Getting Started

Gets you on your way to becoming an Australiologer. Tells you all the basic basics.

Australia is often refered to as the island continent, mostly because it's a big island. It has a land area of 7,629,030 square kilometers, and has a population of about 19 million, which means a population density of around 2 people per square kilometre. Some other Ozfacts are:

The capital is Canberra - not Sydney.
Australia is made up of a federation of 6 states and 2 territories, with numerous islands and an Antarctic Territory as well.
The system of government is Democratic, with local, state and federal legislatures, all elected by compulsory vote.
The national anthem is "Advance Australia Fair".
Currency is the Australian dollar.
Native Australians are called Aborigines, and first arrived around 50,000 BC.
Much of Australia's wildlife is unique to the country.
Life expectancy is around 76 years.
National population is around 19,000,000.
Largest state is NSW - around 6.2 million people.
Largest city is Sydney (NSW) - around 4 million people.
Land area is 7,629,030 square kilometers, which is about the same as that of the USA minus Alaska or about 32 times the size of the UK.
Extremities are latitudes 10d 41' South (Cape York, Qld) and 43d 39' South (South East Cape, Tas), and longitudes 113d 9' East (Steep Point, WA) and 153d 39' East (Cape Byron, NSW).
Majority of land is arid.
Australia is flat.
Highest mainland peak is Mt Kosciuszko - 2228m.
Highest overall peak is Big Ben - 2745m.
Lowest point is Lake Eyre - 16m below sea level.
Longest river is the river Murray - 2,520km.
Australia gets very hot - highest recorded temperature 53.1 degrees C - Cloncurry, Qld.
Australia gets very cold - lowest recorded temperature -23.0 degrees C - Charlotte Pass, NSW.
Australia is windy - fastest wind speed recorded is 259km/h.
Around 75% of the population are religious.
Around 90% of the population are of european descent.
Around 85% live in (usually costal) cities.
Aussies drive on the left side of the road.

Our national anthem is called "Advance Australia Fair". It has four verses, but only the first and third are official:

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free,
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts,
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history's page, let every stage,
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

When gallant Cook from Albion sailed
To trace wide oceans o'er
True British courage bore him on
Till he landed on our shore
Then here he raised Old England's flag
The standard of the brave
With all her faults we love her still
Britannia rules the wave
In joyful strains the let us sing
Advance Australia Fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours,
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas,
We've boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine,
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

With Christ our head and corner stone,
We'll build our nation's might
Whose way and truth and light alone
Can guide our path aright.
Our lives, a sacrifice of love,
Reflect our master's care
With faces turned to heaven above
Advance Australia fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.

Oh, and by the way, "Oz" is another way of spelling "Aus", which is an abbreviation of "Australia", so "Oz" means "Australia".