INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIA .........
A highly developed country and one of the wealthiest, Australia is an independent Western democracy with a population of more than 20 million. It is one of the world’s most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities. Most of the population is concentrated along the eastern seaboard and the south-eastern corner of the continent. Australia’s lifestyle reflects its mainly Western origins.
Australia is as wide as the distance between London to Moscow.
The biggest property in Australia is bigger than Belgium.
More than 85% of Australians live within 50km of the coast.
In 1880, Melbourne was the richest city in the world.
Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, earns $1 million every half hour, or $598 every second.
In 1892, a group of 200 Australians unhappy with the government tried to start an offshoot colony in Paraguay to be called 'New Australia'.
The only nation-continent of 20 million people in the world.
The wattle was adopted as the national floral emblem in 1912.
The first Australian Friendly Society with the motto of 'Advance Australia' was the Australian Natives' Association (ANA) formed in Victoria in 1871.
More than 80 percent of Australians live within 100 kilometres of the coast making Australia one of the world's most urbanised coastal dwelling populations.
Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke set a world record for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Hawke later suggested that this was the reason for his great political success
The world's oldest fossil, which is about 3.4 billion years old, was found in Australia.
Australia is very sparsely populated: The UK has 248.25 persons per square kilometre, while Australia has only 2.66 persons per square kilometre.
Australia's first police force was made up of the most well-behaved convicts.
Australia has the highest electricity prices in the world.
There were over one million feral camels in outback Australia, until the government launched the $19m Feral Camel Management Program, which aims to keep the pest problem under control.
Saudi Arabia imports camels from Australia (mostly for meat production).
Qantas once powered an interstate flight with cooking oil.
Per capita, Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation.
While 1988 was named a 'Year of Mourning' for Aboriginals, it was also regarded as a celebration of survival where the Aboriginal community staged a 5 kilometre march for "Freedom, Justice and Hope" in Sydney.
Australia used to be a beer-drinking nation but its quaffing plunged to a 65-year low in 2010-2011 with only 4.23 litres consumed per person.
Aboriginal leader, Lowitja O'Donoghue, a recipient of the Order of Australia in 1976 and Australian of the Year in 1984 delivered the first milestone national Australia Day address on 26 January 2000.
It is believe that the Aboriginal game of Mangrook inspired the rules for Australian Football, while invented in Sydney became popular in Victoria.
Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote in 1902.
The largest cattle station in the world is Anna Creek Station in South Australia at over 34,000 square kilometres is the world's largest cattle station. It is even larger than Belgium.
It has the highest rate of gambling in the world with over 80 percent of Australian adults engaging in gambling of some kind and 20 percent of the pokie machines in the world are found in Australia.
Australia Day today is a celebration of diversity and tolerance in Australian society, embracing all ethnic backgrounds, racial differences and political viewpoints.
Kangaroo meat can be purchased from the supermarket, butcher and available on restaurant menus as a leaner and healthier alternative to beef or lamb with a 1-2 percent fat content.
Surprisingly Australia is the most obese country in the world as of 2012 with a 26 percent obesity rate despite being a sport loving nation.
The Great Barrier Reef is the planet's largest living structure.
And it has it's own postbox!
The male platypus has strong enough venom to kill a small dog.
And when the platypus was first sent to England, it was believed the Australians had played a joke by sewing the bill of a duck onto a rat.
Before 1902, it was illegal to swim at the beach during the day.
A retired cavalry officer, Francis De Groot stole the show when the Sydney Harbour Bridge officially opened. Just as the Premier was about to cut the ribbon, De Groot charged forward on his horse and cut it himself, with his sword. The ribbon had to be retied, and De Groot was carted off to a mental hospital. He was later charged for the cost of one ribbon.
Australia has 3.3x more sheep than people.
Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a swim at Cheviot Beach, and was never seen again.
Australia's national anthem was 'God Save The King/Queen' until 1984.
Wombat poop is cube shaped! This helps it mark its territory.
European settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per capita than any other society in history.
The Australian Alps receive more snowfall than Switzerland.
There are many Interesting Facts About Australia. The country is most commonly known for Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue, kangaroos, koalas, cricket, swimming, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Aborigines, Minerals, wine and Vegemite to Aussies and foreigners. But Australia is much more than these. Here are some of the more amazing, unusual and 10 interesting facts about Australia to share with family, friends and visitors.
