Interesting Facts about Australia

News - Australia in General

Do you want to know a bit more about Australia? Check regularly this post for news facts.

Did you know?

• Sharks are immune to all known diseases.
  
  
• Melbourne has the second largest Greek population in the world, after Athens.
  
  
• Australia has over 6000 species of flies, about 4000 species of ants, and there are about 350 species of termites in Australia.
  
  
• Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It's about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density in the world - only two people per square kilometre.
  
  
• The iconic kangaroo is unique to Australia and one of our most easily recognised mammals. There are an estimated 40 million kangaroos in Australia, more than when Australia was first settled.
  
  
• The day of the Melbourne Cup (a horse race!) is a public holiday in Melbourne.
  
  
• Swimming - In 1838 it was declared illegal to swim at public beaches during the day! This law was enforced until 1902
  
  
• Female vote - Australia was the second country to give women the vote.
  
  
• Australia day - January 26, Australia day, is the anniversary of ships arriving in Sydney carrying a load of Convicts.
  
  
• In 2007, it was estimated that 22 per cent of living Australians had a convict ancestor.

• The Great Barrier Reef is the largest organic construction on earth.
  
  
• Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world.
  
  
• The Sydney Opera House roof weighs more than 161,000 tons.
  
  
• 40% of Australia is tropical, but in the Australian Alps it snows at times.
  
  
• Most of Australia's interior has a desert climate. It is usually referred to as the Australian Outback.