Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world, with a diverse range of ancestries, languages, and cultures. Australian culture is primarily Western, influenced by its British colonial history, Indigenous peoples, and waves of migration from around the world. The country has a strong sporting culture, a passion for the outdoors, and a laid-back attitude, with a focus on mateship and equality. Australia also has a thriving beach culture, with many beautiful natural landscapes and a strong connection to Aboriginal culture and history. With a resilient economy, Australia is a global leader in innovation, democracy, and cultural diversity, making it a desirable destination for immigrants and tourists alike.
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What You'll Learn
Geography and physical characteristics
Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, with a total land area of 8.56 million square kilometres (3,310,000 sq mi). It is also one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. The Australian mainland extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and from the Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast for nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km). The continent includes a continental shelf overlain by shallow seas, which divide it into several landmasses—the Arafura Sea and Torres Strait between mainland Australia and New Guinea, and Bass Strait between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
During the Pleistocene ice age, around 18,000 BC, Australia and New Guinea formed a combined landmass known as Sahul. Rising sea levels over the past 18,000 to 10,000 years have since separated the continent into the present-day mainland and the two mountainous islands of New Guinea and Tasmania. The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia. The name "Sahul" is derived from the Sahul Shelf, a part of the Australian continental shelf.
The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands. Mount Kosciusko, at 2,228 m (7,310 ft), is the highest mountain on the mainland. The Murray-Darling is the major river system, draining most of inland New South Wales and Southern Queensland towards Lake Alexandrina and the sea in South Australia. Australia's rivers have the lowest discharge into the sea of any continent, and their slow-moving nature due to the mainland's flat, arid profile results in a build-up of salt on the land.
Australia is known for its global isolation, low relief, and aridity. The Outback, or the Bush, refers to the sparsely populated inland beyond the Great Dividing Range, evoking a sense of nostalgia and independence for Australians.
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History and colonisation
Australia has a long and complex history of colonisation that has shaped its culture and demographics. Aboriginal Australians settled throughout continental Australia and many nearby islands, establishing artistic, musical, and spiritual traditions that are among the longest-surviving in human history. The ancestors of today's Torres Strait Islanders arrived around 2,500 years ago from Papua New Guinea.
In the centuries before British colonisation, various explorers and navigators from Asia, Europe, and the Muslim world may have reached Australia or come close to it. Dutch navigators explored the western and southern coasts in the 17th century and named the continent New Holland. Macassan trepangers visited Australia's northern coasts from around 1720, and possibly earlier. In 1717, Jean-Pierre Purry proposed a plan for the colonisation of an area in modern-day South Australia to the Dutch East India Company, but it was rejected due to expected costs. In 1747, Emanuel Bowen promoted the benefits of exploring and colonising Australia, referring to it as "Terra Australis".
The British colonisation of Australia began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet, which established the Colony of New South Wales. The fleet included around 730 convicts and over 250 free persons, mostly marines. The first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, had instructions to establish friendly relations with the Aboriginal population. However, the British settlement was planned as a self-sufficient penal colony based on agriculture, and conflict soon arose due to cultural misunderstandings and assumptions of superiority. The Aboriginal population also lacked resistance to introduced diseases, and an outbreak of smallpox in 1789 killed about half of the Aboriginal population in the Sydney region.
In the 19th century, five other colonies were established, forming the six present-day Australian states. The Province of South Australia, established in 1836, was based on the theory of "systematic colonisation" and banned convict labour to attract "respectable" families. Large-scale immigration occurred following the Australian gold rushes in the 1850s, which also led to exponential population growth, racial tensions, and the introduction of novel political ideas. After the Eureka Stockade rebellion, significant electoral reform, the labour movement, and women's rights emerged. Federation occurred in 1901 as a result of a growing sense of national unity and identity.
Since the postwar period, Australia has pursued an official policy of multiculturalism, and immigration from diverse regions, including Europe and Asia, has continued to shape the country's demographics and culture. Australia is now a predominantly Western culture with strong British, Indigenous, and migrant influences.
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Politics and government
The politics of Australia operates under the written Australian Constitution, which sets out Australia as a constitutional monarchy, governed via a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition. Australia is also a federation, where power is distributed between a national government (the Commonwealth) and the six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The monarch, currently King Charles III, is the head of state and is represented locally by the governor-general, while the head of government is the prime minister, currently Anthony Albanese of the Australian Labor Party. The governor-general appoints the prime minister and may dismiss one who has lost the confidence of parliament or acts illegally. The prime minister and their sworn ministers form the cabinet, the key decision-making body. The cabinet consists of the prime minister and senior ministers and makes most of the important policy decisions of the government. Ministers not part of the cabinet belong to the outer ministry, and there are also assistant ministers responsible for specific policy areas.
The Australian system of government combines elements derived from the political systems of the United Kingdom (a fused executive, constitutional monarchy, and strong party discipline) and the United States (federalism, a written constitution, and strong bicameralism with a Senate in which states have equal representation). The Federal Executive Council advises the governor-general in the exercise of executive power, and all current and former ministers are members of the council. The Australian Parliament consists of the House of Representatives, with 150 members, and the Senate, with 76 members: twelve from each of the six states and two each from the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The Senate uses a proportional system that combines preferential voting with proportional representation for each state. The party with majority support in the House of Representatives forms the government, and its leader becomes prime minister.
Elections in Australia are generally restricted to a ten-month window between August and May every three years. The country has maintained a stable two-party system, with the two major political groups being the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition, a grouping of the Liberal Party and the National Party. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing trend of minor parties and independents winning seats in the House of Representatives. The most recent federal election, which took place on 21 May 2022, saw the election of a historically large crossbench in the House of Representatives, consisting of six minor party members and ten independents.
Each state has its own bicameral parliament, except for Queensland and the two territories, whose parliaments are unicameral. Each state has a governor, who undertakes a role equivalent to that of the governor-general at the federal level, and a premier, who is the head of government and is equivalent to the prime minister. Queensland is regarded as comparatively conservative, while Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory are considered left of centre. New South Wales, the largest state by population, and South Australia have often been regarded as politically moderate bellwether states. Western Australia has historically been conservative but has recently swung to become one of the most left-leaning states in the country.
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Economy and trade
Australia has a strong economy, ranking eighth in the Human Development Index in 2022. The country is the 21st-largest exporter and 24th-largest importer globally, with a large service sector accounting for about 71.2% of its total GDP. The industrial sector makes up 25.3% of the GDP, while the agriculture sector accounts for 3.6%.
Australia's largest trading partner is China, which accounts for roughly 40% of the country's exports and 17.6% of its imports. The country has also diversified its exports, with Japan, the United States, and South Korea being other major export markets. Australia's strong natural resources, such as iron ore and natural gas, have contributed to its high exports. Additionally, free trade agreements have increased Australian exports by $472 billion.
The country has pursued an open and transparent trade and investment environment, fostering economic links with emerging economies, particularly in Asia. This has resulted in the gradual emergence of a "Eurasian society" within its major urban hubs, blending European and Asian material and popular culture with a distinctly Australian context.
Western Australia (WA) has significantly contributed to the national economy, with its merchandise exports accounting for 45% of Australian exports and valued at almost $273 billion in the year ending April 2023. WA has a strong trade profile in products connected to environmental improvements, with its green exports increasing from below 50% of total exports in 2015 to over 65% by 2021.
Australia's economic outlook for 2024 is positive, with a predicted "miracle" year of decent growth, lower interest rates, and lower inflation. The country is seeking to diversify its export markets and is pursuing a trade deal with the United Arab Emirates to reduce its export reliance on China.
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Demographics and culture
Australia is a highly diverse country in terms of its demography and culture. The country's population is estimated to be 27,961,100, making it the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous country in Oceania. The population density is 3.4 persons per square kilometre of total land area.
The country's six states and two mainland self-governing territories have their own parliaments. Australia has pursued an official policy of multiculturalism since the postwar period, and it has the world's eighth-largest immigrant population, with immigrants accounting for 30% of the population in 2019. The country's indigenous people, including Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, make up a smaller proportion of the population.
The primary language is Australian English, and the country has a high degree of economic freedom. The large service sector accounts for about 71.2% of the total GDP, while the industrial and agricultural sectors make up 25.3% and 3.6% respectively.
Australian culture is primarily Western, influenced by its British, Indigenous, and migrant components. The country has a strong tradition of mateship, characterised by egalitarianism and a dislike of bragging. This mateship culture also extends to language, with Australians often using diminutive forms of names as a display of affection and acceptance.
Indigenous Australian culture has a rich history, with evidence of Aboriginal art dating back at least 30,000 years. Music is an integral part of this culture, with the didgeridoo considered the "national instrument of Australia". The country also has a thriving domestic film industry, with social realist dramas reflecting the Australian experience in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
The Asian Australian population is expanding, leading to the emergence of a "Eurasian society" within major urban hubs, blending European and Asian cultures within an Australian context. This diversity is also reflected in the country's cuisine, with a variety of influences from around the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian culture is primarily Western, with British, Indigenous, and migrant influences. The country has a long history of immigration, with large waves of newcomers arriving after the Second World War and the end of the White Australia policy in 1973. Australia is now one of the most multicultural countries in the world, with immigrants accounting for 30% of the population in 2019.
Australians are known for their laid-back, easy-going attitude and their love for the outdoors and nature. They also have a strong sporting culture, with a passion for cricket, rugby, Australian Rules Football, and more. Mateship is another key aspect of Australian culture, with a focus on friendship, neighbourliness, and equality.
According to a survey of over 50,000 Australians, the key element of Australian identity is following the rules and respecting laws and institutions. This was rated higher than any traditional or contemporary identifier of national spirit. Other important factors include appreciating the natural environment and simply “feeling Australian".
