COUNTRY PROFILE: AUSTRALIA
September 2005
COUNTRY
Formal Name: Commonwealth of Australia.
Short Form: Australia.
Term for Citizen(s): Australian(s).
Capital: Canberra.
Major Cities: In order of size, the largest cities in Australia are Sydney (4.2 million), Melbourne (3.6 million), Brisbane (1.7 million), Perth (1.4 million), and Canberra (323,000).
Independence: The British colonies of Australia were federated and the Commonwealth of Australia established on January 1, 1901.
Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1); Australia Day (January 26); Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday (variable dates in March or April); ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day (April 25); Queen’s Birthday (June 13); Christmas Day (December 25); and Boxing Day (December 26).
Flag: The Australian flag is a blue rectangle with the flag of the United
Kingdom located on the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Commonwealth
Star on the lower hoist-side quadrant. The remaining half of the flag is a
representation of the Southern Cross constellation, with one small
five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars.