When we think of Australia we tend to think of sunshine, golden beaches and friendly, down to earth people. Whilst this is all true of course, Australia is much more than that. It's a vibrant and enterprising country full of small and large wonders. There are many facts about Australia unknown to many people, including many Australians. Here follows a list of interesting and little known facts about Australia.
* Australia has the world's largest population of wild camels and exports them to Arab countries
* In 1906 Australia produced the world's first ever feature film - "The Story of the Kelly Gang". After WWI film making slowed down in Australia and America took over
* "The Wiggles" are the highest earning entertainers in Australia
* Australian citizenship did not exist in law until 1949. Prior to that anyone born in Australia was a British subject and had a British passport. Mass immigration to Australia took place after WWII which saw a huge influx of Europeans.
* The Black Box flight recorder was invented in Australia in 1958
* Australians read more magazines per capita than any other nation in the world. One of the most comprehensive newsagents in Australia is Humphrey's located in Manly, NSW.
* The Sydney Funnel Web Spider is one of the world's deadliest. It's fangs can penetrate through gloves and fingernails and can kill a human in less than two hours There has not been a fatality since anti venom was introduced in 1981.
* There are over 200 languages spoken in Australian homes; the common after English being Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic and Mandarin.
* Australia is a leader in wine production and is the main supplier of wine to the UK, having overtaken France in the 1990s.
* The wine cask was invented in Australia in 1965
* The dual flush toilet system was invented in Australia in 1980
* The Australian Alps are commonly known as the Snowy Mountains and receive more snowfall annually than the Swiss Alps.
* There are over 1500 species of Australia spiders
* The Australian Coat of Arms feature the kangaroo and emu. These Australian animals are unique in that they are incapable of walking backwards and signify Australia to always look forward and never look back.
* Australia's island state Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world
* In 1926 New South Wales became the first government in the world to pay pensions to women
* Australia is the only continent in the world without an active volcano
* Koalas are nocturnal and spend between 16-18 sleeping per day
* Australia produces 95% of the world's opals
* Australia has the largest homes in the developed world
* 70% of people own their home in Australia
* Australia has the world's largest population of wild camels and exports them to Arab countries
* In 1906 Australia produced the world's first ever feature film - "The Story of the Kelly Gang". After WWI film making slowed down in Australia and America took over
* "The Wiggles" are the highest earning entertainers in Australia
* Australian citizenship did not exist in law until 1949. Prior to that anyone born in Australia was a British subject and had a British passport. Mass immigration to Australia took place after WWII which saw a huge influx of Europeans.
* The Black Box flight recorder was invented in Australia in 1958
* Australians read more magazines per capita than any other nation in the world. One of the most comprehensive newsagents in Australia is Humphrey's located in Manly, NSW.
* The Sydney Funnel Web Spider is one of the world's deadliest. It's fangs can penetrate through gloves and fingernails and can kill a human in less than two hours There has not been a fatality since anti venom was introduced in 1981.
* There are over 200 languages spoken in Australian homes; the common after English being Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic and Mandarin.
* Australia is a leader in wine production and is the main supplier of wine to the UK, having overtaken France in the 1990s.
* The wine cask was invented in Australia in 1965
* The dual flush toilet system was invented in Australia in 1980
* The Australian Alps are commonly known as the Snowy Mountains and receive more snowfall annually than the Swiss Alps.
* There are over 1500 species of Australia spiders
* The Australian Coat of Arms feature the kangaroo and emu. These Australian animals are unique in that they are incapable of walking backwards and signify Australia to always look forward and never look back.
* Australia's island state Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world
* In 1926 New South Wales became the first government in the world to pay pensions to women
* Australia is the only continent in the world without an active volcano
* Koalas are nocturnal and spend between 16-18 sleeping per day
* Australia produces 95% of the world's opals
* Australia has the largest homes in the developed world
* 70% of people own their home in Australia
