Australia is the oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent. It is not just one big island; there are more than 8,000 islands within its borders! The vast mainland includes a wide variety of landscapes and climates; the outback desert in the center, tropical rainforests in the northeast, tropical savannas in the north, and mountain ranges in the southeast. Most of the population lives along the temperate southeastern coastline. Canberra is the nation's capital, but the financial center is Sydney. Australia is surrounded by three oceans: Indian, Pacific, and Southern.
The aboriginal population was first to inhabit the country 30,000 years ago. European discovery and settlement began in 1770. Gold was discovered in the 1850s, which attracted people from all over the world. Today, Australia is ethnically diverse and multicultural. The nation is part of the British commonwealth, which is reflected in the naming of things, and by driving on the left side of the road. Australia ranks amongst the highest in the world for quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights.
Melbourne ("Melbin") is the capital of the state of Victoria. It is located on Port Phillip Bay on the southeast coast. The sprawling city is slightly smaller than Sydney (population 5 million), but growing fast. Melbourne is a cultural hub for art, food, and sport, but Sydney is more expensive and has better beaches and weather. Sydney is similar to LA, whereas Melbourne is akin to a European city.
