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Australia is a constitutional monarchy (the British monarch is the official head of state). It is made up of six states and two major territories, each of which has its own parliament.  The federal parliament is found in Australia’s capital, Canberra.  Canberra lies roughly half way between Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne.

Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth largest country in the world. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, south of Asia, it is sometimes called ‘Down Under’ because it is under the equator. The Aussie band ‘Men at Work’ had a world- wide hit with their song about life in Australia ‘Land Down Under’.

 Australia is a country of migrants (people who have moved from other countries).  The earlier migrants were mostly British/Irish.  Later waves of immigration came from Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia.  Most modern migrants come from Asia.

Despite the size of the continent, most people live in cities along the coast.

 Some famous animals include the kangaroo:

 Australia is the world's twelfth largest economy and has the fifth highest per capita GDP (nominal) at $66,984.  Agriculture has problems due to climate change, but still keeps 120,000,000 sheep and 25 million cows.  Wheat and barley are grown on large areas of irrigated land.  Sugar cane, cotton, sorghum and bananas are grown in Queensland.

 Would you like to go there for a visit? I would love to, but the flights are very expensive.  Read through the worksheet and use information from this presentation and the internet to fill in the gaps!   HAVE FUN!