Australia and its people Flashcards
Who are Australia’s first inhabitants?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Who has the oldest continuous cultures and traditions in the world?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Where are aboriginal people from historically?
Mainland Australia and Tasmania
According to the archeological record, how many years ago did the Aboriginal peoples arrive in Australia?
Between 65,000 and 40,000 years ago
What do the Aboriginal peoples believe about creation stories of this land?
They believe they are central to the creation stories of this land, and their creation stories commence with the beginning of time.
Where are Torres Strait Islander people from?
The islands between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea
What still guides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today?
age-old beliefs and traditions
How is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples deep connection with the land expressed?
in their stories, art and dance
What is an important part of Australia’s national identity?
Indigenous cultures
When did European settlement start?
when the first 11 convict ships, which became known as the ‘First Fleet’, arrived from Great Britain on 26th January 1788
Why did the convicts get transported to the other side of the world: to the new colony of New South Wales in 1788?
Because British laws were harsh and the jails could not hold the large number of people imprisoned for their crimes.
Who was the first Governor of the colony of New South Wales?
Captain Arthur Phillip
How did the colony survive and grow?
as more convicts and free settlers arrived, it grew and developed. more colonies were established in other parts of Australia
Where did early free settlers come from?
Great Britain and Ireland
What heritage has had a major influence on Australia’s recent history, culture and politics?
The British and Irish heritage
When did the gold rush begin?
1851
Which colonies was gold discovered in 1851?
New South Wales and Victoria
Why did people from all around the world come to Australia in 1851?
to try to make their fortunes during the ‘gold rush’
Who were the large group of migrants to arrive not from Europe?
Chinese people (arrived during the ‘gold rush’ time)
In what time-frame did Australia’s population more than double during the ‘gold rush’’?
10 years
What happened in 1901?
the separate colonies were united into a federation of states called the Commonwealth of Australia
What was established in 1901 under the new Australian Constitution?
our national democratic institutions, including our national parliament, government, and High Court
What was the population of Australia in 1901
about four million (but this did not include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
When were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples included in official estimates of the Australian population?
After a Referendum in 1967
Migration levels rose and fell during which time-point?
the first half of the 20th century
There were programs to actively encourage which migrants to settle here in the first half of the 20th century?
British migrants (and many did)
When did a wave of non-British migration occur?
After World War 2
Why was there a wave of non-British migration after World War 2?
Because millions of people in Europe had to leave their homelands
In recent years, what has brought people to Australia from all over the world?
our migration and refugee programs
What main reasons do people have in recent years for coming to Australia?
to joint family, to make a new life, or to escape poverty, war, or persecution
What has increased in Australia’s population in the last two centuries?
the diversity which enhances Australia’s connection to the world
While Australia celebrates the diversity of Australia’s people, they also aim to what?
build a cohesive and unified nation
What is Australia’s national language?
English
In keeping with Australian values, migrants should learn what?
English to help them participate in Australian society
How many distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are there?
more than 100
The Commonwealth of Australia is what?
A federation of states and territories
How many states and mainland territories are there in Australia?
6 states and 2 mainland territories
What is Australia’s capital city?
Canberra
New South Wales capital city
Sydney
Victoria Capital City
Melbourne
Queensland capital city
Brisbane
Western Australia capital city
Perth
South Australia capital city
Adelaide
Tasmania capital city
Hobart
Australian Capital Territory capital city
Canberra
Northern Territory capital city
Darwin
What is the first colony established by the British?
New South Wales
What is the nation’s largest city?
Sydney
What are two national icons of Sydney?
The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House
What is the smallest of the mainland states?
Victoria
What is unique about many of the find buildings in Victoria?
They were built from the wealth created by the gold rush of the 1850s
What are Victoria’s icons?
Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 12 Apostles, and the Royal Exhibition Building
What is the second largest state?
Queensland
What lies to the north of Queensland?
The Torres Strait Islands
What runs along the eastern coast of Queensland?
Great Barrier Reef
What is unique about Queensland’s land?
It has tropical rainforests, temperate coastal areas, and an often dry inland
What is the largest state in Australia?
Western Australia
What part of Western Australia is mostly desert?
the east of the state
What constitutes the south-west part of WA?
it is a rich agricultural and wine-growing area
What is WA home to?
many large mining projects
What are the icons of WA?
Ningaloo Coast, Margaret River, and the Kimberly region
Which state has a rugged coastline and many famous wine regions?
South Australia
What does Adelaide have many examples of?
colonial architecture
South Australia’s Icons
the Barossa Valley and the Flinders Ranges
What is the smallest state?
Tasmania
What state is separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait?
Tasmania
What state has unspoilt wilderness and landscapes?
Tasmania
What are Tasmanian icons?
Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur, and the Bay of Fires
Where is the ACT located?
Between Sydney and Melbourne
What national institutions are located in Canberra?
Parliament House and the High Court of Australia
What characterises the environment of the Northern Territory?
tropical environment in the north of the state and dry red desert in the south
What are the NT icons?
Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
What is a Welcome to Country?
A cultural practice performed by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander custodian of the local region, welcoming visitors to their traditional land.
Why was a welcome to country traditionally performed?
To ensure visitors had a safe and protected journey during their time on the land
What are many forms of a Welcome to Country?
songs, dances, smoking ceremonies or speeches in traditional language or English
What is an Acknowledgement of Country?
an opportunity to recognise that the gathering is on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander land; pay respects to Traditional Custodians, particularly Elders past and present; and pay respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in attendance
How is an acknowledgement of country usually delivered and when?
part of the Welcome and Housekeeping at meetings and events. anyone can deliver this.
Why are ‘Welcome to Country’ and ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ protocols practiced?
to show respect for aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples
When and what is Australia Day?
26th January annually - anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet from Great Britain in 1788
On what public holiday do we acknowledge and celebrate the contribution that every Australian makes to our contemporary and dynamic nation?
Australia Day
On what public holiday does the Prime Minister announce the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra?
Australia Day
What is Anzac Day named after and when is it commemorated?
named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, which landed at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War 1 on 25 April 1915 (commemorated on 25 April annually)
What do we remember on Anzac Day?
sacrifice of all Australians who served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. We also honour the courage and commitment of all servicemen and women and reflect on the many different meanings of war
Describe the Australian National Flag
‘Union Jack’ (the flag of the UK) is in the top left corner - this represents our history of British settlement and the laws and institutions we inherited as a result.
The Commonwealth Star is under the Union Jack - has 7 points, each point representing one of the 6 states and one point for the territories
The southern cross on the right is a group of 5 stars that can be seen in the southern sky
Describe the Australian Aboriginal Flag
Black, red and yellow. Top half is black and represents the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. Bottom half is red and represents the part, which has ceremonial significance. The yellow circle represents the sun.
Describe the Torres Strait Islander Flag
Green, blue, black and white. Green stripes represent the land; blue panel in the centre represents the sea; black lines represent the Torres Strait Islander people; the white dancer’s headdress in the centre is a symbol for all Torres Strait islanders; the points of the white star represent the island groups in the Torres Strait, and the colour white symbolises peace.
What is the Commonwealth Coat of Arms?
the official symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. it represents our national unity, it identifies the authority and property of the Commonwealth of Australia
Describe the Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Shield in the centre represents the 6 states and federation. A kangaroo and an emu support the shield on either side (native Australian animals). A gold Commonwealth Star above the shield. The background is the golden wattle, Australia’s national flower
What is Australia’s national flower?
the golden wattle
where does the golden wattle grow? describe it
small tree that grows mainly in south-eastern Australia. has bright green leaves and many golden yellow flowers in spring. each of the states and territories of Austrailia also has its own floral emblem
What are Australia’s national colours and what do they represent?
green and gold - the colours of the golden wattle (the uniforms of our national sports teams are usually gold and green)
what is Australia’s national gemstone?
opal - according to aboriginal legend, a rainbow touched the earth and created the colours of the opal
What is Australia’s National Anthem Called?
Advance Australia Fair
When is the national anthem sung?
on occasions of national importance, including at Australian citizenship ceremonies and major sporting events
