Damon Mcknight
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, with each state succeeding a historical British colony and possessing its own constitution. The states and territories are the national subdivisions and second level of government of Australia. In 2011, the Torres Strait Islands, dominated by small indigenous councils in Queensland and the Northern Territory, had a median age of 20, making it the youngest area in Australia. In this paragraph, we will explore which state in Australia is the youngest in terms of the age of its population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Youngest State | Northern Territory |
| Date of Foundation | 1st July 1978 |
| Area | 1,349,129 km² |
| Population | 245,864 (2018) |
| Capital City | Darwin |
| Time Zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) |
| Fun Fact | Home to the famous Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Kakadu National Park |
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What You'll Learn
Small indigenous councils in Queensland
Australia has six federated states, one of which is Queensland. Queensland is located in the north-eastern part of the country and is known for its diverse landscapes, from the marine environment of the Great Barrier Reef to the bioregions of the Central Queensland Coast, Brigalow Belt, Wet Tropics, and more.
Within Queensland, there are several small indigenous communities and councils that play an important role in preserving and promoting their cultural heritage. Here is some information about a few of them:
North Queensland Land Council (NQLC):
The NQLC is the recognised Native Title Representative Body for its region, covering approximately 943,300 square kilometres of lands and waters, including the Great Barrier Reef and several bioregions on land. The NQLC has been active since its incorporation in March 1994 and has achieved 54 native title consent determinations. They work to ensure that the native title rights and interests of traditional owners within their region are legally recognised and negotiate land use agreements to benefit these traditional owners.
Specific Indigenous Communities in Queensland:
- Seisia: Seisia is the northernmost community on the Australian mainland, located on the tip of Cape York Peninsula, over 2700 kilometres northwest of Brisbane.
- Yarrabah: An Aboriginal community located 55 kilometres east of Cairns in Far North Queensland.
- Napranum: A community on the west coast of Cape York, six kilometres south of Weipa and 800 kilometres northwest of Cairns.
- Mapoon: An Aboriginal community in Cape York, 80 kilometres north of Weipa on the mouth of the Wenlock River, about 700 kilometres northwest of Cairns.
- Kowanyama: Located on the west coast of Cape York, 600 kilometres northwest of Cairns.
- Coen: A small community in central Cape York in Far North Queensland, 580 kilometres north of Cairns.
- Aurukun: A remote community in Far North Queensland, about 800 kilometres northwest of Cairns or a two-hour drive from Weipa.
- Gubbi Gubbi People: The Traditional Custodians of the land in South East Queensland, including the regions of Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Maryborough, and Gympie.
These small indigenous councils and communities in Queensland play a vital role in preserving their cultural heritage and traditions, and organisations like the NQLC work to ensure their rights and interests are recognised and protected.
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Torres Strait Islands
The Torres Strait Islands are an archipelago of about 274 small islands in the Torres Strait, a waterway separating far northern continental Australia's Cape York Peninsula and the island of New Guinea. The Spanish navigator Luis Vaez de Torres sailed through the islands in 1606, but they did not become well known until the late 18th century, when fishermen came to hunt for mother-of-pearl shell and bêche-de-mer (sea cucumber). The islands were annexed by Queensland in 1879, and the inhabitants were deprived of their landowning rights. They gained Australian citizenship in 1967.
The islands span an area of 48,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi), but their total land area is 566 km2 (219 sq mi). Only 17 of the islands are inhabited. The Torres Strait Islands' population was recorded at 4,514 in the 2016 Australian census, with 91.8% of these identifying as Indigenous Torres Strait Island peoples. The present-day inhabitants are primarily of Melanesian origin, with some mixture of Polynesians and Southeast Asians. Although counted as Indigenous Australians, Torres Strait Islander peoples, being predominantly Melanesian, are ethnically and culturally different from Aboriginal Australians.
The islands are now mostly part of Queensland, a constituent State of the Commonwealth of Australia, but are administered by the Torres Strait Regional Authority, a statutory authority of the Australian federal government. Each island cluster has its own local government and sends representatives to a central council of the TSRA on Thursday Island. Pearl shelling, pearl culture, fishing, and tourism are the main sources of income. With the decline in demand for pearl shells, some of the population has moved to mainland Australia.
The Torres Strait Islands have a rich and vibrant culture with strong traditions of dance, colourful headdresses, masks, carving and printmaking. Each of the islands' small communities has its own distinct practices. The London Missionary Society (LMS) mission, led by Rev. Samuel Macfarlane, arrived on Erub (Darnley Island) on 1 July 1871. After the Anglican Church took over their mission in the 20th century, they referred to the events as "The Coming of the Light", and established an annual celebration on 1 July.
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Northern Cape York
The Cape York Peninsula is the largest wilderness in northern Australia. The land is mostly flat, with about half of the area used for grazing cattle. The peninsula is known for its relatively undisturbed eucalyptus-wooded savannahs, tropical rainforests, and other habitats that are globally significant. The peninsula covers only about 2.7% of Australia's land area but produces more runoff than all of Australia south of the Tropic of Capricorn, contributing about a quarter of the country's surface runoff. The peninsula's rivers are essential for replenishing central Australia's Great Artesian Basin.
The Cape York Peninsula has been inhabited by various Aboriginal Australian peoples for tens of thousands of years. In 1606, Dutch sailor Willem Janszoon became the first European to land in Australia, reaching the Cape York Peninsula. Today, over 30 Aboriginal languages are spoken on the peninsula, including Linngithigh, Umpila, Wik Mungkan, Wik-Me'nh, Wik-Ngathan, Kugu Nganhcara, Guugu Yalandji, and Guugu Yimithirr. The region is also known for its ancient Aboriginal rock paintings, with some of the world's most extensive galleries surrounding the town of Laura.
The peninsula is a popular tourist destination during the dry season for camping, hiking, birdwatching, and fishing. Many visitors make the drive to the tip of Cape York and explore the local culture and rock art through tours arranged by the new interpretive centre. The Queensland Government is currently working to protect 13 of the peninsula's wild rivers under the Wild Rivers Act 2005.
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Inner-city areas
Australia's inner cities attract young adults, with almost the entire population of some inner cities aged between 20 and 35. Inner-city areas with youthful demographics include Civic ACT, Melbourne CBD, and Central Sydney. Melbourne, in particular, is the fastest-growing city in Australia, with a 10.6% growth rate and a net increase of 17,068 people. Sydney is not far behind, with a 5.9% growth rate and 12,811 new residents.
Other inner-city areas with substantial population growth include Yarra (5.5%) and Port Phillip (5.2%), both located in Melbourne, as well as the City of Adelaide (6.6% or 1,718 people). Perth also stands out with a 3.6% growth rate, amounting to over 81,000 new residents. These cities tend to be epicentres for overseas migration, particularly attracting students.
The Sunshine State, Queensland, experienced continuous population growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to expand, benefiting from interstate and overseas migration. Brisbane, as the state capital, is the largest LGA in Australia, with 1.3 million people. It consistently leads in "largest" growth but rarely in "fastest." Brisbane added 39,730 people in a year, making it the third-fastest-growing LGA in Queensland, with a 3.1% growth rate.
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Universities and military academies
The Australian Capital Territory is the youngest state in Australia, established in 1911.
There are 44 universities in Australia, 39 of which are public and 5 are private. The country's sandstone universities are an informal group of the oldest universities in each Australian state, housed in colonial-era sandstone buildings. The University of Melbourne is the highest-ranked university in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings in 2020.
Military academies are institutions that educate and train future leaders of a nation's armed forces, instilling values, discipline, knowledge, and skills necessary for their respective branches of service. Cadets receive rigorous academic instruction in a range of subjects and undergo extensive physical training, leadership development exercises, and character-building activities.
The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is a military academy in Canberra that was established in 1986. It is the only academic institution in Australia with an integrated defence focus. ADFA provides military and academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force, as well as international trainee officers. Tertiary education is provided by the University of New South Wales' Canberra campus, known as UNSW Canberra at ADFA. The academy also offers postgraduate programs and short courses to the Department of Defence personnel and the general public.
Another military academy in Australia is the Royal Military College, Duntroon (RMC-D), located in Canberra and established in 1911. It is an Australian Army school situated next to the ADFA campus.
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