Australia

Table of Contents

Introduction & Quick Facts
Geologic history
- General considerations
  - Tectonic framework
  - Chronological summary
- Stratigraphy and structure
  - The Precambrian
  - The Paleozoic Era
    - Principal regimes
    - Terranes of the Tasman Fold Belt
  - The Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras
    - The Quaternary Period
    - Economic resources
  - The modern geologic framework
  - Pangaean supercycle
Land
- Relief and drainage
  - Overall characteristics
  - The Western Plateau
  - The Interior Lowlands
  - The Eastern Uplands
  - The human impact
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
  - Overall characteristics
  - Conservation
  - Plant life
  - Vegetation
  - Animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
  - The Chinese
  - The Italians
  - Aboriginal peoples
- Languages
- Religion
- Demographic trends
  - White Australia policy
  - “Populate or perish”
  - First and second waves of postwar immigration
  - The advent of multicultural society
- Settlement patterns
  - Rural settlement
  - Urban settlement
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  - Agriculture
  - Forestry and fishing
- Power and resources
  - Energy
  - Minerals and mining
    - Iron ore
    - Ferroalloys and nonferrous base metals
    - Precious metals
    - Nonmetallic deposits
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Trade
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
  - Local government
  - Justice
  - Political process
    - Elections
    - Political parties
    - Constitutional issues
  - Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
  - Literature
  - Performing arts
    - Dance
    - Music
    - Theatre
  - Visual arts
  - Film
  - The influence of Bollywood and anime
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
  - Cricket
  - Surfing
  - Australian rules football and rugby
  - Tennis and golf
  - Olympics
- Media and publishing
History
- Australia to 1900
  - Early exploration and colonization
    - Early contacts and approaches
      The Portuguese
      The Spanish
    - Oceanic exploration
      The Dutch
      The British
      Later explorations
    - European settlement
    - An authoritarian society
  - A major shift: 1830–60
    - Settlement
    - Politics
    - The economy
    - Culture
    - Aboriginal people
  - Several small democracies: 1860–1900
    - Politics
    - The economy
    - The colonies
      Victoria
      New South Wales
      Queensland
      South Australia
      Tasmania
      Western Australia
    - Social movements
      Labour
      Movement toward federation
    - The culture
    - Aboriginal people
- Australia since 1900
  - Nationhood and war: 1901–45
    - Growth of the Commonwealth
    - World War I
    - The postwar years
    - World War II
    - The culture
    - Aboriginal peoples
  - Australia from 1945 to c. 1983
    - Postwar expansion
    - The ascendance of Australian popular culture
    - Domestic politics to 1975
    - International affairs
    - Immigration
    - Strains of modern radicalism
    - Cultural achievements
  - Australia since 1983
    - Domestic issues
      The premierships of Bob Hawke (1983–91), Paul Keating (1991–96), and John Howard (1996–2007)
      The premierships of Kevin Rudd (2007–10 and 2013) and Julia Gillard (2010–13)
      The premierships of Tony Abbott (2013–15) and Malcolm Turnbull (2015–18)
      The premiership of Scott Morrison (2018–22)
      The premiership of Anthony Albanese (2022– )
    - Foreign policy and immigration
National and state emblems of Australia

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Map showing the country of Australia divided into its states and territories with major cities and surrounding bodies of water, including the Indian Ocean, Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, and Pacific Ocean.

Uluru/Ayers Rock, Northern Territory, Australia

MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia

For Students

Australia summary

National and state emblems of Australia

in Australia

Also known as: Commonwealth of Australia

Written by W.D.L. Ride, Michael Roe•All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: May 26, 2025 • Article History

News •

Indonesian police arrest an Australian man for allegedly smuggling cocaine to Bali • May 26, 2025, 11:51 PM ET (AP)

Australian state plans to ban the sale of machetes following violent gang fight • May 26, 2025, 3:02 AM ET (AP)

Record floodwaters in eastern Australia leave 4 dead and 1 missing • May 23, 2025, 12:28 AM ET (AP)

US stocks sink as S&P 500 falls to its first loss in 7 days • May 20, 2025, 4:48 PM ET (AP)

US rugby star Alev Kelter gets 3-match ban for stamping on opponent's head • May 20, 2025, 5:19 AM ET (AP)

The table provides a list of Australian national and state emblems.

Emblems of Australia
	flower	animal	bird
Australia	golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha)	red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa)	emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Australian Capital Territory	royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa)		gang-gang cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum)
New South Wales	waratah (Telopea speciosissima)	platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)	kookaburra (Dacelo gigas)
Northern Territory	Sturt's desert rose (Gossypium sturtianum)	red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa)	wedge-tailed eagle (Uroaëtus audax)
Queensland	Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum)	koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
South Australia	Sturt's desert pea (Clianthus formosus)	hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)	piping shrike, or magpie (Gymnorhina leuconota)
Tasmania	Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus)
Victoria	common heath (Epacris impressa)	Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)	helmeted honeyeater (Meliphaga cassidix)
Western Australia	red-and-green kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos manglesii)	numbat, or banded anteater (Myrmecobius fasciatus)	black swan (Cygnus atratus)