Major Geographic Qualities of Australia Relative location and isolation Peripheral development/empty interiors Marginalized indigenous population Highly clustered urban populations Changing human geography via immigration and activism Exporters of livestock products

Australia’s Physiographic Regions

Climate

Biogeography Sub-field Of Geography- The Spatial Arrangement Of Flora And Fauna Evolved From The Overlap Between Geography And Biology Alexander Von Humboldt (1769-1859) Branches: Zoography Phytogeography Australian Realm as “laboratory”-why?

Australia Federal since 1901 Population of 19.9 million 85% urbanized Comprised of 6 states and 2 territories Population of 19.9 million Aboriginal population of 300,000 Arithmetic density of 7/sq mi Physiologic density of 106/sq mi GNP of US$24,920 85% urbanized Major urban centers Sydney (4.1 million) Melbourne (3.4 million) Canberra (342,000) - capital

POLITICAL DIVISIONS

SYDNEY

THE INTERIOR

NORTH QUEENSLAND SUGARCANE FIELD E.J. PALKA E.J. PALKA

AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMY PRINCIPAL PATTERNS: EXPORTS RAW MATERIALS BASED HEAVILY ON THE PRIMARY SECTOR ACTIVITIES DEPENDS ON WORLD MARKETS IMPORT-SUBSTITUTION INDUSTRIES SMALL DOMESTIC MARKET TENUOUS TRADE LINKS WITH ASIAN TIGERS

AGRICULTURE & MINERAL RESOURCES

ABORIGINAL ISSUES POPULATION DATES FROM 50000-60000 BP 1980s CAMPAIGN AGAINST MINING AND EXPLORATION OF SACRED LANDS 1992: ABORIGINES CAN CLAIM TITLE TO TRADITIONAL LAND 1993: NATIVE TITLE BILL – 78% of Australia INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND WRONGS Rabbit-Proof Fence

Immigration Penal colonies Gold Rush 1851 Coastal settlements: English White Australia policy ends: 1976 Contrast Canada ‘Asylum seekers’ 80,000 immigrants annually “Starting over”

ABORIGINAL CLAIMS