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| Australia is one of the oldest land masses and is the flattest of the five continents. It is the sixth largest country in the world, and almost as big as China. About one-third of Australia is hot desert, and one-third supports pastoral activity. Australia leads the world in wool production and is a significant supplier of cereals, dairy product, meat, sugar, fruit, and seafood. It is also amongst the world¡¦s major producers of minerals and has significant deposits of various minerals such as gold, coal, copper, lead, zinc, iron, manganese, diamonds and other which make Australia prominent as a source of basic raw materials.
Australia's climate ranges from the tropical in the north to the temperate in the south. The average yearly temperature in Australia varies from 30C in the far north to 10C in the far south. Summer is from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August, and spring from September to November in the temperate regions, while the tropical north has only two main seasons, a wet and a dry. |
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Australia's present population is approximately 19 million. Australia is a multi-racial and a multi-cultural society. One in four people in Australia either is born or has a parent who is born, in another country. About 70% of the population live in major cities, and less than 15% in rural areas.
Most Australian families own their own houses which usually have three bedrooms, a lounge room, a kitchen, a bathroom and its own garden. In most cases, only members of the immediate family, (husband, wife and children) live in the same house. Young couples usually live in rented apartments. Generally, rent in rural areas is cheaper than in the large capital cities. Most Australian families own at least one car because cities are spread out and two to three times the size of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories put together. Most members of the labour force are wage or salary earners. Employees generally work five days a week and have a month's paid leave. They also receive sick leave, long service leave and approximately 10 paid public holidays a year marking events such as Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Australia Day and Easter. Retirement age is usually 60 or 65. |
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| Culturally, Australia is part of the West. Its lifestyle is very similar to those of Western Europe and North America. Each year a number of Australian cities are voted by international organizations as having the best lifestyle in the world. Australia has a relaxed, friendly way of life. Students with a sense of independence and individual responsibility enjoy the variety of opportunities offered. They experience freedom and safety of movement with public transport to and from beaches, leisure resorts and cultural activities. Despite Australia being portrayed as a rural country with a special "outback" image, it is a mainly urban culture with a cosmopolitan lifestyle which includes access to an exciting variety of ethnic foods and leisure activities such as restaurants, movies, shopping and sightseeing, and discos. Those living close to the coastline enjoy the casual beach lifestyle, surfing, sunbathing and sail boarding. Every city has a Chinatown and excellent markets. The cities have an open feel with extensive parks, gardens and trees. National Parks with many walks through natural bushland and picturesque views are close to the cities and easily accessible by train, bus or car. |
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