Australia, the smallest continent and one of the largest countries in the world, is located between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is a land of great contrasts, with rain forests, eerie deserts, snow-capped mountains and rugged coastline. Although it is rich in natural resources, Australia’s small population has always made it vulnerable to economic fluctuations and environmental change.
The first people to arrive in Australia were the Aboriginal Australians, who are thought to have migrated from Africa around 70,000 years ago. They were followed by the British settlers in 1788, who established a penal colony on the island of Tasmania. The British began colonizing mainland Australia in 1826, and six colonies were eventually established: New South Wales (which included present-day Tasmania), Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory. In 1901 these colonies federated to form an independent nation.
Today Australia is a prosperous multicultural democracy with a strong economy based on primary industries such as agriculture, mining and tourism. It is also home to some of the world’s most unique flora and fauna – more than 80% of its plant life and 90% of its mammals are found nowhere else on Earth!