Marcus Clarke was one of the pioneers of Australian literature and his book, For the Term of His Natural Life, is considered one of the most magnificent chronicles of the life of a convict during Australia's formative years. Today, Australia’s rich assortment of backgrounds, cultures and communities influences everything from the food we eat to the celebrations we share. In recent times Australia boasts of being the home of several world-famous fashion brands such as Billabong and Quicksilver. One of the reasons they have survived for so long is their ability to adapt to change. Communities living along the coast used to catch fish and shellfish to supplement their meals. Pop Culture. Of all the famous cricket stars from the nation, Donald Bradman is considered the greatest batsman to ever play the sport. The natives of Australia developed their religious tradition over their 40,000 years stay on the island referred to as the Dreaming. Check out this helpful page on Australia’s National Symbols which goes over a bit more information on this! Urimbirra Wildlife Park, Victor Harbour, South Australia © Tourism Australia, "The time I spent in the bush as a kid with my family gave me the opportunity to develop a love and passion for animal conservation. If you think I need to add any hilarious, fun, interesting facts about Australia to this list, please do reach out to me and let me know! So light up the barbie (BBQ), crack open a tinny (beer can) and enjoy my (not so) shortlist of Australian facts you need to know! From the red sands of Uluru to the clear blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the flora- and fauna-rich rainforests, Australia is blessed with some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world – so it comes as no surprise that Australians love to be outdoors. The history of cricket in Australia stretches back at least 200 years with the first cricket match being played in 1803. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Australia is an incredibly diverse country, and is home to so many different wonderful cultures and communities. Australia is a diverse, multiethnic nation with people from all over the world settling in Australia alongside the indigenous inhabitants. The indigenous Australians, on the other hand, have lived on the island for at least 40,000 years. I’ve traveled quite extensively around the country (well, relatively speaking), and hope you enjoy checking out all the photos as well! Check out the Fraser Island website to learn all about it, and figure out how you can make the most of your visit. The gold Commonwealth Star above the shield has seven points. Taking inspiration from the native surroundings runs true for many of Australia’s tasty tipples, too. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. They were traditionally hunters and gatherers, and the unique Australian landscape provided them with a wide array of food sources. With neighbours like fairy penguins, koalas and wallabies, animals are great mates, and our unique wildlife is part of what drives Australians’ enthusiasm for environmentalism and sustainability. Several Australian music stars have made a name for themselves internationally with their music which consistently tops international charts. While it may focus on the major touristy ones, they are ALL must-visit beaches in Australia! The immigration of various communities into Australia brought new religions with Christianity being the most dominant religion. The shield is held by two native Australian animals, a kangaroo to the left and an emu to the right. But there is something truly unique that links everyone together here – a one-of-a-kind shared spirit and attitude that is the Australian way of life. Caucasian settlers also introduced European classical music to Australia. When it comes to food, the Western Australia Gourmet Escape is a highlight, while Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrates our diversity and sees people come together from all over the world. Phew! Check out this article Aboriginal Australians, facts and information by National Geographic for a bit more information on this subject! Fact 1: The Indigenous Aboriginal arts and cultures of Australia are the oldest living cultures in the world! Most of all, it’s about putting aside stress to appreciate the good things in life that are right in front of you. I found it hard to keep the Australian facts to a minimum, there are just so many interesting ones, and so many more than I could have fit on this list. SUP boarding, Cable Beach, Western Australia © Tourism Australia. You can find elements of this beach culture even when Aussies are away from the waves. "screenSet": "Aus-RegistrationLogin", "screenSet": "Aus-RegistrationLogin", The freedom of religion is enshrined in the Australian constitution which also states that there should be no official state religion in the country. With an area of 184 000 hectares it is the largest sand island in the world. Researching this article was heaps of fun, and it’s definitely got me thinking about moving back to Sydney in the future. With the spread of western civilization, fewer possum-skin cloaks were made as modern clothing replaced them. } The national floral emblem, golden wattle, forms the background. "homePagePath": "/content/australia/en_us.html", "startScreen": "gigya-reset-password-screen" And who says friends need to be human? "startScreen": "gigya-login-screen" Australia’s lifestyle is laidback, sure, but there’s nothing that excites an Aussie more than sport. Don’t let it stop you though, because if you’re in one of the major cities I highly doubt you’ll ever see one of these guys! Modern Australian cuisine combines elements of the traditional cooking with imported methods to create unique and authentic Australian dishes. There are some really epic posts!! These symbols are enclosed in a border to represent federation in 1901, when the states united to form a nation. Her unique voice was one of the factors that propelled her to international stardom. 80 Fun, Weird, Wild, and Interesting Facts About Australia! “The Commonwealth Coat of Arms contains a shield with the symbols of the six Australian states. Aboriginal Australians, facts and information, Australia’s best beaches: 10 places with superb sand ‘n’ surf, The Ultimate SYDNEY Itinerary | How to Spend 4-7 Days in Sydney, The Ultimate MELBOURNE Itinerary | How to Spend 4-7 Days in Melbourne, The Ultimate PERTH Itinerary | How to Spend 4-7 Days in Perth, The Ultimate NORTHERN TERRITORY OUTBACK Itinerary, 14 Words You’ll Start Saying When You Move to Australia, The Ultimate Guide For Moving To Sydney on a Working Holiday Visa, Cairns – Sydney: The Ultimate Greyhound Bus Pass Itinerary, 30 Music Festivals in Australia To Experience Before You. I’d love to learn a bit more about my favorite country down under! Close to 40% of Australians identify as Christians, a decline from the 1901 high of 97%. John Peter Russel was one of the first Australian impressionists to achieve international success with Claude Monet, one of the greatest impressionists, taking a liking to his work. These facts will give you insights into the country’s history, people, wildlife, culture, tourism, famous inventions and more… 1. Australia Facts: Sydney is Australia's largest city with about 5 million inhabitants, which means that about 20% of all Australians live in this metropolitan city. Australian popular culture developed mainly along western lines. Sia, Gotye, and Keith Urban are some of the most well-known Australian famous musicians. Discover more about Aboriginal culture and experiences. I think it’s such an awesome city, and even have heaps of friends who currently live there! Native Australian art has existed for nearly 60,000 years giving them the distinction of having the oldest continuous art tradition on the planet. Australia’s sporting culture has been passed through generations, making for a population deeply invested in cricket, rugby, Australian Rules Football, soccer, tennis and more. We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Locals pour into pubs for rugby games, spend all day in the sun at cricket matches, and use golden beaches as fields for casual games. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. "taIdRetryLimit": 3 14. One of the most iconic pieces of Native Australian dressing is the possum-skin cloak which was favored by communities living in the southeastern part of the country. It’s the reason you’ll hear the words “no worries, mate” exchanged between strangers on the street. Immigrants into Australia brought along their homelands' unique musical traditions such as folk ballads which the British immigrants introduced. It’s truly one of my favorite places in the world, and am always telling friends that they should move down there for a year or two, and I’m sure this article about facts about Australia will help with that! 86 Interesting facts about Australia. Australia’s history heavily influences its lifestyle today, and Australia’s first and oldest stories belong to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The main city in the country's interior is Alice Springs while Darwin is the biggest city in the Northern Territory. With thousands of wineries located throughout 65 beautiful wine regions, and a boom in artisan distilleries and craft breweries, many Australians are using native botanicals to create wine, beer and spirits that reflect their surroundings. Seasonal wildlife means you can swim with whale sharks one month and manta rays the next. Australia’s multiculturalism and diversity continues to grow as people from around the world have settled into the country’s buzzing cities and breezy regional towns. The First Fleet arrived in 1788 led by Captain Arthur Phillip. 5) The Australian Aboriginals are the oldest culture on Earth, with estimations seeing them as having inhabited Australian for over 50,000 years.