1. Australia – a unique continent
Year 9 Geography

2. Syllabus Requirements
The Australian continent
locate and recognise Australia on a world map using latitude and longitude
compare Australia’s size and shape with other continents and countries
explain the origins of the continent from an Aboriginal and geographical perspective
Physical characteristics that make Australia unique
identify and represent Australia’s major physical features and patterns on a variety of maps
describe Australia’s major physical features and patterns
explain the interrelationships that exist in the physical environment of Australia
explain adaptations of flora and fauna to the Australian environment

3. Agenda Australia’s geographical dimensions:
relative size and shape
latitude and longitude
the origins of the continent:
Aboriginal perspective
geographical perspective
major landforms and drainage basins
patterns of:
climate
weather
vegetation
unique flora and fauna
natural resources

4. Australia's Size & Shape

5. (A) What Makes Us Unique
Complete the activity sheet:
What Makes Australia
Unique A-Z

6. Draw a free-hand map of Australia
(A)What Do We Look Like
On an A4 page:
Draw a free-hand map of Australia
1. Locate natural features
(a) Cape York, (b) Gulf of Carpentaria, (c) Great Barrier Reef, (d) Bass Strait, (e) Great Australian Bight, (f) Shark Bay, (g) Cape Byron, (h) South East Cape (i) Lake Eyre, (j) Mt. Kosciuszko .
2. Locate state capital cities
3. Locate Australia's capital city
4. Draw in state borders

7. The Natural Features Of Australia
The highest point in Australia is = Mt Kosciuszko at 2228m
The lowest point in Australia is = Lake Eyre at 15m below sea level
The hottest recorded temperature in Australia is = Cloncurry 53.1°C
The coldest recorded temperature is = -22°C at Charlotte Pass

8. Top 10 Countries By Land Area
Russia
Canada
USA
China
Brazil
Australia
India
Argentina
Kazakhstan
Sudan
Top 10 Countries By Land Area

9. Origins Aka “where do I come from?” Indigenous Australians Perspective
Geographical perspective

10. Indigenous Australian Peoples View of Australia

11. (a) Dreamtime
Many Indigenous Australians also refer to the Creation time as "The Dreaming". The Dreamtime laid down the patterns of life for the Aboriginal people
Using the internet investigate the story of the origins of Australia from the indigenous peoples of Australia perspective
Remember to use the 5 W’s to create a complete answer

12. Geographical Perspective of Origins
Geo Focus 2

13. Get the drift? What is the continental drift? When did it happen?
The continent of Australia has migrated across the Earth’s surface for millions of years.
When did it happen?
By studying the age and structure of rock formations geographers have been able to determine the continent’s previous positions and its movements.
Why is it important?
The topography of Australia is the result of processes that have taken place over millions of years.
Plate movements have given the continent its basic form, but the processes of weathering and erosion have shaped the features.
P14 text

14. Where Are We?

15. Hemispheres

16. (a) Activity On a blank map of the world
Label the north, south, east and west hemispheres (the map on the previous slide will help).
State which 2 hemispheres Australia is in.

17. Latitude & Longitude

18. Latitude
To locate places more accurately on a world map geographers use latitude and longitude.
The lines of latitude are parallel to the Equator and are measured in degrees north and south.
Their values range from 0° at the Equator to 90°N at the North Pole and 90°S at the South Pole.
Australia is found between 10°S and 44°S (the Tropic of Capricorn passes through Australia)

19. Longitude
Lines of longitude run from pole to pole and are not parallel. They are measured in degrees east and west of the Prime Meridian, which runs through Greenwich in London.
Their values range from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° on the opposite side of the globe. The International Date Line follows the 180° line of longitude.
Australia is found between 113°E and 154°E longitude.
REMEMBER NORTH OR SOUTH BEFORE EAST OR WEST
When locating a place using latitude and longitude the latitude always comes before the longitude.
For example, the latitude and longitude of Canberra is 35°S 149°E.

20. (a) Parrot Island Activity
You have won the squillionaires lottery (woohoo) and have the opportunity to create your own island. You have decided to create an island with the following attributes:
Beach
Mountains
Small Desert
Freshwater source
Resort Village (just for you and your family)
Staff village (for all of the people to who work for you and their families.
A small reef for snorkeling & diving
Draw a map of Parrot Island and label. These should include :
the latitude and longitude
Which Tropic ?
Which hemisphere it belongs to
Location
Geographic coordinates:
Land boundaries:
Total Area (incl a scale)
Area – comparative e.g. it’s the size of Tasmania
Climate e.g. tropical monsoon (Mar-Jun)
Weather mean (see over)

21. Parrot Island Weather

22. Asia Pacific Region
Make sure you know this one as there is always a school cert question on the countries included

23. (A) Neighbours On a blank world map draw: Australia’s neighbours.
Country name
Capital City
Colour and label:
The 7 continents
the equator,
both tropics and
the prime meridian (O° longitude)
Make sure to apply BOLTS (Border, Orientation, Legend, Title and Scale)