2. History
• In 1770 British sea captain James
Cook discovered Australia while
exploring the South Pacific.
• In 1788 eleven British ships were
sent to Australia carrying 700
convicts.
• The convicts built Australia’s first
European settlement.
• Eventually over 160,000 British
convicts were sent there until
the practice was abolished in
1868.
• Australia became independent in
1901 but has kept strong ties to
British culture and still honors
the British monarch.
3. Australia’s Indigenous People
• At least 750,000 Aborigines
were living in Australia when
the Europeans arrived.
• Today, there may only be
about 400,000 Aborigines in
the country.
• Many died of diseases
brought by British settlers.
• Between 1869 and 1969
many Aborigine children were
removed from their families
in an effort to assimilate them
to British culture. The man in the center is holding a
didgeridoo- instrument made of a
hallowed out log.
4. History Continued
• Gold was discovered in
1851 in Australia which
brought treasure hunters
from around the world to
the country.
• Swagmen were like hobos
that would roam the
country looking for work.
• The song “Waltzing
Matilda” is about a
swagman in the outback.
It is considered Australia’s
second national anthem.
5. Reverse Seasons
December in New York City, US
• Australia is in the
Southern Hemisphere
where seasons are
opposite of those in
the northern half of the
world.
December in Sydney, Australia • Countries such as the
US import out of
season fruits from
Australia during winter
months.
6. Living Under an Ozone Hole
• The Ozone prevents the sun’s ultraviolet
rays from reaching Earth. UV rays cause
sunburn, eye disease, and skin cancer.
• In the 1980’s, scientists discovered that
the ozone over Antarctica was thinning
due to CFC chemicals found in aerosol
spray cans, air conditioners, and
refrigerators.
• Australians are close to this thin ozone
layer and to protect themselves from
harmful UV rays they are encouraged to
“slip” on a shirt, “slop” on some
sunscreen, and “slap” on a hat.
7. Endemic Species
• 80% of Australia’s plant and animal species are
not found anywhere else on earth.
Kangaroo & Joey Koala Platypus
8. Canberra
• Australia’s capital city is Canberra.
• Melbourne and Sydney were competing to be
the capital city so they compromised and
chose Canberra.
9. Sydney
• Sydney is the largest city in Australia.
• It was the site of the first British colony.
• The city is built around Port Jackson which includes
Sydney Harbour.
• Sydney Harbour is famous for the Sydney Opera House,
Harbour Bridge, and its beaches.
10. Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous performing arts centers in the
world. It is a major presenting venue for Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the
Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony, as well as hosting many
touring productions in a variety of performance genres, and is a major tourist
attraction.
11. Melbourne
• Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city.
• It is recognized as Australia’s sporting and cultural capital.
• It is also a major center for arts, tourism, industry,
commerce, and education.
12. The Outback
• The Outback is the term
given to the more remote
areas inland Australia.
• A significant proportion of
Australia’s native
Aborigines live in the
Outback since this land
was not as desirable as
coastal areas.
• The Outback is vast and
much of it is in an arid
climate. There are few
cities.
13. ULURU
Uluru is also known as Ayer’s Rock. It is a large sandstone land feature in north
central Australia. It has many springs, water holes, rock caves, and ancient
paintings. It is considered to be a sacred place by the Aborigines of this region.
14. Perth
• Perth is the largest city in Western Australia and the
fourth largest city in the country.
• Perth is one of the most isolated metropolitan areas on
Earth. The nearest city to Perth with a population over 1
million is 1,307 miles away.
• Geographically, it is closer to East Timor, Singapore and
Jakarta, Indonesia, than it is to Sydney, Melbourne, and
Brisbane.
15. A Few Famous Aussies
Eric Bana Russell Crowe Mel Gibson Steve Irwin
Hugh Jackman Nicole Kidman Heath Ledger The Wiggles!
16. Waltzing Matilda
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched
and waited 'til his billy boiled
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
17. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his
billy boiled,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".
18. Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong,
Up jumped the swagman
and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his
tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".
19. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he shoved
that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".
20. Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three,
"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker
bag?"
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".
21. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
"Where's that jolly jumbuck
you've got in your tucker bag?",
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".
22. Up jumped the swagman
and sprang into the billabong,
"You'll never catch me alive", said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you
pass by that billabong,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".
23. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And his ghost may be heard
as you pass by that billabong,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me."
"Oh, You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me."
