Leslie Massey
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country and continent with a rich history and diverse culture. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the world's smallest continent and one of the largest countries, boasting a wide variety of landscapes and climates. With a highly urbanized population of nearly 28 million, Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with a highly developed economy and a high quality of life. But is Australia a young country? This question is complex due to Australia's unique status as a continent and country, its ancient indigenous history, and its relatively recent colonization and establishment as a sovereign nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Human habitation | Began 50,000-65,000 years ago |
| Written history | Commenced in the 17th century with Dutch exploration |
| Population | 28 million |
| Population distribution of young people (aged 15-24) | 31% in New South Wales, 27% in Victoria, 21% in Queensland, 10% in Western Australia, 6.8% in South Australia, 2.0% in Tasmania, 1.8% in the Australian Capital Territory, and 1.0% in the Northern Territory |
| Proportion of young people (aged 15-24) relative to the Australian population | 12%-13% |
| Proportion of young people living at home | Higher in recent years due to a lower proportion moving out |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (aged 15-24) | 5.1% |
| Foreign-born population | One of the highest in the world |
| Global ranking based on area | Sixth-largest country |
| Continent | Smallest continent |
| Landscape | Arid or semi-arid with unique flora and fauna |
| Isolation | Remote from traditional allies and trading partners |
| Sovereignty | As old as 83 years or as young as 36 years |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's unique flora and fauna
Australia is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, with a very high proportion of species found nowhere else in the world. The country's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and unique patterns of climate change have contributed to the development of its unique flora and fauna.
The continent supports nearly 600,000 native species, with about 85% of its plant species and half of the world's marsupial species being endemic to Australia. The high level of endemism means that 46% of birds, 69% of mammals, 94% of amphibians, and 93% of reptiles in Australia are not found anywhere else. Australia is also home to two of the five known extant species of monotremes, including the platypus. The country's subterranean fauna, while less known, is also unique, with several communities listed as endangered.
The introduction of exotic species, both intentionally and accidentally, has had a significant impact on Australia's native flora and fauna. Rabbits, red foxes, cane toads, and Indian mynah birds are just some of the invasive species that have flourished and adversely affected the environment. At the same time, native species such as the Tasmanian devil, the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, and the Eastern bettong are now rare and threatened.
Conservation efforts are in place to protect Australia's unique flora and fauna. The federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 protects native fauna and identifies and safeguards threatened species. Conservationist organizations, such as the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, are also working to protect endangered species across millions of hectares of land. Additionally, programs like the Midlandscapes project incentivize farmers to conserve biodiversity on their farms, and conservation efforts in the Kimberley region aim to develop it as an eco-friendly cultural tourist destination.
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The Great Barrier Reef
Australia is home to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef. The reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the northeast coast of Australia. It is the largest coral reef in the world, stretching from the low water mark along the mainland coast up to 250 kilometres offshore. The Great Barrier Reef contains the world's largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and 4,000 types of molluscs. It also holds great scientific interest as the habitat of species such as the dugong ('sea cow') and the large green turtle, which are threatened with extinction. The reef is also home to about 240 species of birds and a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms, crustaceans, and other species.
Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the Great Barrier Reef faces several environmental threats. These include the runoff of human-made pollutants, climate change accompanied by mass coral bleaching, the dumping of dredging sludge, and cyclic population outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish. According to studies, the reef has lost more than half of its coral cover since 1985, with a 2020 study reaffirming this finding. In 2018, the percentage of baby corals being born on the reef dropped drastically, and mass bleaching events continue to raise concerns about the future of this ecosystem.
To protect the Great Barrier Reef, a large part of it is safeguarded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which helps to limit the impact of human activities such as fishing and tourism. The Australian Institute of Marine Science conducts annual surveys of the reef's status, and efforts are ongoing to bolster its resilience in the face of various environmental challenges.
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The world's flattest and driest inhabited continent
Australia is a country and continent that is part of the Southern Hemisphere. It is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by total area, covering 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles). Australia is considered the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent, with an average height of 325 metres (1,066 feet) compared to 870 metres (2,850 feet) for all continents. Most of Australia is arid or semi-arid, with forest cover accounting for around 17% of its land area. The country experiences a wide variety of landscapes and climates, from deserts in the interior to tropical rainforests along the coast.
The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. The country also boasts the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, which extends for more than 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) off the north-east coast. Australia consists of the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, numerous smaller offshore islands, and remote offshore territories such as the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, and Norfolk Island.
The unique flora and fauna of Australia include hundreds of eucalyptus tree species and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna. Other iconic Australian plants and animals include acacias, dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras. The country's low relief is due to the long and extensive erosive action of wind, rain, and sun exposure when the continental mass was elevated above sea level.
Australia has a highly urbanised population of nearly 28 million, with most people living on the eastern seaboard. The capital, Canberra, is located in the southeast, while the largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, each boast populations exceeding five million. Australia has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations, with 25% of young people aged 15-24 born overseas. The country has a highly developed economy, ranking highly in per capita income, quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights.
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The history of Aboriginal Australians
Aboriginal Australians are the Indigenous people of Australia, with a shared and complex genetic history. They are believed to have migrated to the continent between 43,000 and 65,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.
The Aboriginal people of Australia have a rich and ancient history that has been passed down through oral traditions, stories, dances, myths, and legends. They have a deep connection to the land and a strong sense of kinship with the natural environment. Their way of life was based on hunting and gathering, and they had a profound understanding of their surroundings, utilising their knowledge for survival and spiritual practices.
Prior to colonisation, the Aboriginal people lived in various distinct groups, each with its own language and culture. There were once over 250-400 Aboriginal languages, and while many are now endangered or extinct, some efforts are being made to revive them. The Aboriginal people occupied all corners of the continent, leaving behind archaeological evidence of their presence, such as middens, shelters, engravings, and art remnants.
The arrival of European colonists in 1788 brought devastation to the Aboriginal way of life. The early colonists saw the Aboriginal people as obstacles to their farming and grazing endeavours, leading to the destruction of their culture and the loss of countless lives. The Aboriginal people were killed or displaced, and their land was taken away.
Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise around 3.8% of Australia's population, with most speaking English and living in cities. While they have experienced socioeconomic disadvantages, decreased access to education and healthcare, and a disconnect from their culture, there are ongoing efforts to address these issues and promote cultural awareness within the community.
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Australia's highly urbanised population
Australia is a highly urbanised country, with approximately 89% of its population living in cities. This figure is based on the World Bank's definition of "Major Urban Areas" as cities with a population exceeding 100,000 people. However, it is important to note that Australian cities are relatively low-density compared to other global cities. They feature pockets of high density among a background of low-density development. This unique characteristic of Australian urbanisation has led some to describe the country as more “suburbanised" than truly urban.
The population distribution in Australia is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. This coastal concentration is reflected in the population density of central Melbourne, which exceeds 38 inhabitants per square kilometre. In 2018, 67% of the population lived in the Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, including metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. These metropolitan areas have more than one million inhabitants each.
The high level of urbanisation in Australia can be attributed to significant increases in living standards, leisure time, and suburban development following World War II. The Australian government encouraged a large wave of immigration from Europe, promoting the slogan "populate or perish." This shift towards urbanisation has continued, and by 2021, the average age of the population was 39 years.
While Australia is highly urbanised, it is also one of the most sparsely populated countries globally, with a population density of 3.4 persons per square kilometre of total land area. This low population density is due to the vast geographical size of Australia, which is primarily focused on the coastal fringes. The combination of a highly urbanised population and low overall population density showcases the unique demographic characteristics of Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a relatively young country, with its written history dating back to the 17th century when it was first discovered by Dutch explorers. The first government of the colonies was formed in 1823, and in 1901, Australia became a sovereign nation.
Australia has a population of almost 28 million, with most people living in New South Wales, followed by Victoria and Queensland. The nation has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world and a highly urbanized population.
Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by total area, covering 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles). It is sometimes considered the world's largest island and is known as the "'island continent'."
The history of Australia is unique, with human habitation of the continent by Indigenous people dating back 50,000 to 65,000 years ago. These Aboriginal Australians had one of the oldest living cultures in the world, speaking 250 distinct languages. In the 17th century, Dutch explorers arrived and began the written history of the continent. Later, the British established colonial control and named it New South Wales, using it as a penal colony. In 1901, the colonies united and formed the Commonwealth of Australia, gaining sovereignty.
