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prepared
Damir Gamm
Form 9 b
Captain James Cook discovered Australia in 1770. He was sent to discover the
huge land that many people believed was south of the equator. He landed
south of present day Sydney in New South Wales. He claimed this part of the
land for the King of England.
At this time England was having many social problems. Unemployment was
high. Crime was one of the greatest problems. The government punished
people by sending them to prison. England solution to crowded prisons was
to send prisoners to the far colonies. They could work off their prison
sentences as labourers in the new colonies and eventually earn their freedom.
Therefore, in 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip commanded eleven ships to
Australia. About 750 of the 1000 people on the ships were convicts. There first
settlers were greeted by the Aborigines, the first inhabitants of Australia.
There were an estimated 300,000 Aborigines living in Australia at that time.
Great Britain claimed all of Australia in 1827. In 1851 gold was discovered about
300 km west of Sydney. People rushed to the gold fields to find their
fortunes. This attracted robbers called bushrangers. Ned Kelly was a famous
bushranger. He was a very clever outlaw.
In 1901 Australia became a nation within the British Empire under Queen Victoria
rule. It was called the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia had a very
limited constitution. Great Britain continued to make decisions regarding all
of Australia foreign affairs.
In 1931 Australia gained independence from Great Britain.
Australia is a continent, a country and an island all at the same time. It is the sixth largest
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country and the smallest continent in the world. Australia is located in the southern hemisphere.
That is why it has summer when we have winter and it has winter when we have summer. It is
interesting to know that January is the hottest month in Australia.
Australia is situated south of Asia, between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Australia is the
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world driest continent. Huge areas of land are so dry that they are uninhabited. There are
rainforests in the north, snowfields in the south-east, desert in the centre and fertile croplands
in the south and south-west. Australia is also the flattest continent after Antarctica. Australia is
a very urban country. About 70 per cent of the population live in the 10 largest cities. Most of the
population is in the south-eastern corner of the country and only 15 per cent of the population
live in rural areas. Canberra is the capital of Australia. It is not the biggest city. Sydney and
Melbourne are much larger. The state of Tasmania is separated from the continent of Australia.
It is an island-state.
Australians love their wildlife. The Australian government pays a lot of attention to the
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preservation of the environment. In the past many trees had been cut down. The government
plans that by the year 2000 one billion new trees will have been planted. They have already
planted 550 million trees. Now trees are being planted all over Australia.
Australians also love sports. Australia is one of the few countries in the world that has
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participated in all of the Olympic games since they were organized. The Olympic games were
held in Melbourne in 1956 and will be held in Sydney in the 2000.
Australia is a multicultural society with about a quarter of the population foreign born.
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Settlers from about 200 countries have made Australia their home. Aborigines now comprise
only 1,5 per cent of the population.
CAPITAL CITIES OF AUSTRALIA.
Adelaide. Capital of South Australia. A
pretty and industrial city. Population of
about 1,100,000.
Brisbane. Capital of Queensland. Tropical
climate makes it a year-round vacation
place. Population of about 1,400,000.
Canberra. Capital of Australia. Located in
the Australian Capital Territory(ACT) in
the southeast corner of New South
Wales. Only Australian capital which is
not situated on the seacoast. Population
of about 300,000.
Capital Cities of Australia.
Darwin. Capital and largest city of the Northern Territory. 
Tropical climate. Population of about 70,000.
Hobart. Capital of the Australian island-state Tasmania. 
Winters are cold. Population of about 200,000.
Perth. Capital of the state of Western Australia. One of 
the best climates in Australia. Population of 1,200,000.
Sydney. Capital of New South Wales. Australia oldest and 
largest city. Australia leading industrial city. Nearly a
quarter of all Australians live here. Population of 3,700,000
and growing.
Melbourne. Capital of Victoria. Second largest city in 
Australia. Hosted 1956 Olympics. Population about
3,200,000.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Australia coat of arms- the official emblem of the Australian 
Government- was granted by King George V in 1912. The arms
consist of a shield containing the badges of the six states. The
supporters are native Australian fauna-a kangaroo and an emu. A
yellow-flowered native plant, wattle, also appears in the design.
Australia national day, Australia Day, on 26 January marks the in
1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip, of the British Royal Navy,
commanded a fleet of 11 ships and sailed into Port
Jackson.(Sydney Cove). The flag of Australia is the only one to fly
over a whole continent. The small Union Jack represents the
historical link with Britain, the large seven-pointed star represents
the six States and the Territories, and the small stars form the
Southern Cross – a prominent feature of the southern
hemisphere night sky.
THE LAND
Australia is the only nation that occupies a 
whole continent. It an island of 7,7 million is
square kilometres. It is the sixth largest country
in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the
United States of America and Brazil. It located
to the south of Asia, between the Pacific and
Indian oceans. Australia is the flattest
continent after Antarctica. It is also the world
driest continent.
The climate in Australia is 
varied, from tropical in the
north to temperate in the southeast. Australia is situated in the
southern hemisphere. That why
it has summer when we have
winter.
Australia has a population of about 18 million
people. 70 per cent of the population live
in itc 10 largest cities. Canberra is the
capital of Australia. It is not the biggest city.
Sydney and Melbourne are much bigger.
Australia is a multicultural society. People
from about 200 nations live there. The
Aborigines, the Australian natives, represent
about 1,5 per cent of the population.

Australia best-known animals are the kangaroo, the
koala and the dingo ( a wild dog). There are 50
species of kangaroo. Some stand as tall as a man and
man and some are as small as a cat. They can often
be seen in many of the forests and parks. The koala
is the best loved of all Australian animals. The koala
lives on feaves alone. About 400 species of birds in
Australia are found nowhere else in the world. There
are 55 species of parrots in Australia. They are very
colourful. The emu is the most interesting bird in
Australia. It is big and cannot fly. The kangaroo and
emu can be seen on Australia coast of arms. The
kookaburra is another interesting Australian bird. It
cannot sing, but laughs like a human!
Australia official language is English. 
Australian English does not differ
significantly from other forms of English,
although some expressions are unique
to Australia.In 1984 Australia officially
adopted green and gold as its national
colours.
Temperate. Melbourne enjoys four 
distinct seasons. Winter with cool nights;
Spring and Autumn are delightful. Warm
Summer. Rain evenly distributed
throughout the year. Water
Temperatures: Winter 10.5 C, Summer
21.5 C. January and February are the
hottest months in Melbourne, with
maximum temperatures reaching about
25 C.
Melbourne is a very multi-cultural city. Over a quarter of the 
population was born overseas. It is home to many cultural
groups, speaking 170 languages and giving Melbourne a
unique character. Melbourne is the acknowledged Culture
Capital of Australia, with of Australia, with world-class music,
dance, opera, comedy and theatre. The architecture. The
National Gallery of Victoria, established building, architects
in Melbourne think hard about the scenery and the
surrounding of the building site.Melbourne has one of the
most fanatical sporting public in the world. Playing tennis,
golf, baseball and football, surfing, water-skiing, boating,
yachting, cycling and running are very popular in Melbourne.
EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA.
Australia four-term school year begins in February 
with a twoweek holiday between terms. The fourth
and final term ends around December 20. The
Christmas holiday coincides with the end of school
and beginning of the summer vacation.
Australia primary or elementary school consists of 
grades one through six. Secondary school consists
of grade seven through twelve. All secondary
students wear uniforms to school.
WHAT YOUR FAVOURITE RUSSIAN WRITERS
THOUGHT ABOUT AUSTRALIA.
Anton Chekhov. 
For Anton Chekhov Australia was a far-away place 
where the troubles of life did not reach. He used
Australia as a metaphor for rest and security. He once
wrote to his editor from his estate: « A day lasts an
eternity. One feels like being in Australia, at the end of
the world. Sometimes I feel so good, that out of
superstition I make myself remember my creditors,
who will one day kick me out of my Australia.»