Australian Facts

Australian Facts

• Australia is the 6th largest country by area, 52nd largest by population
• Australia is 80% the size of the United States
• The currency is the Australian dollar which currently has the same value as the US dollar
• Minimum wage is $15/hour
• Has been inhabited by indigenous people for at least 40,000 years
• Was first "discovered" in early 1600s by the Dutch
• Britain claimed Australia as a prisoner relocation facility in the late 1700s
• Experienced a gold rush in the 1850s
• Gained independence in 1901 when the 6 colonies united under a constitution to form the Commonwealth of Australia
• Australia has 6 states and 2 territories (Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory)
• Sheep outnumber people 6 to 1
• The 'dingo fence' in Australia is the longest fence in the world, about twice as long as the Great Wall of China
• Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid - 75% of which cannot support any form of agriculture
• Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason
• 90% of the 22 million people live within 75 miles of the coast