AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA

Eva Giménez Pereira Natàlia Pérez Guix Naiara Romero Piedra

INDEX 1. Introduction

Page. 1

2. Geography and Population

Page. 2

2.1. Climate

Page. 2

2.2. Demography

Page. 2

2.3. Languages

Page. 2

2.4. Religions

Page. 3

3. History

Page. 3

4. Economy

Page. 3

5. Government and Politics

Page. 4

6. Education

Page. 4

7. Culture

Page. 5

7.1. Architecture

Page. 5

7.2. Folklore

Page. 6

7.3. Gastronomy

Page. 6

7.4. Arts

Page. 7

7.5. Literature

Page. 7

7.6. Performing Arts

Page. 8

8. Sport

Page. 8

9. National Symbols

Page. 9

10. Curiosities

Page. 10

11. Conclusion

Page. 10

12. Webgraphy

Page. 10

13. Bibliography

Page. 11

14. Glossary

Page. 11

1. INTRODUCTION Australia is a state in the South Hemisphere that shapes the smallest continent of the world. It includes, moreover, several small islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

This project contains general information of this country. It has been carried out with the objective of learning a little more about the essential elements of the state and at the same time learning its culture. We’ll also practice English.

2. GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION 2.1. Climate Australia has a temperate climate most of the year, but this can vary because of the size of the continent.

The states of the north generally have a warm climate almost all the time, while the meridional states have cold winters.

Australia is also one of the driest continents on Earth, with an annual average of precipitation less than 600 mm.

Like in all the countries of the south hemisphere, the seasons of the year in Australia are opposite to those of the northern hemisphere.

From December to February it is summer, from March to May it is autumn, from June to August it is winter and from September to November it is spring.

Climate map of Australia.

2.2. Demography The Australian population is around 22,796,347 inhabitants. Most of the people live in urban zones. Australia is one of the most civilized countries of the world.

The population has increased since 1788, when there were a lot of waves of immigration during this period.

Immigration has also made that the European population decreased.

Australia counts on little more than two people per squared kilometre.

The life expectancy of Australians in 1999-2001 was 79.7 years. It was the highest in the world.

2.3. Languages Although Australia hasn’t got an official language, it’s largely monolingual with English being the national language. Australian English has a different accent and vocabulary. According to the 2011 census, 16.8% of the people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home are Mandarin 1.6%, Italian 1.4%, Arabic 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2% and Greek 1.2%.

A considerable proportion of migrants are bilingual. It’s believed that there were almost 400 Australian Aboriginal languages at the time of the first European contact. But only about 70 of these languages have survived, and 30 of them are now endangered.

2.4. Religions Australia has no state religion, and section 116 of the Australian Constitution prohibits the federal government from making any law to establish any religion, impose any religious beliefs, or prohibit the free exercise of any religion.

Approximately 70% of the Australians is considered Christian. We can highlight 26% of Catholics and 21% of Anglicans.

Perth Australia Temple

3. HISTORY Between the centuries 1500 and 1600, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch sailors arrived to Australia, finding dry land where it seemed that nothing could grow.

For that reason, they didn’t stay permanently.

In 1770, the Naval Captain James Cook of the Royalty of Great Britain arrived to the coast off Australia, where the land was good for growing. This zone of the country was called New South Gales.

The largest part of the prehistory Australia was united to Nueva Guinea and the two populations evolved together. Most of the people were hunter-gatherers with a complex oral tradition and an assessment of worship of the land.

In 1788, the population of a British prison of more than a thousand convicted people, including guards and their families, were sent and established in New South Gales. Later on, the British started other colonies in other parts of Australia. When there were more free settlers than prisoners, a movement grew for independence.

In the decade 1890 the people wanted to become an independent nation. So on 1st January 1901, the Australian colonies became officially the State of Australia. The first gold rush in Australia began in 1851. There were also fevers of the gold.

Settlement of gold searchers

4. ECONOMY Australia is a wealthy country with a market economy with high GDP per capita and a low rate of poverty. The Australian dollar is the currency of the nation, including Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu.

Australia is the world's thirteenth

Australian dollar

largest economy and has the fifth highest rate per capita. The country was ranked second in the United Nations 2011 Human Development Index and first in Legatum's 2008 Prosperity Index. The most productive sector is the sector of services (68%), but the farming and mining sectors are also very productive (65%).

5. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS The government of Australia is the administrative authority of Australia.

The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a consequence of the agreement made between the six independent British colonies, which became the six states.

The structure of the Australian Government may be examined in light of two distinct concepts, federalism and the separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

The Constitution establishes a separation of powers.

Australia largely operates as a two-party system, in which voting is compulsory.

The federation parliament consists of a Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party of the House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 76 members, and the house of Representatives consists of 150 members.

Prime Minister of Australia

6. EDUCATION States and territories are responsible for education in Australia. Each state or territory provides funding and regulates the public and private schools. The education in Australia follows the three-tier model: primary, secondary and tertiary education and universities.

The education system in Australia is open to all people. School is compulsory for all children aged between five and fifteen years. These ages may vary slightly in some states. The government provides public schools. Churches and other groups provide private schooling. Public schooling is free and users pay fees for private schooling.

Some students start when they finish school, other students start to study later as adults.

Australian students

7. CULTURE 7.1. Architecture The architecture in Australia incorporates the architecture produced in the area of the Commonwealth of Australia. Indigenous Australians produced only semipermanent structures and during Australia's early western history, there was a collection of British colonies in which architectural styles were strongly influenced by British designs. However, they adapted to the unique climate of Australia, and in the 20th century trends reflected the increasing influence of American urban designs and a diversification of the cultural tastes and requirements of an increasingly multicultural Australian society.

Architectural styles have been basically exotic and derivative. Only recently have climate and environment played a major role.

During the 19th century, Australian architects were inspired by developments in England. From the 1930s on, North American and International influences started to appear.

Buildings were often heavily influenced by the origins of their patrons, hence while the British would like to be reminded of their Gothic churches and Tudoresque cottages of a perfect England, Dutch, German, Polish, Greek, Italian and other nationalities would also attempt to recreate the architecture of their homelands.

Some architects Australians are: - Robin Boyd - Philip Cox - John James Clark - Neville Gruzman - Harry Howard - John Horbury Hunt - Nonda Katsalidis There are many outstanding structures, in order of importance are: - The Sydney Opera House, original design by Jorn Utzon (UNESCO World Heritage).

- The Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne (UNESCO World Heritages) - Federation Square, Melbourne.

- Parliament House, Canberra.

- Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney Opera House Parliament House, Canberra

7.2. Folklore - Australian aboriginal mythology: Bunyp - According to the legend, the bunyp hides in reservoirs, billabongs, streams and fountains.

Rainbow Serpent - This competes with the Sun, which lives in the water reservoirs and canals deep as he comes out the surface to collect and distribute water.

Bunyp Yowie - It is a best giant beast, similar to a crossing between a lizard and an ant. It comes out of the land at night to eat all what it finds, even human beings. But at the day light it disappears.

- Christmas in Australia: In Australia, Christmas is held at high temperatures, since it is in the summer.

Santa Claus in Australia is called Swag Man. Children are visited by this character who wears a blue T-shirt and shorts.

New Year - In Sydney, New year’s Eve is at 24:00 and there is a spectacular show where there are fireworks. It is the first country which celebrates the New Year.

The Melbourne Film Festival – It is celebrated in June. It’s a very famous event film, where the best national and international films are exhibited.

The Australia Day – It is on 26th of January New Year in Sydney which symbolizes the arrival of the first boats in 1788.

7.3. Gastronomy The Australian gastronomy is characterized by a set of different typical types of food. They reflect the multicultural historical past. The native gastronomy is called bush tucker o bushfood and it traditionally relates to any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by the original inhabitants.

The British and Irish cuisine of the first European colonizers came mostly from the British Islands, and the Asian and Mediterranean cuisine brought by the immigrants after the World War I. The typical dish of Australia is meatloaf. They also have Cabanossi, a type of sausages like salami. Other common dishes are meats of exotic crocodiles or kangaroo.

There are also popular desserts and sweets like Plavova or Anzac biscuits, Lamingtons and Plavova Vanilla slice.

7.4. Arts

There are several forms of arts that are practiced in Australia, mainly by the aboriginal people. They explain their stories from generation to generation through painting on stones. The paintings portray a range of pictures.

Painting on clothes began immediately after the arrival of British prisoners, some devoted themselves to painting to portray what they saw all around. Albert Namatjira is one of the most famous painters on aboriginal fabric and his works are very valued in the international market of presents.

There wasn’t much art about painting on fabric, only to replay the native landscape, very different from the loved England.

Conrad Martens was famous for painting Aboriginal art landscapes. But it was John Glover around 1830 who started the modern painting. Many other painters concentrated on painting natural scenes. Nora Simpson started the Australian Modern painting in 1913, with a strong influence of the French painting.

As regards music, the Australian best known artist is AB (Banjo) Paterson, who tidied up the work Waltzing Matilda, a song that almost turned into the national hymn. Country/Folk music is, almost always, played and sung. As regards rock, groups like Midnight Oil and ACDC had and they still have great international projection.

7.5. Literature The Australian literature is wide, although it only has a couple of centuries of history. The most well known author of the Australian literature is Morris West, author of the “The Devil's Advocate”, “The Shoes of the Fisherman” and “The Ambassador”.

The Australian writers are also known to have explored the history of their country, for example the last novels by Kate Grenville expose the dark expensive settlement of the white man to Australia, showing the cruelty with which the population treated the natives. They did not offer any human respect.

The native Australians themselves started to produce, from the wise and satirical post feminist literature of Anita Heiss until the magical realism of Alexis Wright or the self-conscious meditation of Kim Scott.

Some Australian writers are: Andrew Barton Paterson was born in Sydney (Australia), on 17 February 1864 and he died on 5 February 1941.

He wrote many poems about the life of Australia, focusing in particular on the rural zones and outback areas, including the district about Binalong, New Gaul Spout those of the South, where big part of its childhood happened. More remarkable poems of Paterson include "Waltzing Matilda", “The Man from Snowy River” and “Clancy of the overflowing". Stella Maria Sarah Milers Franklin known like Miles Franklin was born on 14 October, 1879 and she died on 19 September, 1954. She was an Miles Franklin

Australian and feminist writer, known by her novel My Brilliant Career, published in 1901. While she wrote along her life, her other great literary success, Everything that Swagger, was not published until 1936.

Pamela Travers was born on 9 August 1899 and she died on 23 in London, April 1996. She was an Australian writer and journalist, creator of the famous fiction nanny Mary Poppins, in the book of the same name.

Pamela Travers

7.6. Performing arts The Australian scenic panorama is a plenum of energy, originality and diversity.

The Australian dance is recognized by its variety and exuberance. The Australian music has been hugely enriched by the immigration after the Second World War and it includes an impressive artistic range.

The National Company of Opera is the third of the world in amount and frequency of representations and it has a spectacular Opera in Sydney.

Australia is well known for its original style of rock music and pop, with a solid basis of popularity already established by contemporary artists.

Each Australian state has an important theatre company and, moreover, there are others of smaller size but also known.

The Australian government gives 4,900 million dollars to opt to a variety of artistic, cultural purposes and of the cultural Macbeth’s representation patrimony.

8. SPORT Sport is an important part of the culture in Australia, with a long history in the country dating back to the pre-colonial period.

Sport came to Australia by the 1830 with cricket, horse racing, sailing and athletics as some of the sports played prior to the 1830s. Australia is the fifth best in the Olympics games. In Australia the Olympics games are very important.

Australian sports leagues are the National Rugby League, the Australian Football League and the National Basketball League.

Australian Football

9. NATIONAL SYMBOLS Australia's national colours are green and gold.

Another national symbol of this country is the flag. It was chosen in 1901, after a national competition. It includes a little British flag in the upper left corner. It represents the historic links with England. Below the little flag there is a big seven-pointed star. That star symbolizes the federation of Australian states Australian flag and territories.

On the right, the rest of stars symbolize the Southern Cross, constellation that is only seen in the southern hemisphere.

The coat of arms is another symbol that represents the country of Australia. This includes the emblems of the states which are between a kangaroo, an emu and an acacia tree.

The hymn of Australia is another symbol of this country. Below it is the lyrics of the hymn and its translation.

Australian Coat of Arms.

Anthem of Australia

Ringtones

"Australians all let us rejoice, Els australians ens alegrem, For we are young and free; Som joves i lliures, We've golden soil and weath for toil; Tenim un sòl d'or i riquesa per a Our home is girt by sea; treballar; Our land abounds in nature´s gifts la nostra llar està cenyida pel mar; Of beauty rich and rare; nostra terra és abundant en regals In history's page, let every stage naturals Advance Australia Fair. de rica i especial bellesa; In joyful strains then let us sing, a les pàgines de la història, cada etapa Advance Australia Fair.

Austràlia avança amb justícia.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross En alegres esforços cantem, We'll toil with hearts and hands; Austràlia avança amb justícia.

To make this Commonwealth of ours Sota la nostra radiant creu del sud Renowned of all the lands; treballarem amb cors i mans For those who've come across the seas per fer nostra la Comunitat We've boundless plains to share; renombrando totes les terres; With courage let us all combine per a aquells que vinguin a través dels To Advance Australia Fair. mars In joyful strains then let us sing, tenim il·limitades planes per compartir, amb valor ho combinem Advance Australia Fair" perquè Austràlia avança amb justícia.

En alegres esforços cantem, Austràlia avança amb justícia.

10. CURIOSITIES Australians speak a language a bit similar to English. They say that it is English, but the foreigner knows that this is not English. They speak differently. There are some different words. They come directly from the aboriginal language, and others are abbreviations. Australia has in its central part a desert in which few people live. There are few villages and the distances between them are huge.

These zones are known like the outback. One of the main characteristics of the outback is flies. There are so many flies that being in the open air is unbearable.

Australians like cooking. It is very common to see people in the supermarkets with a book of recipes buying the ingredients that they will need to elaborate them.

The price of petrol depends a lot on the area. In the outback, for example, it is very expensive.

It is common to see Australians walk barefoot around the cities.

There is an adjective to describe Australians and everything in Australia: Aussie. This word is the slang word for Australian.

11. CONCLUSION Doing this work about Australia has been satisfactory for us, since all the time that we have used to carry it out has been of great learning. It is a destination where we would like to travel and visit one day. Since with the amount of information that we have acquired will be of great help for our future so that we can go there any time.

Also doing the work in English has helped us to learn more vocabulary.

12. WEBGRAPHY http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portada (retrieved on 20/09/12) http://www.experienceaustralia.net/elpaissimbolos.html (retrieved on 26/09/12) http://www.viajejet.com/escudo-australia/ (retrieved on 2/10/12) http://www.viajejet.com/tradiciones-de-australia/(retrieved on 11/10/12) http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everydaylife/education/ (retrieved on 24/10/12) http://www.portaloceania.com/au-life-arts-esp.htm (retrieved on 28/10/12) http://elpais.com/diario/2011/05/07/babelia/1304727133_850215.html (retrieved on 28/10/12) http://jrrs1990.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/biografia-de-escritores-de-australia/ (retrieved on 28/10/12) http://elmundoviajes.elmundo.es/elmundoviajes/fichas.html?valor=204&zona=p ais (retrieved on 28/10/12)

http://www.chile.embassy.gov.au/sclecastellano/events.html (retrieved on 28/10/12) http://www.australia.com/es-la/about/key-facts/weather.aspx (retrieved on 30/10/12) http://www.buscounviaje.com/idioma-moneda-horarios/australia-au (retrieved on 30/10/12) http://milyunlugar.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/curiosidades-de-australia.html (retrieved on 30/10/12) http://foro.mundopaseos.com/South_Australia/Historia/Resumen_De_LA_Histor ia_de_Australia (retrieved on 30/10/12) http://www.wikilingua.net/ca/articles/e/c/o/Econom%C3%ADa_de_Australia_b2 2e.html (retrieved on 22/11/12) http://translate.google.es/translate?hl=ca&sl=en&u=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Banjo_Paterson&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAndrew%2BBarton%2BPaterson%26 hl%3Dca%26client%3Dfirefoxa%26hs%3DS2h%26sa%3DX%26tbo%3Dd%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:esES:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D903&sa=X&ei=qCmxUKykK9D34QSZu oCwDg&ved=0CC4Q7gEwAA (retrieved on 24/11/12)

13. Bibliography Book: Lindop, Christine. Australia and New Zealand. First edition. Hong Kong. OXFORD BOOKWORMS, 2008.

Book that we used

14. Glossary Tidying up- compondre Rejoice- alegrar-se Toil- treballar Demography- demografia Youngsters- joves Barefoot- peu nu/descalç Endangered- amenaçat/en perill d’extinció Wealthy- ric Commonwealthorganització d’estats independents de la Gran Bretanya Monarchy- monarquia Coat of arms- escut d’armes Three-tier- model Schooling- ensenyament