful reefs and marine life and a paradise for divers and romantics.

Sydney itself is home to that architectural wonder, the Sydney Opera House. Close to it is the famed Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can even climb its high arches not only as an adventure but also for a clear bird's-eye view of the city.

From the Northern Territory to Canberra

Consider these other Australian attractions:

In the Northern Territory there are Kakadu,Arnhem Land and Katherine Gorge to visit for their rainforests, crocodiles and other wildlife, unique land formations, rivers and gorges, and an insight into Aboriginal life.

In Queensland, there's not only the Great Barrier Reef but also the Gold Coast,Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, and Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island, as tropical Australian attractions and destinations. Also visit the Darling Downs for a taste of country.

In New South Wales, Australian attractions include Sydney with its famous landmarks, the Rocks (birthplace of Australia), the South Coast, the Blue Mountains, limestone caves, white sand beaches. Or enjoy a day at theRoyal Botanic Gardens, theRoyal National Park or travel farther north to the Hunter Valley for its vineyards and wines.

Among the Australian attractions in the Australian Capital Territory are the Australian Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia,theAustralian War Memorial.

From Victoria to Tasmania

In Victoria there's the charm of Melbourne itself, the Melbourne Museum, the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles, Phillip Island for all those fairy penguins coming home from the sea at dusk,

In South Australia, major Australian attractions include the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa Valley wine country, Kangaroo Island, Fleurieu Peninsula, and the stark desert landscape of Coober Pedy where half the people live underground.

Western Australia has Perth, Fremantle, Rottnest Island with its quokkas, Monkey Mia where you have close encounters with dolphins, and Ningaloo Reefwhere you can swim with the sharks. Or go the Kimberleys and visit the color-striped rock towers of the Bungle Bungles.

In Tasmania visit the bloodied convict settlement at Port Arthur, trek to the wilderness areas of Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair and Freycinet. Don't overlook the charms of the cities of Hobart and Launceston.

And, yes, there are more Australian attractions to suit every budget and every taste.

Geography

Stonehenge and other examples of prehistoric culture are all that remain of the earliest inhabitants of Britain. Celtic peoples followed. Roman invasions of the 1st century B.C. brought Britain into contact with continental Europe. When the Roman legions withdrew in the 5th century A.D., Britain fell easy prey to the invading hordes of Angles, Saxons, and Jutes from Scandinavia and the Low Countries. The invasions had little effect on the Celtic peoples of Wales and Scotland. Seven large Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were established, and the original Britons were forced into Wales and Scotland. It was not until the 10th century that the country finally became united under the kings of Wessex. Following the death of Edward the Confessor (1066), a dispute about the succession arose, and William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England, defeating the Saxon king, Harold II, at the Battle of Hastings (1066). The Norman conquest introduced Norman French law and feudalism.

Australia is a land of contrasts: sweeping golden beaches, coral reefs rich with marine life, tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, vast grazing lands and sparse deserts.

One of the oldest continents, Australia is as wide as the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei and as long as the distance from Singapore to Manila. It is the only country to occupy an entire continent.

Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia has many animals and plants, which are unique on the planet. The surface geology is typically old and flat.

Australian States and Territories

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Tasmania
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Northen Territory
• Western Australia