Australia National Symbols

Australian Flags

The Australian National flag, the Australian Aboriginal people flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag and the Australian Defence Force flag are all proclaimed flags of Australia.

National Anthem

The Australian National Anthem, 'Advance Australia Fair', was declared the national anthem in 1984. It is a revised version of a song written by Peter Dodds McCormick (also known as Amicus) in the late 1900s.

Commonwealth Coat of Arms

The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is the formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and its ownership and authority.

Floral Emblems of Australia

- Commonwealth of Australia - Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha)
- Australian Capital Territory - Royal Bluebell - (Wahlenbergia gloriosa)
- New South Wales - Waratah - (Telopea speciosissima)
- Northern Territory - Sturt's Desert Rose - (Gossypium sturtianum)
- Queensland - Cooktown Orchid - (Dendrobium phalaenopsis)
- South Australia - Sturt's Desert Pea - (Swainsona formosa)
- Tasmania - Tasmanian Blue Gum - (Eucalyptus globulus)
- Victoria - Common Heath - (Epacris impressa)
- Western Australia - Red and Green Kangaroo Paw - (Anigozanthos manglesii)

National Colours

Green and gold were proclaimed Australia's national colours by the Governor-General in 1984.
Source : Australian Government

Australia Celebrates National Day

Australians are celebrating their national day amid tight security due to fears of further race riots.

The day began with a traditional Aboriginal dance in a Sydney park. Thousands are expected to converge on the city's beaches by the evening.

More than 1,000 extra police are on duty to prevent a repeat of the clashes between young white men and those of Middle Eastern appearance in December.

But so far there have been no reports of unrest.

The Australia Day holiday was marked by ceremonies and parties, commemorating the arrival of the first British settlers in 1788.

More than 600 people were recognised in this year's Australia Day Honours list, including actress Nicole Kidman.

But Sydney authorities are also spending the day on alert for a possible repeat of December's riots.

Protest fear

Ahead of the celebrations there were reports of a planned protest by a far-right group on North Cronulla Beach, the main focal point of last month's unrest.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in a nationally televised address on Tuesday that the racial clashes had brought "shame on all involved".

"Australians, whatever their background, deserve to be treated with tolerance and with respect," he said.

The 11 December violence started when white men attacked people of Arabic and Mediterranean background on Cronulla Beach in revenge for an attack on two lifeguards.

Apparently in retaliation for the violence, groups described by police as having "Middle Eastern or Mediterranean" appearance were involved in two subsequent nights of violence and vandalism.

The riots shocked many people in Sydney, which prides itself on being a multicultural city.
Source : BBC NEWS

Information about Koala, Australia

Australia is the only country in the world where wild koalas are found. They live in the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The map shows where koalas used to live at the time of European settlement in 1788, and where they are found today

Koalas do not harm anyone. They live in our backyards. It's up to us to keep them alive and healthy in the bush. The koala is Australia’s living icon.

Living with Koalas

Koalas in the wild face a series of threats to their continued survival. A major threat is the continuing urbanisation of their habitat and associated threats like cars and dogs. Over 4,000 koalas are killed each year by dogs and cars alone. In addition, stress caused by the loss of their habitat causes symptoms of diseases like chlamydia. Approximately 80% of original koala habitat has already been destroyed. This has forced koalas to live alongside people in urban areas, and means that property owners have a special responsibility to take the particular needs of koalas into consideration in their lifestyle.

Because most koala habitat is on private land, people living in areas with koalas can have a great influence on whether koala populations in their area survive or become extinct. It is their responsibility, along with government at all levels, to assist in preserving this precious resource. Because much of the koala’s habitat is zoned residential, or is in farming areas, their future is largely dependent upon the attitude of property owners.

Get more information about Koala, Australia

Other Animals in Australia

- Australia's kangaroos
Kangaroos are native to the Australian continent and to parts of Papua New Guinea. Most species are only found in Australia.

Opera House nominated for World Heritage listing

The Federal and New South Wales Governments have nominated Sydney's Opera House for World Heritage listing.

The governments have signed a joint nomination that will be sent to the World Heritage Centre in Paris, pending a decision mid next year.

New South Wales Minister for Arts and Environment Bob Debus says if the nomination is successful the Opera House will be the state's first building to join the list.

"Our nomination argues that the Sydney Opera House is an outstanding conjunction of architecture and engineering, a turning point in the modern architectural movement, an exceptional engineering feat."

Source : ABC NEWS ONLINE