Australia is approximately the same size as the 48 mainland states in the USA and 50 percent larger than Europe which makes it the sixth largest country in the world it also has the lowest population density in the world with an average of only two people per square kilometre.
The coastline in Australia stretches for almost 50,000 kilometres and is joined by well over 10,000 beaches, more than any other country in the world.
More than 85% of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast which makes the beach a very important part of their lifestyle.
Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent it is also the largest island in the world but the smallest and flattest continent.
Native Aboriginal people are believed to be the world's oldest civilization and have lived on the continent for over 50,000 years. They invented the boomerang, they were the first society to ground edges on stone cutting tools and the first to use stone tools to grind seeds.
The
black box flight recorder for aircraft was invented in Australia in 1958 by the Aeronautical research scientist
David Warren.
Melbourne was formerly called
Batmania, after one of its founders
John Batman.
Australia's first police force was created from a group of 12 of their best behaved convicts.
Australians called the English pommies from the initials
POME on convicts uniforms. These initials stood for
Prisoners of Mother England.
Australian inventions include things like the surf lifesaving reel, notepads, aspirin, the pacemaker, Hills Hoist clothesline, plastic disposable syringes, wine casks, the bionic ear, dual flush toilet and long-wearing contact lenses. *fixed for accuracy(thanks Polly)
Jeebus, I didn't even know that - syringes and wine casks - beauty mate!
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