THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
5 superlatives smallest largest flattest driest last
6 states + 2 territories
The main facts Population: 22.5 million Area: 7,617,930 sq km Capital: Canberra Largest city: Sydney Government: Federal parliamentary democracy + constitutional monarchy
Wildlife
History 1606 – discovered by the Dutch 1770 – James Cook 1788 – the First Fleet 1851 – gold 1901 – the Commonwealth of Australia
1930s – Great Depression 1939 – 1945 – WWII (eg. Tobruk, Africa) 1956 – Olympic Games in Melbourne 1967 – the Aborigines got the right to vote 1973 – Sydney Opera House 2000 – Olympic Games in Sydney
Famous people Nicole Kidman Cate Blanchett Heath Ledger Nick Cave Kylie Minogue Ian Thorpe