1. Australia and Oceania
Unit 10

2. Australia
Geographers classify Australia as continent because of its size.
Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the North and East, and the Indian Ocean to the West
Very flat topography except for Great Dividing Range that followings along the Eastern coast
Mostly desert
Great Victoria, Gibson, and Sandy
The Outback, or “The Bush”
Sparsely settled
Intense topography
Driest continent – very little freshwater above ground
Most is in artesian wells – underground water sources

3. The Outback

4. Uluhu/Ayers Rock

5. New Zealand Archipelago
1000 miles Southeast of Australia – is NOT part of Australia
Unlike Australia, very mountainous - formed by glaciers.
Calderas – volcanic craters

6. Climate & Ecology Differ by region Most of Australia is desert
Only 6% is arable
Most of New Zealand is temperate.
Tasmania, the island province of Australia is distinctive tropical, as is the North West Corner
Northern Australia is affected by the monsoon
Dry seasons are prone to dangerous brush fires.
Australia is home to most of the world’s marsupial animals.
90% of New Zealand’s indigenous plants are found ONLY there.
Great Barrier Reef
Largest coral reef in the world
Home to thousands of species of marine life

7. Great Barrier Reef

8. Political & Economic Geography
Given dominion status from the British Empire in 1901 (Australia) and 1907 (New Zealand)
Part of the empire politically, but control their own affairs internationally, economically, and internally.
New Zealand was the first nation in the world to let women vote – 1893.
Given their British history, their culture is distinctively Anglican (religion, dress, food, etc.) that has been lightly influenced by the indigenous and Pacific Island cultures.
Supports the UK in military affairs, but tend to stay out of conflicts.
Both New Zealand and Australia are industrialized nations with very wealth and very diverse economies.

9. Population
Most of the people in Australia and New Zealand live on the coast.
Most are decedents of British settlers who came to during the 17th and 18th centuries
Australia was a initially prison colony
25-30% of Australians are decedents of criminals
Distinctive English dialect called Strine English
Pidgin language (lingua franca)
Cattle and sheep stations (ranches) – very lucrative – more people migrated there, and by 1800, Australia & New Zealand became a desirable colonial location.

10. The Aborigine and Torres Strait Islanders
Called the Aborigine (Originals) by the British
The indigenous people of Australia – believe the inhabited Australia at least 40,000 years ago.
Oldest continual culture on earth
Actually about 3 dozen individual tribes remain
Less 1% of the population
Pushed from Coastal Areas into the Outback, where tens of thousands died from inability to live in hostile environment
The Stolen Ones
Children of mixed race taken and institutionalized to ‘civilize’ them in European Culture from
Hope was to eradicate them as a people
No political rights until 1965
While many of the younger generations have assimilated into the modern tapestry of Australia, many still live in remote areas and celebrate traditional ways of life – VERY suspicious of outsiders

12. Aboriginals on Australia Day
In your notes answer these question:
How to Aboriginals feel about Australia day?
Do you feel their concerns are justified? Why or why not?
Do you think that any American ethnic groups would identify? Why or why not?

13. The Maori The Maori named themselves after the arrival of British.
Interactions were amicable through most of history
Maori men could own property and got the right to vote in 1840; Maori women in 1893.
No segregation or ‘relocation’ policies.
Treated better than Aborigines because they were competing with them for good farm land.
The Maori make 15% of the population of New Zealand
Community is plagued with low socio-economic achievement, as many have remained fisherman or subsistence farmers
Lowest education rates, high crime rates, alcoholism of any minority it group in Australia or New Zealand.

14. Economics in Australia and New Zealand
Both countries have very healthy economies with strong GDPs are considered industrialized countries (MDCs)
While most people are employed in services, both have very healthy agriculture industries
Cattle and Sheep ranching are the largest farm activies.
Grain is only grown the southern part of the continent, so many have to be imported
Mining and oil drilling has become a huge industry in both Australia and New Zealand
Australia is the world’s largest supplier of bauxite – a mineral necessary in aluminum production.

15. Ecological Concerns
Australia struggles with desertification and fresh water conservation.
New Zealand is geographically positioned very near the thinnest region of the ozone layer
Climate change affects the land.
Glaciers melting, seasons becoming warmer and changing agricultural capabilities.

16. Oceania Ocean is made of up three principle regions:
Micronesia
Polynesia
Melanesia
The island archipelagos are either 1) the result of shifting plates, or 2) volcanic activity
All have tropic climates.
Oceania has the largest concentration of dependencies, or colonies.
Australia
New Zealand US UK
France

18. Oceania Oceanic culture is thousands of years old
1200 languages
Dozens of diverse groups – hunter/gather/fishermen
Animistic spirituality (earth and sea)
Adopted religions of colonizing forces
Migrated from the islands via canoe in search of fishing banks
Most countries are developing
Dependent on fishing, fruit export
Goods must be imported in
Heavily dependent on tourism or colonial support