History of Australia - Missio Mariae.NET

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About Australia

History of Australia

Article Index
History of Australia
A. Early Exploration
B. Penal Settlements
C. Colonization
D. The Commonwealth
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The Aboriginal people were the first inhabitants of the Australian continent. Most anthropologists currently believe they migrated to the continent at least 50,000 years ago and occupied most of the continent by 30,000 years ago. Subsequently, rising sea levels separated Tasmania and other immediate offshore islands from the rest of the continent. Although Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Arab seafarers may have landed in northern Australia well before ad 1500, Australia was essentially unknown in the West until the 17th century. For the history of the indigenous people of Australia prior to European settlement, see Aboriginal Australians.

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Facts and Figures

Play: National Anthem

Official name: Commonwealth of Australia

Capital: Canberra

Area: 7,682,300 sq km; 2,966,200 sq mi

Population: 20,434,176 (2007 estimate)

Largest cities, with population
Sydney: 3,502,301 (2001 estimate)
Melbourne: 3,160,171 (2001 estimate)
Brisbane: 1,508,161 (2001 estimate)
Perth: 1,176,542 (2001 estimate)
Adelaide: 1,002,127 (2001 estimate)

Ethnic groups
White: 91 percent
Asian: 7 percent
Aboriginal and other: 2 percent

Languages
English (official), indigenous languages

Religions
Roman Catholic: 29 percent
Anglican: 22 percent
Protestants: 14 percent
Other Christian: 15 percent
Nonreligious: 14 percent
Other: 6 percent

Literacy rate
Total 100 percent (1995)

Government
Form of government: Federal parliamentary democracy
Head of state: Governor-general, representing the British monarch
Head of government: Prime minister
Legislature: Bicameral legislature
House of Representatives: 150 members
Senate: 76 senators

Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Highest court: High Court of Australia

Economy
Gross domestic product: (GDP, in U.S.$); $732.5 billion (2005)
GDP per capita: (U.S.$) $36,032.20 (2005)

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