upload.wikimedia.org. In 1829 William Holmes was appointed the first custodian of the fledgling collection, then located in the old post office building in Macquarie Place. Take a look at 10 interesting facts about Australia that will amaze you. If you visit one new beach in Australia every day, it would take over 27 years to see them all. The history of Australia Day dates back to the arrival of the First Fleet. Australia Facts Australia Attractions for Kids History of Australia. Photographed by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash. This motion was defeated however 55 to 45%. Average westwingitis Jul 26 07 1692 plays 25. Australian History. 27. The marking of 26 January is an important date in Australia’s history and has changed over time: starting as a celebration for emancipated convicts and evolving into what is now a celebration of Australia that reflects the nation’s diverse people. For a quick doze of some really crazy facts about Australia, check out this list below. Canberra is a relatively young city with just a brief history, being chosen to be the Australian capital as recently as 1908. In 1859, a man named Thomas Austin, a landowner in Winchelsea, Victoria imported 24 wild rabbits from England and released them into the wild for sport hunting. Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian oceans. While any student of history has learned about the likes of Abraham Lincoln and World War II, how many of us know that Lincoln was a champion wrestler or that Franklin Roosevelt okayed a plan to bomb the Imperial Japanese Army with bombs attached to bats? Australian History – A Story of Migration. 25. One of the interesting facts about Australia is that Australia is the biggest island and the smallest continent in the world. It has a large mountain range that runs down its east coast. This was almost taken one step further in 1999 as Australia held a referendum on becoming a republic and moving away from the English monarchy. history facts that will wow your friends and family. Australia : History. From bizarre Aussie Laws that some say still exist to this day, to down right weird wildlife, Australia is definitely one of a kind. Australia is so big though no one is completely sure. History. Australia has 19 world heritage listed sites including historic townships, cities and landscapes. Australian History – 1945 to 1990. The Effects of British Colonization on the Aboriginal People of Australia. Many Aboriginal and Asian citizens still experience a sense of alienation and exclusion from acceptance as "real" Aussies and in difficult economic times often become political and social scapegoats. All the best! Great! You never know – These weird facts about Australia may help you during your next pub trivia night. When British settlers began colonizing Australia in 1788, between 750,000 and 1.25 Aboriginal Australians are estimated to … British settlement. History of Rabbits in Australia . This policy was created by the British government. In terms of expenditure and power, it has regional power with the world's 12th highest military expenditure. The earliest discovery of the Australian continent is thought to have been by aboriginal peoples around 40,000BC. That's why Infoplease has plucked out essential details to get you started. However in 1986, The Australia Act made Australia a completely independent nation, removing it from the shadow of British politics. 40. Sharks are immune to all known diseases. European settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per capita than any other society in history. Early Settlement of Australia. During the Age of Exploration, the land was discovered and mapped by many Europeans including the Spanish, Dutch and English. Australia Facts Australia has an interesting history from first being called ‘New Holland’ to then being home to lots of criminals who were sent there as punishment! There are so many weird facts about Australia that you may or may not have been aware of. The main city in the country's interior is Alice Springs while Darwin is the biggest city in the Northern Territory. 1772 – The first Europeans to land on the island, the company from the expedition of the French explorer Marion du Fresne, came ashore at Marion Bay on the east coast. This is a timeline of Australian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Australia and its predecessor states. Its closest neighbours are New Zealand to the east and Papua New Guinea to the north. [Kidzone History] [Australia Index] [Australia Geography Facts] [Australia History Facts] [Australia Activities] [Australia Photos] KidZone History: Australia. Brief Overview of the History of Australia Australia was first inhabited perhaps 40,000 years ago by aboriginal peoples. Key Facts & Information History. Well, here are 30 interesting and funny facts about Australia . Australia History Timeline. Early Explorers. Facts about Australian Convicts inform you with the history of Australia. 40 Interesting Facts about Australia 1) It is the 6th largest country in the world, occupying an entire continent of some 7.6 million square kilometres. Australia's long history of immigration and the increasing ethnic diversity of its population have spurred debates about the definition of an Australian. Discover bloody battles, mighty monarchs and fierce warriors and uncover incredible (and often horrible!) Find fascinating history facts from around the globe, from ancient civilisations like Ancient Egypt and incredible kingdoms to lost cities and gruesome legends — perfect for young historians like you!. 28. [Australia History Index] More than 80% of Australians participate in gambling of some kind. The Tasmanian Devil does exist, and it has the jaw strength of a crocodile. 10. Some of these Australia facts you may have heard before but I bet there'll be a few surprises! See the fact file below for more information on the Australia Day or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Australia Day worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment. Australia – Facts and History by Michael Russell Although Australia encompasses a vast amount of land (7,686,850 sq. Let's take this quiz to seek answers! Discovery. Convicts and Settlers. To read about the background to these events, see History of Australia.See also the list of Prime Ministers of Australia Then, be sure to watch ... Read moreSuper Cool Australia Facts For Kids km., or 2,967,909 sq. History of Australia – Through Modern Wars. Australia, formally the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country and sovereign state in the southern hemisphere, located in Oceania.Its capital city is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney.. Australia is the sixth biggest country in the world by land area, and is part of the Oceanic and Australasian regions. Let's look at some interesting facts about Australia. Australia is the only nation to … However, this territory had been inhabited for many years before this, first by Indigenous Australians and then by European settlers. Australia is a land of diversity, food, history and some well-loved weirdness! Learn fascinating facts about Australia, from Australian history, culture, wildlife and geography, stunning pictures plus, see a map of Australia! Within a number of years, those 24 rabbits multiplied into millions. History of Sydney 10 questions Australia is one of the strangest and most unique destinations on the planet - Fact! Australia is an undeniably weird place. Each year, Brisbane hosts the world championships of cockroach racing. These interesting facts about history were never taught to you by your teachers — and they probably never even knew. The Australian Alps receive more snowfall than Switzerland. Historic and important Australian events, today's famous Aussie birthdays and notable Aussies who passed away on this day in Australian history. It might have been a scary place to go back then, but things have certainly changed. The history of Australia is long and complex. Australian History: A Few Facts 10 questions Average, 10 Qns, westwingitis, Jul 26 07. Biggest Island & Smallest Continent. This quiz has been created to test your knowledge about Australian History. Willen Janszoon was the first European who saw the coast of Australia in 1606. mi. Important events, famous birthdays and historical deaths from our searchable today in history archives. Some important dates in Tasmanian History 1642 – Abel Janszoon Tasman, the Dutch explorer, sailed passed the west coast of our island. Learn about Australia's history, government, economy, geography, and biodiversity, both on land an in the water. Australia Facts: Sydney is Australia's largest city with about 5 million inhabitants, which means that about 20% of all Australians live in this metropolitan city. A cult may or may not have tested the first non-governmental nuclear weapon in Western Australia. It is the largest island – and one of the largest countries – in the world. ), it only has six States - five of which are on the mainland, and one which is an island. 26. Australia is a well-developed country and 14th-largest economy in the world. A quiz about some big events and people from Australian history beginning with European settlement. He named it Van Diemen’s Land after the governor of Batavia. There were around 162,000 convicts transported to several penal colonies in Australia in 1788 until 1868. There are more than 150 million sheep in Australia, and only 24 million people. Australia’s first public museum was established in Sydney in 1827 with the aim of procuring "many rare and curious specimens of Natural History."