Australia, the "Land Down Under" include six states, two mainland territories and a few island territories. It's a fascinating land with many geographical definition.

It's the 6th largest country in the world. But, depending on your school of geography, Autralia is either a separated continent, or it's the largest island on the planet and the largest part of the smallest continent, that of course being Oceania.

The six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's

Population
19,978,100

Capital City
Canberra

Languages
English, native dialects

Official Currency
Australian Dollar

Religion
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)

Climate
Above the Tropic of Capricorn (in the north), conditions are mostly tropical with we condition in the summer and dry conditions in the winter. In the south, below the Tropic of Capricorn weather conditions are temperate and include the four seasons. Australia's seasons are just the opposit of those in the Northern Hemisphere, as Spring is (September - November). Summer is (December - February), Fall is (March - May) and Winter is (June - August.)

National Overseer
Dennis Casey

Ministry Stats