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Australia (Continent) Facts & Worksheets

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, but the world’s smallest continent. The British colonizers reached the continent in the late 18th century.

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Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, but the world’s smallest continent. The British colonizers reached the continent in the late 18th century. However, before that, it was inhabited by indigenous Australians for 60,000 years.

See the fact file below for more information on the Australia or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Australia worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Etymology and Background

  • The name of the continent originated from the Latin “Terra Australis” meaning southern land. It is a term used in the ancient times for a hypothetical continent in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer, gave it the name “New Holland” in 1644.
  • Matthew Flinders, an explorer, is the one responsible for spreading the name Australia.
  • In 1824, the British Admiralty came to an agreement that the continent should be called officially by the name Australia.
  • The approximate population in Australia is 25,110,100.
  • Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain on the continent at a height of 7,310 feet.
  • This continent is also the world’s largest exporter of coal.
  • The pioneer indigenous people of Australia are called “Aborigines”. Most of them reside in deserts of Australia.
  • The famous “Ayers Rock” is also found on this continent which is a large rock formation in the heart of the continent.
  • The biggest city on the continent is called Perth, which is located in Western Australia.
  • The national sport in Australia is surfing.
  • In the years 1956 and 2000, this is the country where the Olympic Games were held – particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.
  • The smallest province of the country is called Tasmania, which is located in Southeast Australia.
  • There are over 10,000 beaches in Australia which is why surfing and other water sports are very popular.
  • The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest living formation in the world.
  • The largest saltwater form in Australia is called “Lake Eyre”.
  • The largest freshwater form in Australia is called “Lake Mackay”.
  • The currency that is used in this country is the Australian Dollar which has the abbreviation AUD.
  • The current prime minister is Scott Morrison.
  • The largest cities in Australia are located in the eastern part of the country.
  • The type of government in this country is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
  • There are approximately 750 species of reptiles that reside in Australia.
  • Australian Central, Eastern, and Western standard are the three various time zones.
  • The dingo is the biggest carnivorous mammal in the country.
  • Nullarbor Links is the longest golf course in the world.
  • There are 200 languages that are spoken in Australia, including indigenous languages.
  • The outback is the name for the desert area. In this area, there are a lot of camels that wander in the wild. Because of the camels’ huge population, the government formed a governing body which is called the Feral Camel Management Program.
  • The country has a high rate of life expectancy.
  • Melbourne became the richest city in the world in the late 1800s.
  • A 3.4 billion year old fossil was found in Australia and was declared the world’s oldest fossil.
  • Australia is home to people of different cultures from 200 countries around the world.
  • The most livable city in the world is located in this country, specifically Melbourne.
  • There is a very large portion of this continent under vegetation.
  • The Canning Stock Route, which is over 2000 km in length from Halls Creek to Wiluna, is the longest and most remote stock route globally.
  • This country contains 21 of the 25 most deadliest snakes in the world.
  • Every year, there’s approximately 1.3 billion litres of wine produced in this country.
  • This country has the 13th largest economy in the world.
  • In 1606, the first sighting of Europeans, specifically the Dutch, happened when they made their landfall on the Australian coast.
  • The apex of Australia is Queen Elizabeth II, who is considered the Queen of Australia.
  • In 1942, Australia gained its independence from the United Kingdom. However, they remain part of the British Commonwealth.
  • The Aboriginal people created a long wind instrument which is called a didgeridoo.
  • The first Dutch person to set foot in Australia was a navigator named Willem Janszoon. He arrived in Australia on February 26, 1606.
  • The indigenous people of Australia developed a weapon which is called boomerang. It is primarily used for hunting.

Australia Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Australia across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Australia worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Australia which is the sixth largest country in the world, but the world’s smallest continent. The British colonizers reached the continent in the late 18th century. However, before that, it was inhabited by indigenous Australians for 60,000 years.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Australia Facts
  • Australia’s Wildlife
  • Australia’s Tourist Spots
  • Top 5 Biggest Cities in Australia
  • People in Australia
  • Flag of Australia
  • Meet the Leaders
  • Natural Wonders of Australia
  • Australia’s Man-made Wonders
  • Test your Knowledge

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Link will appear as Australia (Continent) Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 5, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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