Australian Facts

• Australia is the smallest, driest and flattest inhabited continent on Earth. It is the sixth largest nation in size, and the only one that builds an entire continent.
• Mainland Australia is the largest island. Distances are huge, from west to east some 3,800 km, from north to south about 3,200 km. The total area is 7,686,850 sq km (2,967,909 sq mi). See the Map of Australia and the driving distances Australia chart for distances between the major cities.
• Australia's population consists of a little more than 20 million people, that is about 2,6 inhabitants per km² (Germany 231 per km²). About 70 % of the Australians live in the big cities along the south and east coasts, and in Perth in Western Australia.

• The southern parts of Australia have distinctive four seasons, however, opposed to those in the northern hemisphere. When it is winter in Europe and North America, it is summer in Australia. You will hardly see snow, apart from the mountainous regions in eastern Victoria, and southern New South Wales.
• Australia's north is in the tropics. There are two seasons, the dry and the wet, and both have high temperatures around the year.
• The centre has typical desert climate, hot days and cold nights, which can be freezing in winter.

Use the pull-down menu in the weather box and see how different temperatures are in Australia's major cities.

Check out this map that shows the different climate zones in Australia.

Australia has three time zones.

Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) is Greenwich Mean Time plus 10 hours: in New South Wales (except Broken Hill which has Australian Central Standard Time), Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland.

Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) is Greenwich Mean Time plus 9 1/2 hours: in South Australia and Northern Territory.

Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) is Greenwich Mean Time plus 8 hours:in Western Australia.

Northern Territory and Queensland don't have daylight saving time in summer. Western Australia has experimental summer time from 2006 until 2009.

More Australian Facts...

Unique Australian animals and beautiful wildflowers, along with thrilling landscapes, that's what attracts visitors to the Australian Outback. The Australian continent has been geographically isolated for about 80 million years. About 80 to 90 % of Australia's animals and also many species of flora are endemic to the continent. You'll see some amazing plants and creatures.

Australian Flag Aboriginal Flag

Australia is a constitutional democracy. Head of State is still the Queen of England, however, Australia is ruled by an elected government.

• Australia has six states and two territories. See the page about Australian states to find out more facts about each state.
• European settlement began on 26. January 1788, when the first fleet of convicts arrived at Botany Bay in New South Wales. This day is celebrated as Australia Day in all states and territories.
• The Australian continent is very old, and has been populated for 60,000 years by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Today 2% of the population are indigenous people.
• "Advance Australia Fair" has been Australia's official national anthem since 19 April 1984, when it replaced "God Save The Queen".
• What's the unofficial national anthem?? Of course "Waltzing Matilda" written by Andrew Barton Patterson.

Sturt's Desert Pea is the floral emblem of South Australia

If you are looking for more Australian facts or other Outback Australia topics, you can search my site using the search box, or check the links below. Have fun.

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