Australia has a population of about 18.8 million people. Small, considering its size. This is probably due to the fact that most of central Australia is inhospitable. Most of the population is concentrated along the east coast where Australia's biggest and most populous cities, Sydney and Melbourne are located.

They were the only losers in the quest for the Southern Land. When Botany Bay was first settled in 1788, there were an estimated 300,000 Aborigines in Australia, with about 250 languages completely distinct from one another. In Tasmania alone, there were 8 different Aborigine tribes whose language was so different from those on the mainland, that probably one would not have understood the other.

Australia was a perfect hunting ground for European colonizers, as there was no consolidated opposition from the indigenous communities. The new arrivals saw Australia as terra nullis (a land belonging to no one), conveniently ignoring any rights that the aborigines had to it. The most tragic consequence of colonization was the complete displacement of the aborigine people from their land, from their animals and their culture. In common with all indigenous peoples, the aborigines had strong ties with nature. These were destroyed by colonization, by large-scale deforestation and the introduction of sheep and cattle completely decimated the habitats of native animals. Some tribes resorted to guerrilla tactics to drive out the settlers but were soon overcome by the breach-loading repeater rifles in the 1870s. Most aborigine tribes, culture and civilization literally became history when they were ruthlessly butchered in large numbers and the killers were seldom punished. In Tasmania, the  aborigines were completely and totally wiped out.

Things were to get worse. By the 1900s the settlers passed legislation to 'assimilate' aborigines into the mainstream of western society. It was thought that ‘Europeanisation’ would help their transition into mainstream life. It was probably the most traumatic ordeal to which they were subjected. Confined to townships, their land ownership rights and employment opportunities were severely restricted. And worst of all, in 1918 the Aborigine Ordinance allowed the State to remove children from their mothers, if it was suspected the father was not an aborigine. These children were kept in foster homes, abused at the institutions to which they were sent and not allowed to see their families - a practice that continued till the 1960s. These children are known as the Stolen Generation, and many of them have sued the State for recompense.

By the 60s, the assimilation policy was under attack. In 1967, Australians voted to give Aborigines citizenship (so far not granted right to own land!). It became incumbent upon the State to provide them with the same services, as were available to other citizens. The assimilation policy was done away with in 1972 and the policy of 'self determination' was adopted which gave aborigines the right to participate in decision-making processes by granting them land rights. But aborigines continue to live in appalling conditions. Drinking is a major problem amongst aborigine males, but many communities are now 'dry' in an effort to contain the high rate of alcoholism.

Food

Though there isn’t a purely Australian cuisine, Australia makes up for it in the range and variety of gastronomic pleasures it has assimilated along with its immigrant population. European immigrants from Italy, Germany, Greece and Yugoslavia brought their own cuisine with them as did Asian immigrant populations like the Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Lebanese. Add to these the cooking styles of the Polynesian and Melanesian communities and you have what qualifies as Pacific Rim and pan- Australian cuisine. So modern Australia offers a veritable smorgasbord of international food for the gourmet and the gourmand.

Indigenous food includes such delights as kangaroo and crocodile steaks and burgers, Wichita bugs, emu paté and wattle seed ice cream. Highlights of an Aussie trip could be fresh barramundi or seafood and the famous Australian bar-be-que. For vegetarians, it can be a bit tough in smaller places but most big cities and impotant tourist destinations do have dedicated vegetarian restaurants.

Restaurants, cafés, pubs, bistros, food halls and market stalls cater to a wide range of budgets and eating options. Most eating-places have no smoking signs, so do respect it. Restaurants not licensed to sell liquor carry BYO signs, meaning 'bring your tipple' along with you. Aussies are passionate beer drinkers and a great variety of ales, lagers and draught and light beer is available. Wines – the Aussie climate is perfect for growing, making and drinking wine; some good chardonnays and burgundies can be bought at very reasonable prices.

Culture and Crafts

Australia has a rich tradition in the arts. Its Dance and Ballet companies rank amongst the best in the world. Music - every state has its own Symphony Orchestra which perform 2500 concerts yearly, and tour Australia extensively, even going into the bush. Opera is another area where the Australians excel. They've produced some of the most famous opera singers such as June Bronhill and Dame Joan Sutherland. Sydney’s famous Opera House is a well known landmark not just in architectural terms but also for the quality and variety of performances it presents.   Pop music in Australia made its way from the UK and the USA in the 50s. Since then some Australian bands such as Midnight Oil and Skyhooks, the BeeGees and singers like Olivia Newton John and Kylie Minogue have taken Australian pop music to international success.

The Film Industry in Australia is probably one of its biggest achievements and artistic exports. An Australian film ‘Soldiers of the Cross’ is regarded as the world's first real movie. Since then, the film industry has gone from strength to strength. Film stars like Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, Judy Davis, Cate Blanchett and director Baz Luhrman are Australian. Australian movies like Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max and The Adventure of Priscilla - Queen of the Desert have been huge successes worldwide.

Australian Painting, especially Bush painting - a unique style of painting developed in the 1880s- is popular even abroad. But it is the Aboriginal Art that has captured the imagination of art lovers worldwide. The earliest Aborigine designs date back at least 30,000 years to when rock carvings, body painting and ground designs were used by the Aborigines. Early Aborigine art was based on  ancestral " Dreaming"- the 'Creation' when the earth's physical features were formed by the struggles between powerful supernatural ancestors.  Rock Paintings, Bark Paintings and Desert Paintings in the traditional style can be seen spread out all over Australia.

For the most part, Aborigine art was largely ignored until 1971, when in a town called Papunaya, north west of Alice Springs, two elders of the community painted a mural on a school wall. Others in the community were inspired to create a mural called Hone Ant Dreaming. From then on there was no stopping other communities from painting more and more, turning the event into a movement to rediscover Aborigine art.