The natioinal emblems

Did you see the flag of Australia?

What animals are symbols of Australia?

When is the Day of Australia?

The National flag of Australia is the only one to fly over the whole continent. The small Union Jack in the upper left corner represents the historical link with Britain. The large seven-pointed star represents the six states and the Territories. The small stars form the Southern Gross, the symbol of the Southern Hemisphere night sky.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR

Australians all let us rejoice.

For we are young and free;

We've golden soil and wealth for toil;

Our home is girt by sea;

Our land abounds in nature's gifts

Of beauty rich and rare;

In history's page, let every stage

Advance Australia's Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,

Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross

We'll toil hearts and hands;

To make this Commonwealth of ours

Renowned of ell the lands;

For those who've come across the seas

We've boundless plains to share;

With courage le.us all combine

To advance Australia Fair,

In joyful strains then let us sing,

Advance Australia fair.

THE COAT OF ARMS

The coat of arms of Australia was granted by King George V in 1912. On the coat of arms is a shield containing the badges of the six states. The supporters are native Australian fauna - a kangaroo and an emu. In the design there is also a yellow-flowered native plant wattle.

THE NATIONAL DAY OF AUSTRALIA

The National Day' of Australia is January 26. It marks the date hx.1788 when Captain Arthur Phil­lip, of the British Royal Navy, commanded a fleet of 11 ships and sailed into port Jackson /Sydney Cove/.

CITIES

What is the capital of Australia?

What city is said to be " the most beautiful on earth"?

Did Miklouho-Maclay live in Sydney?

CANBERRA

Canberra is the federal capital of Australia /1927/. It is also the administrative center of New South Wales. Its population is 280, 000. The city is situated in a wide valley, scat­tered wit gum trees on the both sides of the dark blue Lake Burley Griffin. The Molingo River flows through Canberra". A dam on the river forms Lake Griffin. The city was planned by an American architect. It is a " cyclist's paradise. " Canberra is home of the Australian National University and the Univ ersity of Canberra, Australian's Parliament / 1988/, a National Gallery, the National Library, the National Science and Technology Center, the High Court and the Old Parliament and Ј5 embassies.

SYDNEY

Sydney is the chief city and port of Australia, capital of NSW on Port Jackson, an inlet /l mile wide and 8 mils long/ of the Pacific. Population of Sydney is over 3, 5 million. Sidney has few thousands of aborigines. Sidney has no slums but some Aborigines live in substandard housing. The city covers 4, 700 sq. miles. Sydney is gateway to Australia. Kingsford Smith International airport is the nation's busiest. It lies in beautiful hills near 60-km wonderful beaches. The people of the capital, " Sydneysiders ", say that Sydney is the " most beautiful city on earth". It has a perfect Mediterranean Climate, and fresh sea air. Sydney is Australia's oldest city. Captain Cook stopped near here in Botany Bay in 1770.Sydney received its first shiploads of convicts, 750 men and women on January 26, 1788. Captain Phillips, the first governor chose the sit and named it for Viscount Sidney. About 1800, a farmer named John Macarthur brought the first Merino sheep to the area. This breed created wool industry and attracted many free settlers.

Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay /1846-1888/ visited Sidney in 187&. He took part in the intellectual and scientific life of the city. He established a marine biological station in Australia. He worked there for several years. He married Margaret Robertson / d.1938 / in 1848. They had 2 sons. He died in Russia at 42. On the wedding rings and on the grave of Miklouho-Maclay at his request was written " NDCDU" – Nothing but Death Can Divide Us. Miklouho-Maclay's parents were by origin from Malyn, Zhytomyr Region, Ukraine. There is a collection of his papers in Sydney. A bronze sculpture was brought to Sydney from Russia in 1996 to mark his 150^th anniversary. His grandsons live in Sydney.

Sydney also is the most modern place In Australia. Its buildings are the highest and its colours are the brightest. A lot of Australia's cultural life is found here. Artists, writers, opera singers all live here, people call the city 'the Paris of the Pacific". But Paris hasn't got such sea, sand, sun, surf and Bondi Beach to relax and have rest.

Sydney has one of the most spectacular harbours in the world where snow-white yachts sail lazily underthe Sydney Harbour Bridge. The center of Sydney consists of elegant buildings. The Centerpoint Towerstands majestically beside David Jones Department Store, " the most beautiful store in the world".

George Street, the city's main street, runs to the center of downtown side. The down town area includes high-rise buildings. Eat of the town includes Hyde-Park, the Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Parliament House. King Cross includes many nightclubs and restaurants. Hyde Park Barracks, now a museum, originally housed male convicts. An Island in Sydney Harbour is called Pinchgut because is served as a prison where it inmates often went hungry. Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Tunnel which runs under the harbour, links downtown with the suburbs. The large recreation areas are Royal National Park and Ku-Ring-Gai Chase.

Peddington is an area of beautiful houses one hundred years old near the center of Sydney. The Australians call it " Paddo". It is a good place to rive in but very expensive.

The famous Sydney Opera House / 1973/ looks like sails or waves when they break on the beach. It is set like a diamond against the blue waters. It was designed by the Danish architect J. Utson. It is one of the finest buildings built in the 1990s. The State Library owns a huge collection of books. The Art Gal­lery displays works by Australian and European artists. You can see here Tom Roberts' /1856/ picture " Bailed up" - a story of the gold-rush; Margaret Preston's /1875-1963/ " Implement Blue" /1927/ - a " still life" of shadows.

Sydney has 30 beaches, among them a surfing beach, Bondy and Manly. The Festival of Sydney begins with fireworks on January 1 and lasts the entire months. The royal Easter show, held in April, re­sembles a country fair.

Sydney is an industrial city of textiles food processing, foundries, motorcars, machinery, plastics and petrol refining. 14, 300 plants employ 1, 2 millions workers. The Sydney's exports include coal, meat, wheat and wool. To reduce pollution, Sydney built 3 outfalls; they run under the seabed up to 4 km out to sea. But water pollution remains a problem. Port Jackson id crossed by a single-span arch bridge built in 1932. Sidney has 5 universities. University of Sidney / 18, 000 students/ was founded inl850 and University of NSW in 1958.

Sidney is the host of the 27^th Olympic Games 2000. The Sidney 2000 Games, and the Paralympics Games for disabled athletes to follow enjoyed wide community support.200 countries participate. There are 27 sports on the program. The 2000 Olympic Games focus on two primary zones -Sydney Olympic Park and the Sydney Harbour Zone. Sydney Olympic park at Homebush is being built on former industrial land. It is an environmental triumph for Sydney. It will be the site of the Olympic Stadium for 110, 000 spectators and the Athletes' Village for 10, 000 sportsmen and 5, 000 team officials.

PERTH

Perth is the capital and commercial center of Western Australia. Population of Perth is over 500, 000. It lies along the Swan River near the west coast of Australia, 12 miles from the Indian Ocean. It is called 'Australia's front door to Europe". Perth is sunny and cosy city.

Perth was founded in 1829 by James Stirling, a British naval officer. The city grew rapidly after settlers discovered gold. Mining discovery in the 1960s led to further growth. The business center is on the north bank of the river. King's Park includes area of vegetation /405 hectares/ known as bush. It takes time to go up the hill where King's park is. You will see a beautiful panorama of the city: green sports fields, the beautiful Narrows Bridge and lazy curves of the Swan River dotted with black swans. The black swan is the only species of swan native to Australia.

Perth has a warm sunny climate. Boat and swimming are very popular. Perth is the home of a mu­seum, an art gallery and reference library. A major casino complex was opened in 1985.The industrial plants are far from the center of the city. The main industries include motorcars, food processing, building materials, and light manufactures. Refineries process bauxite, nickel, and oil. Tourism is also an important economic activity. State University of Western Australia near Perth was opened in 1911.

BRISBANE

Brisbane is the capital, the chief port and commercial center of Queensland. Its population is over 1, 300, 000. It is situated on the Brisbane River near Moreton Bay. Brisbane has a mild sub-tropical climate with a warm summer and a mild winter. It is a " Holiday City".

In 1823, the British explorer John Oxley became the first European to reach the area. It was first settled as a penal station in 1824 established by Sir Thomas Brisbane, governor of NSW. The town was named for him. Brisbane became the capital in 1859.

Several dams were built to control floods. In 1974, a flood damaged 14, 000 houses. The fair was part of Australia's 200 celebration. An attractive park was developed on the fair ground. The best way to enjoy the view of the city is from the top of the mount Coot-tha, seven miles from the City Hall. The Brisbane or " Brissy's" style is " no style". There are many fine building, both old and new. The Brisbane River gives character to the city. Never were there such serpentine curves. The river is big enough to allow big ocean going ships to berth right in the city.

Among the showplaces of the city are the Observatory, originally built by convict labour in 1829 as a mill; Parliament House, a fine example of French Renaissance architecture. Centenary Pool overlook­ing the lovely Victoria Park. There are colourful parks and gardens in the city. The Botanical Gardens are near the center of Brisbane. The Garden City of Toowoomba is famous for its annual Carnival of Flowers. Brisbane is the home of 3 Universities: Queensland University was founded in 1911.

MELBOURNE

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria. Its area is 714 sq. miles and population over 3 million. Most of Melbourne families own houses. Downtown Melbourne is on the northern shore of Port Phillip Bay. The Yarra River runs through Melbourne. The city enjoys winter cool nights, delightful sprig and autumn, and arm summer. January and February are the hottest months in Melbourne /25C, water 21, 5C/.

John Batsman, a farmer from Tasmania bought 240, 000 hectares from the aborigines and paid them with blankets and tomahawks. The city was named after William Melbourne /1779-1845/, British Whig statesman and Prime Minister in 1835-41. He was the leading adviser of the young queen Victoria.

Melbourne is a multi-cultural city. It is home to many cultural groups speaking 170 languages. The city has one of the largest Greek and Italian populations in the world.

Melbourne is the Culture Capital of Australia.

It is a little old-fashioned city with beautiful parks and gardens and some fine old buildings, Important buildings include the State Library of Victoria and Parliament House. The Victorian Arts Center co mpleted in 1884 includes facilities for concerts and plays. The National Gallery of Victoria /1861/, an art museum, is part of the Victorian Arts Center. The Center was opened in 1982 and is known for its webbed steel spire. The tower observation deck gives a panoramic view of Melbourne. The Center houses the Melbourne Concert Hall and three theatres seating about 6, 000 people with a revolving stage for opera.

The Melbourne Zoo /1857/ is one of the oldest in the world. It is a home to 3, 000 animals.

Several parks surround the city. Melbourne has an extensive public transportation system. The city Circle Tram runs every 10 minutes and the conductor points put the most interesting sights in Melbourne. The Melbourne Cup, a famous horse race, fakes place yearly at Flemington Race Course. In 1956, Olympic Games were held in Melbourne.

Melbourne is a seaport and a trading center of wool and livestock. The main industries of the city are engineering, food processing and textiles. Melbourne is a major commercial center. Port Melbourne serves ocean -going vessels. The Melbourne area has an international airport Tullamarine. The Melbourne area is the home of La Trobe University, Monash University and some colleges.

In 1956 the Olympic games were held in Melbourne. They became known as friendly Games.

HOBART

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania. Is population is over 182, 000. It lies on the Derwent River 12 miles from the sea. The city was founded in 1804 by David Collins. It was a major center for Antarctic balers. It is a trade and export center of iron, timber and textiles. Modern factories in the city produce cement, paper pulp, textiles, candy and metal products. Two multilane bridges link the western and east-shores of the Derwent River. Hobart is the home of the University of Tasmania /1890/ and scientific research laboratories.

ADELAIDE

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia and " Athens of the South" is situated on the Torrens ver. Population of Adelaide is over 1, 000, 000. Port Adelaide is 7 miles away.

Adelaide was first settled by Europeans in 1836. Colonel William Light completed the plan of the city in 1837.The city was named for Queen Adelaide, whose husband, William IV, ruled Britain from 1830 1837.

Adelaide is the most symmetrically laid out of Australian capitals. It is a very neat city. There is a beautiful strip parkland in Adelaide. The best view of Adelaide is from the top of the mount. The Mount Lofty Rangers rises east of the city. Adelaide has warm dry summers and cool moist winters.

The city became a center of agricultural and mining activity. Manufacturing is the chief city's activity. Products include home hold appliances, motovehicles, and electric goods. It exports wheat, wool, and copper ore. The industries of the city include production of wool, leather, iron, and earthenware goods. Adelaide is the home of the University of Adelaide founded in 1874 and 5 colleges.

DARWIN

Darwin is the capital and the port of NT, It has population over 79, 000. It lies along Australia's northern coast on the Beagle Gulf. It is the home Australian television and radio services that broadcast to Southeast Asia. Darwin has a large military base. Darwin, originally called Palmerston, was established in 1869. In 1911, the city was renamed in honour of Charles Darwin /1809-82, English naturalist who on the vessel Beagle sailed round the world in 1831-36. The city became the first station in Australia on a telegraph line that combined Australia with Europe. In 1974, a cyclone destroyed most of the city. The city was rebuilt during the 1970s.