QuestionsAnswered.net
What's Your Question?

15 Fascinating Facts About Australia

The land down under is a fascinating place. For many years Australia was isolated from the rest of the world. As a result, the animals and trees of Australia look and act differently than those found in other parts of the planet. Check out these fascinating factors for more information about Australia.
Canberra’s Design Is the Result of a Competition
Although Melbourne was a temporary seat of government in Australia, the country decided to create a new city to serve as the capital. The politicians wanted a city that had pleasant weather and was not near the water. Walter Burley Griffin won the city design competition, and his city officially received its name in 1913.
Australia Is Home to Some of the World’s Most Unique Animals
Mammals with bills. Spiders that play peek-a-boo. The animals and birds of Australia are unlike anything you find anywhere else on Earth. There are more than 378 types of mammals, 828 birds, 300 lizards and 140 snakes.

Australia Has Several Types of Rainforests
The northern portion of Australia is in the tropics, and that’s where you find the country’s tropical rainforest. There is also a subtropical rainforest near the mid-eastern coast and a broadleaf rainforest in the southeastern part of the country.

And Deserts
It may be surrounded by water, but Australia is the second driest continent on the planet. Deserts cover the country’s western plateau and parts of the interior. The largest of these deserts is the Great Victoria Desert.

The Earliest European Settlers Were Criminals
The Europeans arrived in the 17th century. Most of these people were sent to Australia as punishment for crimes they committed in England. For more than 60 years, England used Australia as its largest prison.
Australia Has One of the World’s Most Ethnically Diverse Populations
It’s true that most Australians are of British descent, but there is still a lot of diversity in the country. Immigrants from China, Vietnam, North Africa and the Middle East call the country home. They speak more than 200 languages across the island. Australians Aren’t Sure Who Is the Head of State

Australians Aren’t Sure Who Is the Head of State
The United Kingdom claimed Australia in the 1800s despite the fact that people had been living there for thousands of years. For most of the 1900s the island was a commonwealth of the UK, but it gained legislative independence in 1986. However, there’s still some debate about whether the British monarchy is still the official head of state.


Australia Is the World’s Largest Producer of Gold
In 2018, U.S. Global Investors ranked Australia number two in the world in terms of gold production. It produced 295.1 tonnes of the precious metal in the previous year. It’s been big business in the country since the 19th century gold rush.

The Pacemaker Was Invented in Australia
1926, Dr. Mark Lidwill built a portable machine that sent a jolt of electricity into the heart through needles. He used this machine to revive a stillborn baby.

Some of Earth’s Most Deadly Species Call Australia Home
You’ll find 20 species of venomous snakes and 36 species of funnel-web spiders on the island continent. The funnel-web spider produces enough venom to kill 100 people with a single bite. Its jaws are also strong enough to bite through gloves.
Australia Has Many Different Time Zones
Understanding time zones in Australia takes a little work. First, there are five standard time zones across the island. The time zones range from a quarter-hour to a full hour time difference. Some territories within the time zones observe daylight savings; others do not.

Feral Camels Roam Australia’s Desert
In the 19th century, Australians imported camels to use as transportation in the desert. The descendants of these camels still live in the desert. Guinness World Records estimated that 300,000,000 camels were roaming the desert in 2013.

Australia Is the Only Single Country Continent on the Planet
It’s the sixth largest country in the world, but Australia is also the smallest continent. The continent rests on the Indo-Australian plate, surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. In addition to the mainland, the continent also includes smaller islands off the coast.
Everyone Votes in Australia
Voting is mandatory under Australian law. Failure to show up at the polls leads to a fine, so election turnout usually exceeds 90 percent of the population. Many Australians don’t seem to mind though. Voting day is a community party complete with a barbecue featuring democracy sausages.

Australian Termites Build Massive Mounds
One of the more popular sites in Litchfield National Park are the magnetic termite mounds. These tall, narrow structures, which can reach 17 feet tall, are termite cities complete with nursery rooms, insulation, tunnels and arches.
MORE FROM QUESTIONSANSWERED.NET


IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Australia is a massive country, with an area of approximately 2.97 million square miles and a population of approximately 23 million people as of 2014.
The land down under is a fascinating place. For many years Australia was isolated from the rest of the world. As a result, the animals and trees of Australia look and act differently than those found in other parts of the planet.
Australia is the one and only country on the Australian continent. However, the area was originally called Australasia. Australasia included the country of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Reporting your income · through your Centrelink online account through myGov · using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app · by calling 133 276 (
How much you or your partner get paid affects your payment. We need to know what you both get paid so we can pay you the right amount.
Call the Centrelink reporting line or your regular payment line. We can help you create a voiceprint to prove your identity faster when you call
Services Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands we live on. We pay our respects to all Elders, past and present, of all
Sign in to myGov and select Centrelink. ; From the Report income task, select Start task. ; Select MENU, followed by Income and assets, then
If you get employment income from your job, you must report every 2 weeks for your payment to continue. If you don't report every 2 weeks
Raising kids · Living arrangements · Ageing · Work · Education · Health and disability.
If you're getting an income support payment, we'll tell you when you need to report any other income you get. You can view your reporting
Sign in to myGov and select Centrelink. ; From the Report income task, select Start task. ; Select MENU, followed by Income and assets, then Employment income and
It also reduces the chance of an overpayment. For most customers, when an employer reports payroll details to the Australian Taxation Office
Go towww.servicesaustralia.gov.au or visit one of our service centres.