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|caption=Relief map of Australia |
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|text=The '''[[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]]''' is a country in the [[southern hemisphere]] comprising the world's smallest continent and a number of islands, the largest of which is [[Tasmania]]. Australia has been inhabited for about 50,000 years by [[Australian Aborigine|Aboriginal]] and [[Torres Strait Islander]] peoples. Eastern Australia was claimed by the [[United Kingdom|British]] in [[1770]], and officially settled as a British [[penal colony]] on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, six largely self-governing [[Crown Colony|Crown Colonies]] were established within Australia over the course of the 19th century. On 1 January 1901 the six colonies [[Federation of Australia|federated]] and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since federation, Australia has had a stable [[liberal democracy|liberal democratic]] political system and remains a [[Commonwealth Realm]]. Australia currently has a population of about 20.5 million, concentrated mainly in the coastal cities of [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Adelaide]] and [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]. |
|text=The '''[[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]]''' is a country in the [[southern hemisphere]] comprising the world's smallest continent and a number of islands, the largest of which is [[Tasmania]]. Australia has been inhabited for about 50,000 years by [[Australian Aborigine|Aboriginal]] and [[Torres Strait Islander]] peoples. Eastern Australia was claimed by the [[United Kingdom|British]] in [[1770]], and officially settled as a British [[penal colony]] on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, six largely self-governing [[Crown Colony|Crown Colonies]] were established within Australia over the course of the 19th century. On 1 January 1901 the six colonies [[Federation of Australia|federated]] and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since federation, Australia has had a stable [[liberal democracy|liberal democratic]] political system and remains a [[Commonwealth Realm]]. Australia currently has a population of about 20.5 million, concentrated mainly in the coastal cities of [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Adelaide]] and [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]. |
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Revision as of 23:45, 1 January 2013
The Commonwealth of Australia is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the world's smallest continent and a number of islands, the largest of which is Tasmania. Australia has been inhabited for about 50,000 years by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Eastern Australia was claimed by the British in 1770, and officially settled as a British penal colony on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, six largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established within Australia over the course of the 19th century. On 1 January 1901 the six colonies federated and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since federation, Australia has had a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth Realm. Australia currently has a population of about 20.5 million, concentrated mainly in the coastal cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.