Australia History

Roughly the size of the continental United States, Australia is the world's sixth largest country and the only nation to fill an entire continent. Despite its vast size, Australia maintains a population of only about 18 million, 90% of which are found along the eastern coastline. Sydney, Australia's largest city and capital of New South Wales, contains 4.5 million people. Well over 80% of the population lives in urban areas; so, although Australia has vast open spaces, it is an urban society.

Australia was first inhabited at least 40,000 years ago at which time a land bridge existed between Australia and Asia. Generically known as Aborigines, this diverse culture now represents only 2% of the total population.

European settlement began 200 years ago when Captain James Cook from England landed at Botany Bay in 1768. After the British defeat in the American War for Independence, the Crown sought a new destination for inmates from over- crowded English jails. Between 1788 and 1868, 160,000 prisoners arrived in Australia. Some were convicted and deported for crimes no more serious than stealing a loaf of bread in England or Ireland. Others had committed far more serious crimes. Many Australian families today trace back their lineage to such convict immigrants, and with some pride.

Gradually, the Australian population grew and in 1901 the colonies of Australia united as the Commonwealth of Australia. Utilizing a system that is a cross between Britain's and the United States', Australia became a federation of states united under a constitution and a parliamentary form of government. Currently, Australia has six states--New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania--and two main territories--the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory. The ACT which encompasses Canberra has a status similar to that of Washington, D.C.

Australia combines aspects of a modern cosmopolitan environment with one of the world's last great frontiers. It uniquely provides the opportunity to study both. For the American visitor who can no longer find a frontier at home, Australia offers a substitute and one with parallels in the way in which ours developed--an invitation for us to relive a bit of our history. The Australians themselves are a very friendly and open people. Students on previous programs have found Australians to be helpful and easy to engage in conversation. Some students have established lasting friendships with Australians they have met.

Like the United States, Australia has a federal system of government with political and administrative power shared among national and state governments. It has a significant native population (the Aborigine), the treatment of which is a matter of great public policy concern. Australia attracts significant immigrant populations from both Europe and Asia. It has tremendous natural resources over which developmental and environmental forces clash. Its educational system is a blend of the American and English models, but it also struggles with problems similar to ours. Its justice and legal systems blend the English and American models and confront a rising crime rate (although violent crime rates remain far below those in the United States). The country's health care system is a blend of public and private initiative that must meet the needs of urban and very remote populations.

With four political parties--Labor, Liberal, National and the Australia Democrats--Australia has emerged as a leading democracy in South-East Asia. The Liberal and Labor parties share center right and center left positions, respectively, on an ideological continuum and attract the vast majority of votes and seats in Parliament. With it's western background and ideology, Australia has faced many challenges within Asia. Not surprisingly, recent debate has centered around Australia's relationship to the United States and England and its emerging relationship to Asia. But many other traditional practices and beliefs are under challenge in Australia as well.

Australia History