ANCIENT LAND, MODERN LEGACY: perhaps, these four words capture best what Australia truly is.

While the main things that may come to mind when thinking of Australia are koalas, kangaroos, spiders, Uluru, or the Sydney Opera House, this vast country has many other fascinating aspects to offer as well.

Australia is the world’s sixth-largest country and also the smallest continent. Its territory is about 7.74 million square kilometers, including several islands, for example Tasmania. Australia possesses unique characteristics compared to every other continent. This is because it separated from the ancient supercontinent relatively early in geological history, allowing unique geographical and ecological features to form that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. The land’s flora and fauna are remarkably distinctive. The most well-known Australian animals include the kangaroo, koala, wombat, and Tasmanian devil. The country’s vegetation is primarily characterized by eucalyptus forests and drought-resistant bushes. The government is making continuous efforts in order to preserve this unique wildlife and pass it on to future generations.

Australia’s coastlines are rich with sandy beaches, rocky shores, and beautiful coral reefs. The world’s largest coral reef system, the famous Great Barrier Reef is located off the northeastern coast . The centre of the continent, known as the Outback, consists of vast deserts and semi-deserts, with red sand dunes and rocky plains.

The continent’s climate is also quite extreme. Australia is so large that it covers three different time zones, and they experience every type of climate, from desert to subtropical. Since the country is located south of the Equator, the seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere: when it’s winter in Europe, it’s summer in Australia. In New South Wales, the most densely populated state, the average summer temperature is 26°C. This may seem relatively cool, but don’t be fooled; the Australian summer is long and hot, offering perfect conditions for those who love warm weather. On the other hand, winters are relatively mild and rainy, with temperatures in the major Australian cities rarely dropping below freezing.

Though the modern state of Australia has a history of only 200 years, Australia’s indigenous inhabitants, the Aboriginal people settled on the continent more than 65,000 years ago. This culture is one of the oldest surviving civilizations in the world, with a rich history and culture deeply rooted in a spiritual connection with the natural environment.

Australia is a member of the British Commonwealth and it is a democratic, multi-party country. Elections are held every three years, and the legislature is composed of a bicameral parliamentary system. Democratic values are a strong part of Australian culture; one clear example is that Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote

Currently, immigrants make up one-quarter of Australia’s population, and they are an integral part of modern society. Much like the United States in the early 1900s, Australia today can take in a lot of workers and welcomes immigrants from around the world. Based on certain estimates, the current population of 26 million could grow to nearly 35 million by 2050. Australia strongly supports education and international students, allowing them to work while studying. Moreover, the country offers high-quality education for international students at much more affordable prices than schools in other English-speaking countries.

In terms of government structure, Australia differs from the European average. In this sense, the country is most comparable to the United States. Australia is a federal state, which means it is a union of states and territories that have significant self-governance. The states that make up the country are (from most to least populated) New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The two additional territories are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Although the country’s capital and political-administrative center is Canberra (which is located within the Australian Capital Territory), it is recognized that the heart and engine of Australia is Sydney, located in New South Wales. Sydney is not only the largest Australian city in terms of area and population but also the economic, commercial, and immigration hub of the country. Melbourne, located in Victoria, is perhaps the second most famous of the continent’s major cities and it is considered the cultural capital of Australia. On the other side of the country, the capital of Western Australia, Perth, is Australia’s fastest-growing city and deserves to be mentioned. Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is also an important city, though the primary attractions for visitors to Queensland are the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast, rather than Brisbane itself, because it has no access to the sea.

We hope this summary has provided an interesting and informative overview of Australia.

If you’d like to experience life firsthand in this magnificent country, you’re in the right place! Please review the different Australian visa types available on our website, and if you are interested and you would like to learn more about your opportunities, don’t hesitate to contact us!