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|image=Reliefmap of Australia.png |
|image=Reliefmap of Australia.png |
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|caption=Relief map of Australia |
|caption=Relief map of Australia |
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|text=The '''[[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]]''' is a country in the [[southern hemisphere]] |
|text=The '''[[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]]''' is a country in the [[Oceania]] region of the [[southern hemisphere]], comprised of the [[Australia (continent)|world's smallest continent]], the island of [[Tasmania]], and over eight thousand [[list of islands of Australia|smaller islands]]. It is the world's [[List of countries and dependencies by area|sixth-largest country by total area]]. 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]] in 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 that functions as a [[Federalism|federal]] [[parliamentary democracy]] and [[constitutional monarchy]], and remains a [[Commonwealth Realm]]. Australia currently has a population of about 20 million, concentrated mainly in the coastal cities of [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Adelaide]] and [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]. A highly [[developed country]] and one of the wealthiest, Australia is the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|world's 12th-largest economy]] and has the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|fifth-highest per capita income]]. |
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Revision as of 17:29, 6 April 2013
The Commonwealth of Australia is a country in the Oceania region of the southern hemisphere, comprised of the world's smallest continent, the island of Tasmania, and over eight thousand smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. 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 in 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 that functions as a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, and remains a Commonwealth Realm. Australia currently has a population of about 20 million, concentrated mainly in the coastal cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. A highly developed country and one of the wealthiest, Australia is the world's 12th-largest economy and has the world's fifth-highest per capita income.