Facts about Australia

1. Australia´s six states are Victoria, New South Waler, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Australia has a coastline of 36,735. 2. Australia is one of the world`s most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the populeation living in the 10 largest 3. Australia is the only nation that occupies a continent. With an area of 7,682,300 square kilometres 4. European settlement of Australia began in 1788, when a British colony was founded on the east coast of Australia. 5. In 1901 Australia became ab independent nation and the first national government was elected 6. In 1606, Spanish navigator luis Vaez de Torres sailed through the strait which now bears his name. In the same year a Dutch ship at Cape York made the first authenticated landing in Australia 7. On 13 May 1787, a fleet of 11 ships sailed from England. They reached Bontany Bay on 18 January 1788, with 1530 people. 736 of them were convicts. 8. 9. Australia´s national day is on 26 January. It´s connected with the following history event. In 1788, Captain Arthur of the British Royal Navy, commanding a fleet of 11 ships, arrived in Port Jackson or (Sydney Cove). He took over of the eastern part and founded the Sydney settlement. Now Sydney is the largest city in Australia.