 Australia
became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It
was able to take advantage of its natural resources to
rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries
and to make a major contribution to the British effort
in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include pollution,
particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management
and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great
Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia's status,
from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to an
independent republic, was defeated in 1999.
Australia - its a magical destination, full of unique,
natural wonders and an astounding variety of wildlife.
It's a free-spirited, colorful country and its people
are relaxed and easy-going - you can count on receiving
a warm welcome and a friendly word wherever you go. It's
vibrant, stylish cities are delightful. Green and unpolluted
- in harmony with nature but with a dynamism and excitement
that will leave you wishing for more. Have a flutter at
the horse races, shop for Australian designer fashion,
see the Opera or sit back, take in the atmosphere and
down an ice-cold beer. It's just the place for stress-free,
easy living.
Most people Harbour a particular image of Australia, such
as the Opera House or blood-red Uluru (Ayers Rock). Yet
these famous icons do scant justice to the richness of
Australia's natural treasures and its cultural diversity.
Australia offers a wealth of travel experiences, from
the vastness and drama of the outback, to the spectacle
of the Great Barrier Reef and its islands, the cosmopolitanism
of Sydney and arguably some of the best beaches in the
world. Visitors expecting to see an opera in Sydney one
night and meet Crocodile Dundee the next will have to
re-think their grasp of geography in this huge country.
It is this sheer vastness, and the friction between the
ancient land steeped in Aboriginal lore and the New World
cultures being heaped upon it, which gives Australia much
of its character.
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Map |
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Country
Fact*: |
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Full
country name:
Commonwealth of Australia
Area: 7,686,850 sq km
Population: 19,913,144
Capital city: Canberra (pop 313,000
million)
People: 94% European descent, 4%
Asian, 1.5% Aboriginal
Language: English, Aboriginal languages
(plus numerous other European, Arabic and Asian languages)
Religion: Christianity is the predominant
faith but all major religions are represented. Churches,
mosques, temples and synagogues are located in most
major cities
Government: Independent member of
the British Commonwealth
Business
Hours:
Monday Through Friday 9am till 5pm, Sundays and Public
Holidays and do not deliver on those days
Major
industries: Minerals, oil, coal, gold, wool,
cereals, meat, tourism
Major
Trading Partners:
Japan, ASEAN, South Korea, China, New Zealand, US
and the EU
Internet Domain: .au
International Dialing Code:
+61
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Calendar of Events*: |
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January:
1st - New Year's Day
28th - Australia Day
March:
4th - Labor Day (Perth)*
11th - Labor Day (Melbourne)*
18th - Canberra Day (Canberra)*
29th - Good Friday
April:
1st
- Easter Day
25th
- Anzac Day
June:
3th - Foundation Day (Perth)*
20th - Queen's Birthday (Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
only)
September:
30th - Queen's Birthday (Perth)*
October:
7th - Labor Day (Canberra and Sydney)*
November:
5th - Melbourne Cup Day (Melbourne)*
December:
25th - Christmas Day
26th
- Boxing Day
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*
Information is subject to change. For further update,
please check these websites:www.news.bbc.co.uk,
www.atn.com.au,
www.wilsonsalmanac.com,
www.cia.gov
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