2. Aborigines arrived from southeast Asia by boat about 50,000 years ago. One million Aborigines lived on the continent in tribal land Captain James Cook claimed Australia for Great Britain in 1770. Australia became Great Britain's new penal/prison colony in 1771. Aborigines forced onto reservations in small areas of the country Many Aborigines died to European diseases

3. Cheap land and gold rush in 1851 attracted many people from Great Britain and Europe Australia became a nation on January 1, 1901. Many Australians fought and died during WWI and WWII Many people in Europe came to Australia for jobs after World War II ended in 1945.

4. English is the most common language of Australia The Aborigines have their own language Most Australians are Christians Christian=76.4% Non-Christian=11% Other religions=12.6%.

5. Australia’s flag has a UK flag to honor their beginnings as a British penal, or prison, colony. Australia’s food is a mix of traditional English cuisine and a blending of many Asian cuisines

6. Literature in Australia is made up of many traditional English tales mixed with Aboriginal tales. The land, people, and climate of Australia are important. Australians listen to popular music but is also influenced by traditional aboriginal music.

7. States- Queensland, Western Australia Tasmania South Australia New South Wales Victoria Territories Northern Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia is generally arid and partly arid and it is temperate in the south and east and tropical in the north.

8. Wombat Koala Bear Kookaburra emu