This Southern Cross flag was based on earlier designs used in the Australian colonies. It was used as the battle flag of the Eureka Stockade in 1854. Captain Charles Ross of Toronto, Canada is said to be the designer of this flag. The rebellion was led by Peter Lalor who in later, life became Speaker of the Parliament of Victoria. Trooper John King retained a portion of the flag after the miners’ stockade was over-run on 3 December, 1854 and this remained in the King family’s possession until 1895. Today the remnants of the design are on display at the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery in Victoria.
Australia
Australia: The Land Where Time Began
What to expect when you stay at YHA Australia in 2025
Travel responsibly with YHA
Trip inspiration & tips YHA
6 great mountains to hike in Australia
7 MUSIC FESTIVALS WORTH TRAVELLING INTERSTATE FOR
10 FOOD EXPERIENCES YOU CAN’T MISS IN AUSTRALIA
10 cheap, easy & healthy meals you can whip up anywhere
11 AWESOME ADRENALINE RUSHES AROUND AUSTRALIA
THE 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TACKLING AN OUTBACK ROAD TRIP
20 must-do backpacker experiences in Australia
Top 10 Indigenous bush medicines
When Aboriginal people did fall sick, they used plants in a variety of ways to quell their ills. Some plants, like goat’s foot, were crushed, heated and applied to the skin. Others were boiled and inhaled, and occasionally drunk. There were also saps which were directly smeared on the skin, and barks that were smoked or burned.
ABORIGINAL ART – VISIT Brands
proudly supports the Indigenous Art Code ensuring fair and ethical trade in Australian Aboriginal Artwork. Royalties from the sale of licensed products go directly to TOBWABBA ART and benefit the Worimi community.
OZ ABORIGINAL
was formed in 1992. Initially located in a warehouse that was primarily used for the distribution of Indigenous products, the organisation began to grow as new skills were learnt and a clear identity was formed. Local Indigenous artists joined the organisation that did traditional painting on artefacts, canvas and giftware. OzAboriginal, provides meaningful employment to local artists whilst allowing them the opportunities to develop their own artistic and commercial profile.
ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Australia’s best coastal walks
Australia’s best food and drink festivals
AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST IN 30 DAYS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
AUSTRALIAN FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVALS WORTH TRAVELLING FOR
BEST PLACES TO LEARN TO SURF
BROADSHEET
The Best Diving and Snorkelling Spots in Australia
The solo traveller’s guide to Australia
TIME FOR AN ADVENTURE!
WEIRD and WONDERFUL NATURAL PHENOMENA in AUSTRALIA
WHAT TO DO IN AUSTRALIA IN WINTER
WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN AUSTRALIA
Introducing the World Heritage Sites of Australia (2nd edition)
STILL OUR COUNTRY
We Yolngu, we are proud of our culture, of who we are. Our culture makes us strong. We Yolngu, we belong to our country and our country belongs to us. Our country makes us strong.
Sydney 1940
Paul Hogan – shrimp on the BBQ ad
John Collinson singing Waltzing Matilda around 1930
Answer to Waltzing Matilda Mystery Found in Broome, Western Australia
ABC Arts: Girt by Sea, An Archival History of the Australian Coast
Recently overseas friends have been asking about travel info for Australia and for your interest I have put some general info here:
YHA – HOW WE’RE MAKING YOUR STAY MORE SUSTAINABLE
HOW DOES THE AUSTRALIAN WALKING TRACK GRADING SYSTEM WORK?
TEN CHEAP, EASY AND HEALTHY MEALS YOU CAN WHIP UP IN A HOSTEL KITCHEN
You don’t have to be a MasterChef contestant to knock up these budget meals for two.
MONUMENT AUSTRALIA website is a historical and educational research site which records the public monuments and memorials in all Australian States and Territories under various themes. These public monuments and memorials were erected by a public desire to commemorate people or events.
An Interesting Web Page FIND MY AUSTRALIA
Interesting information about Australia on All Down Under
Car Rentals – economy car rentals
SUMMER OUTDOOR CINEMAS 2017-2018
There are a few visual cues that mark the beginning of summer in Australia. Jacarandas blossoming on suburban streets. Cricket replacing footy on local ovals. Backpackers sunburning on crowded beaches. And big screens popping up in parks and on rooftops around the country, preparing for another summer of outdoor cinema. Because what better way to spend a balmy evening than under the stars watching your favourite flick?
The world’s longest golf course:
As if golf didn’t take long enough to complete as it is, Australians have created a course that takes four days to play. Stretching 1365 kilometres from Ceduna in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in the West, the Nullarbor Links is a great way to break up the tedious journey on the long drive across the desert heartland of Australia.
Though it’s forbidden to get too close to whales, special permission has been granted to a number of tour operators on the Great Barrier Reef. Passive diving, in which the whales are the ones who need to initiate contact, allows you to get up close to majestic giants of the sea. If you’re lucky, you can be just metres away. The Minke Whale Project
View the oldest living organisms on Earth:
Did you know that Australia is home to the oldest living organism on the planet? The stromatolites in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area are estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, and provide a unique insight into the origins of life.
Travel on the longest stretch of straight rail:
The Indian Pacific travels from east to west on the longest straight stretch of railway track, coming in at a massive 478 kilometres in length. On the journey you’ll get to experience the magic of our great southern land, all in air-conditioned comfort.
Visit the world’s largest sand island:
A must-see on the route around Australia, Fraser Island the world’s largest sand island – comprised of sand that has accumulated over 750,000 years. It’s home to over 100 freshwater lakes, and dunes that reach up to 260 metres above sea level.
Travel down a horizontal waterfall:
The Horizontal Falls, also known as the Horries, is a natural phenomenon in the Kimberley region of WA. Despite the name it’s not actually a waterfall, but rather a fast moving tidal flow between two narrow, closely aligned gorges. Still, we think it looks pretty spectacular and should be a must see on any Kimberley itinerary.
Drive around the world’s smallest continent:
Coming in at more than 24,000 kilometres, Highway 1 is the world’s longest national highway and allows you to circumnavigate Australia. Though we’re often called the world’s largest island, the jury is out on this claim as technically Australia is a continent and not an island. Either way, Australia still makes for an epic road trip.
AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST IN 30 DAYS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
We know the east coast is where it’s at when it comes to iconic Australia – pristine white sand beaches, jaw-dropping coral reefs and dense, lush rainforests are just a few of the many things you can find along the way. If you’ve been wondering where on earth to start your dream trip, what to see along the way and where to rest your sleepy head after all your adventure-filled days, YHA’s got you sorted.
Discover some of Australia’s hidden gems. Turn your road trip into an experience you’ll always remember, with adrenaline pumping adventures, amazing food stops for a classic pub feed, and locations so beautiful they’ll keep you mesmerised. For a road trip large or small, pack the car and let’s go!
10 BEST AUSSIE TOWNS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
The big city is dazzling, but there’s nothing quite like spending some time in a small town. The air is fresh, the locals are friendly and welcoming and there are endless unforgettable experiences to be had that should attract hordes of tourists, but don’t. When you take the road less travelled, you can swim alongside the world’s biggest fish species, fly across the treetops in a lush rainforest and eat some of the best and freshest food in the country. Here are the 10 best Australian towns you’ve never heard of, but should most definitely consider visiting.
Drink among the world’s oldest grape vines
With travel to and from Europe taking a ridiculously long time, grape vines were brought to Australia on the First Fleet. The first plantings were in the Hunter Valley around 1830. In the 1860’s, a grape root louse called Phylloxera wiped Europe’s vineyards. As a result, Australia possesses the oldest on-root vines in the world.
Hessel Gerritsz, Map of the Pacific, 1622
Dutch navigator William Jansz in the Duyfken explored the est coast of Cape York in 1606, not realising that this was the Australian mainland.
Endeavour beached at Endeavour River for repairs after her grounding on the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. By Johann Fritzsch, published 1786.
Captain Cook Claims Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1770 (1886): a wood engraving depicting Cook proclaiming NSW a British possession from Picturesque Atlas of Australasia Vol I by Andrew Garran. Photograph: Print Collector/Getty Images.
The first fleet had 11 ships carrying around 1470 souls. Enters Sydney Harbour, January 26, 1788. http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/history-5-first.html
National Colonial Flag for Australia (8123-4) The Southern Cross featured on this first attempt by Captains Bingle and Nicholson to create a natinal flag.
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- Australia’s first £1 note found after 80 years at the National Library of Australia. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-05/first-one-pound-note/6446036
THE first banknotes to circulate in the colonial days in Australia were issued by private banks. The Bank of New South Wales was the first after Governor Macquarie decided to form the financial institution. This week’s image is a genuine Bank of New South Wales five-pound note that was issued on October 6, 1866, just one of a series of denominations issued by the bank.
The holey dollar was created to address a shortage of coins in the new colony. Governor Lachlan Macquarie imported 40,000 Spanish reales in 1812 and had convicted forger William Henshall cut the centre out of each, to double the number of available coins. The coins were counterstamped and the outer ring became known as the holey dollar, with the centre renamed the dump.
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- Tom Roberts Bourke Street West 1886
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- Tom Roberts The Opening of the First Federal Parliament 1901
Tom Roberts “Shearing the Rams” https://www.directartaustralia.com.au/news/art-of-tom-roberts-at-the-national-gallery-of-australia-paintings-prints/
Australian Folk Songs Click go the Shears
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- Grace Cossington Smith “Reinforcements: troops marching” https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/OA5.1967/
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- George Lambert “A sergeant of light horse” https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/5822/
The Squatter’s Daughter (1933)
THE STAR THEATRE, GLOUCESTER https://midcoaststories.com/2019/03/the-star-theatre-gloucester/
Sydney Harbour Bridge | Work commenced on the great coathanger in 1923 and was completed in March, 1932. The main span is 503m long. https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/sydney-harbour-bridge-opens
Hinkler, Herbert John (Bert) (1892–1933) http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hinkler-herbert-john-bert-6680
Lord Howard Walter Florey https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1945/florey/biographical/
TV and Melbourne Olympics
1956: Television introduced in time for Australia’s first Olympic Games, Melbourne. ‘Good evening and welcome to television.’ These were the first words spoken on Australian television by Bruce Gyngell on 16 September 1956.
1966: Switch to decimal currency
On Valentine’s Day 1966 Australians woke to a brand-new currency. The decision to change from the Australian pound (with its awkward shillings and pence) to a decimal currency — the Australian dollar — had been a pragmatic, economic one. Yet decimalisation became an opportunity for Australia to assert itself as an increasingly self-assured and forward-thinking country.
Therese O'Leary 
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