Australian Vocabulary
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Great Barrier Reef
Outback
Station
Marsupial
Boomerang
Bush
Tasmania
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Great Dividing Range
Rain Shadow
Parliamentary Democracy
Prime Minister
Canberra
Aussie
Australia: The Land
 Australia is both a continent & a single
country. Sixth largest country in the
world and smallest continent.
 Mostly flat with desert mid region called
the Outback. The Great Dividing Range
runs down the continent's eastern edge.
 Two major rivers the Murray and Darling
rivers drain southern Australia.
 Tasmania is Australia’s largest island.
 Lies along northern coast
 World’s largest coral reefs
and home to exotic fish
and sea creatures.
 Popular tourist attraction
that helps to boost
Australia’s economy.
Australia’s Animals
 Has many indigenous animals that
can only be found in this region.
 Best known for Kangaroos & Koalas.
 Home to the world’s only egg-laying
mammal the duck-billed platypus.
 Being isolated and surrounded by
water has kept animals from
migrating to other places.
Australia’s Climate
 One of the driest continents in the world.
 Mostly desert climate that is hot & dry.
 Western coast receives little to no rain fall
from the Pacific Ocean.
 Mountains form a rain shadow that block
moisture from the interior.
 Rain shadow is formed when air moves over
the windward of a mountain range dropping
moisture and precipitation which leaves the
leeward side dry.
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Land not conducive for farming.
Irrigation necessary to grow
crops such as sugar cane and
fruits and vegetables.
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Instead of crops, Australia’s
economy depends on vast sheep
and cattle ranches called stations.
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World’s top producer and
exporter of wool.
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Mines also dot Australia’s
landscape where minerals are mined to be sold on the
Australia’s Government
• In 1901, Australia became a commonwealth.
• Australia has six states and two territories.
• Australia has a British style parliamentary
democracy.
• A prime minister is head of the government the
British Monarchy is the ceremonial leader.
• Many would like for it to become a republic and
free itself of British influence.
 Most of the population lives in major industrial cities
along the coast.
 More than 90% urban.
 Sydney and Melbourne are Australia’s largest cities.
 Canberra is the capitol of Australia and was built to draw
people to the interior and outback region of Australia.
 Most people who live in Australia speak English and
refer to themselves as “Aussies”.