X-Nico

47 unusual facts about Australia


2009 Claxton Shield team rosters

The 2009 Claxton Shield was the 56th edition of the premier baseball competition in Australia, contested between teams representing the five mainland states: New South Wales Patriots, Queensland Rams, defending champions Perth Heat (representing the state of Western Australia), South Australia and Victoria Aces.

2009 Dunlop Townsville 400

It contained Rounds 11 and 12 of the series and was held on the weekend of 11–12 July at Townsville Street Circuit, in Townsville in Queensland, Australia.

2009 Skycity Triple Crown

It contained Rounds 9 and 10 of the series and was held on the weekend of 19–21 June at Hidden Valley Raceway, in Darwin, in the Northern Territory, Australia.

Alex Karbouris discography

The discography of Alex Karbouris, an Australian DJ/Producer, consists of 16 compilation albums, 96 singles and a number of other remix & production appearances.

All Red Line

Australia was linked to British telegraph cables directly in 1870, by extending a line from Singapore to Port Darwin, although it ran through the Dutch territory of Java.

Architecture of Australia

Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect who played a key role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city.

Arthur Bryant Triggs

In 1887 Arthur immigrated to Australia, becoming a wealthy New South Wales grazier (known as The Sheep King) and collector of art, books and coins....

Australia-Asia Literary Award

Australia-Asia Literary Award (AALA) was an initiative of the Government of Western Australia Department of Culture and the Arts.

Australia.gov.au

In March 2006, Australia.gov.au was awarded "Best Government Site" by Australian NetGuide.

Australia's First Families of Wine

Some industry commentators lay the blame for this negative opinion on the giant, publicly listed multinational corporations, such as Constellation Wines and Foster's, which have dominated the industry for years and concentrated on the cheap commodity end of the market rather than building the reputation of Australia's finer, regionally distinctive wines.

Australia's Funniest Home Videos

Other features include the introduction of the "Taped Crusader" character, and a videotaped message from former host Catriona Rowntree which paid tribute to inaugural presenter Graham Kennedy before he passed away in 2005.

Bill Pratney

He took up racing again in his 70s and his last big ride was a 330 km ride in Australia at the age of 86.

Bodyrox

"Yeah Yeah" reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart, also charting in a number of other countries including the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia

Dale Buggins

Dale Charles Buggins (1961-1981) was an Australian stunt motorcyclist who had built a national and international reputation by the age of 20.

Darwin Symphony Orchestra

The Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an orchestra based in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, founded by Martin Jarvis.

David Edward Lewis

Lewis migrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 1890; opening a drapery shop in 1902 which became a successful business.

Deputy prime minister

The states of Australia and provinces of Canada each have the analogous office of deputy premier.

Edna Jessop

Edna Jessop (10 October 1926 – 15 September 2007) was Australia's first female to lead a droving team.

Ethnography at the British Museum

From 1970 to 2004 the Department of Ethnography of the British Museum was housed at 6 Burlington Gardens, displaying collections from the Americas, Africa, the Pacific and Australia, as well as tribal Asia and Europe.

Garfield North, Victoria

Garfield North is a bounded rural locality in Victoria, Australia.

Harvey, Western Australia

In 2010, Harvey gained national attention when 19 year-old Jessica Moloney became a finalist in the popular Fox8 show Australia's Next Top Model.

Leichhardt Espresso Chorus

In 2008 LEC was awarded the Best Community Outreach award in the inaugural Music in Communities Awards by the Music Council of Australia.

Leigh Robert Davis

Davis was born in Raetihi, completed an M.A. Honours degree in English at Auckland University (including a thesis on the poetry of Allen Curnow), then studied Commerce subjects towards an M.B.A. at Victoria University.

M. Chinnaswamy

He was the treasurer and second official to the Indian tour of Australia in 1967-68 and as the manager when Australia returned the visit two years later.

Machinery of government

According to KPMG, section 35(1) of the Western Australian Public Sector Act 1994, the Governor of Western Australia may establish, amalgamate or abolish government departments on the recommendation of the Public Service Commissioner.

According to KPMG, in South Australia the Governor may establish, alter and abolish government departments under powers provided in section 26 of the Public Service Act 2009.

At the Commonwealth Government level, Administrative Arrangements Orders (AAOs) are made by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister formally allocating executive responsibility among ministers.

My Best Friend Is a Vampire

This movie was released under the title I was a Teenage Vampire in Australia.

Naazmi Johnston

Johnston was a participate on the show Australia's Got Talent with a group called Meriden Rhythmix, they performed routines of rhythmic gymnastics and made it to the semi-finals before being eliminated.

Nar Nar Goon North, Victoria

Nar Nar Goon North is a bounded rural locality in Victoria, Australia.

OET

Occupational English Test, a test for health professionals wishing to work or study in Australia.

Paul Vinar

Vinar was born in Czechoslovakia, and moved to Geelong in Australia with his mother and four brothers after his father was killed in World War II.

Percy Douglas, 10th Marquess of Queensberry

He went as a gold prospector to Kalgoorlie, Australia, during the gold rush beginning in 1893, and later managed a road house in Canada.

Pobjie

Pobjie is a surname, popular in Australia.

Quadripartite Agreement

Quadripartite Agreement (1947) was a secret pact signed by Britain, the United States, Canada, and Australia as a follow on from World War II cooperation on intelligence matters.

Rolling Through This World

Rolling Through This World is the title of a collaborative album between American guitarist Bob Brozman and Australian guitarist Jeff Lang, released in 2002.

Sandy Gandhi

On 4 February 2009 she appeared on the Australian Channel Seven Network's "Australia's Got Talent" program.

Select Vacancy

Select Vacancy is the debut Album by the Australian Alternative rock artist Lisa Maxwell, released in 2006 by Essential Music Australia.

Skin cancer

Australia and New Zealand exhibit one of the highest rates of skin cancer incidence in the world, almost four times the rates registered in the United States, the UK and Canada.

Socialism with no doctrine

"Socialism with no doctrine" (Socialisme sans doctrine) is a phrase coined by Albert Métin based on his observation of the experiments in labour and economic regulation by the nonsocialist governments of Australia and New Zealand that Métin described as effectively being a form of state socialism though these policies did not contain any reference recognizing socialist theory.

Somewhere Down the Barrel

"Somewhere Down the Barrel" is the debut single by Australian pop rock band The Dissociatives, from their album of the same name, released in 2004.

Sydney Victor Colville

He was one of the first amateur radio operators in Australia.

Theo Stewart

Theophile Lecompte Stewart (9 May 1891 – 14 December 1952) was an Australian cricketer.

Those Terrible Twins

Those Terrible Twins is a 1925 Australian silent film directed J.E. Ward, a Papuan adventurer, who had previously made Australia's Own (1919).

Waxie Moon

The film won Best Local Film at the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Jury Award for Best Film at Queer Fruits Film Festival in Australia, and Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Soundtrack at Love Unlimited Film Festival.

Yip Ho Nung

Yip Ho Nung (18 October 1909 – 6 October 1979) was an Australian Chinese community leader, general merchant, produce merchant and restaurateur.

Zelman Symphony

The Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra (Zelman Symphony) is the longest-running amateur orchestra in Melbourne, Australia.


1966 Davis Cup

India then fell to defending champions Australia in the Challenge Round which was the 1966 Davis Cup finals.

2011 Melbourne Cup

The winning jockey, Frenchman Christophe Lemaire, had arrived in Australia less than a day previously as a late replacement for Craig Williams.

2012 Yas Marina Circuit V8 Supercar Event

The 2012 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi (V8) Grand Prix was a motor race for the Australian sedan-based V8 Supercars racing cars.

Alfalfa House

Alfalfa House Community Food Cooperative Ltd is a not-for-profit food cooperative based in Enmore, Sydney, Australia.

Alone on a Wide, Wide Sea

his earliest memory was that he was an orphan from Bermondsey, in London, and that, at the age of five, in 1947, he was transported to Australia to find a new home.

Amway Australia

Amway Australia has four business centres opened in Loganholme, Queensland; Castle Hill, New South Wales; Coburg, Victoria and Kewdale, Western Australia.

Anderson Report

Wearne, a publisher from South Yarra, told the inquiry that 'Scientologists planned to take over Australia, after establishing a "Scientology Government"' and that 'he first heard of the plan to take over Australia in 1960'.

Areva Solar

Areva Solar is conducting a 44-MW solar thermal addition with CS Energy to the existing 750-MW Kogan Creek Power Station in Queensland, Australia.

Australia's Funniest Home Videos

At the end of each year there are semi finals and a grand final, where third place receives a home theatre package from JVC, second place receives a prize package worth around $100,000, normally two or three cars and the winner receives $250,000 in cash although in 2012, the winner received $150,000.

Balmain Rowing Club

Balmain Rowing Club is the fourth oldest rowing club in continuous operation on Sydney Harbour, Australia, and was established in July 1882 at Balmain, Sydney.

Battle of Barrosa

A young officer in the 4th Dragoons at the battle, subsequently Colonel William Light and the governor of South Australia in the 1830s, decided to name one of the valleys in his area Barossa Valley in memory, albeit subject to a clerical error.

Bowie Tupou

He began his boxing career training with Johnny Lewis, the Australia’s most well-known boxing coach, having trained Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding, Virgil Hill and Kostya Tszyu.

Brian Jean

Jean has a Bachelor of Science degree from Warner Pacific in Portland, Oregon, a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Bond University in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Brian Tse

While in Sydney, he became influenced by the cartooning style of Michael Leunig, a Melburnian who was (and remains to this day) one of the most popular and critically acclaimed cartoonists in Australia.

C. Y. O'Connor

On 7 December 1898, his daughter Eva married Sir George Julius at St John's Church, Fremantle, Western Australia.

Carinotrachia admirale

The type locality of Carinotrachia admirale is Middle Osborn Island, Bonaparte Archipelago in north-western Kimberley, Western Australia.

CBD Rail Link

CBD Relief Line, a similar proposed rail link in Sydney, Australia

Chin Liew Ten

Before taking up his appointments at the National University of Singapore, he was Professor of Philosophy (Personal Chair) and Acting Head of the School of Philosophy, Linguistics, and Bioethics at Monash University, Australia.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

There are 13 Ramsar-listed wetlands in the catchment including Lake Corangamite, the largest permanent inland lake in Australia.

Dingee railway station

Dingee Railway Station is an unmanned operational V/Line train station situated on the Bendigo-Swan Hill Line in the town of Dingee, 200 km north of Melbourne, Australia and 50 km north of Bendigo.

Djargurd Wurrung

The Djargurd wurrung are Indigenous Australian people who traditionally occupied the territory between Mount Emu Creek and Lake Corangamite, extending to Mount Emu and Cressy in the North, and to Cobden and Swan Marsh in the South in central Victoria and are still represented in the region.

Finley High School

Finley High School is a school with 486 students, located in Finley in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia.

Hyde Park, Sydney

Seven Arab horses taken on board the First Fleet at the Cape Colony (now South Africa) were the first horses to be brought to Australia.

Ian Burcher

While this squad is not in the top twenty-eight and separate from the Olympic training coach, the Australian coach Ric Charlesworth did not rule out selecting from only the training squad, with players from the Olympic development having a chance at possibly being called up to represent Australia at the Olympics.

Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin

Chinensis-type (Chinese white dolphin) is the eastern variety, found in Southeast Asia and northern Australia

J'adore Hardcore

The video for the single features footage of a live Scooter concert in Differdange (Luxembourg), dancers Pae and Sarah performing the Melbourne Shuffle on the streets of Melbourne (Australia) and car scenes of H.P. Baxxter, the frontman of Scooter, recorded on Majorca (Spain).

Kent Music Report

The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998.

Kerryn Tolhurst

This was followed by a successful stint in Country Radio (1972–73), after which he formed one of Australia's most successful country-rock bands, The Dingoes.

Louis Matheson

In 1951, after only a few years in Australia, he returned to the UK to accept the Beyer Chair in Engineering at the University of Manchester.

Martin Elmiger

Arguably one of the best moments in his career was leading the Tour Down Under in 2007 for 2 stages and then winning it by a mere 3 seconds over Australian Karl Menzies.

Mike Stephenson

He first appeared on British airwaves in 1988, when he was invited to co-commentate on the rugby league Ashes series in Australia for BBC Radio 2 with Eddie Hemmings.

Oceanian nations at the FIFA World Cup

New Zealand, Australia, Fiji got to group 1 and respectively ranked 1, 2, 5 places.

Øyvin Thon

He is also five times Relay champion, as a member of the Norwegian winning teams in 1981 (Thun, Switzerland), 1983 (Zalaegerszeg, Hungary), 1985 (Bendigo, Australia), 1987 (Gérardmer, France) and 1989 (Skaraborg, Sweden).

Page playoff system

It is identical to a four-team McIntyre System playoff, first used by the Victorian Football League in Australia in 1931, originally called the Page-McIntyre system, after the VFL delegate, the Richmond Football Club's Secretary, Percy "Pip" Page, who had advocated its use.

Pixie Jenkins

Born 'Paul Blake Jenkins' in Launceston, Tasmania in 1957, now referred to by his stage name 'Pixie', in an article in The Australian, Pixie was referenced alongside Jimmy Little, Chad Morgan and Slim Dusty as "...an icon of Australia's country music industry".

Ramón Freire

After failing in his purpose, he was imprisoned in the port of Valparaíso, court-martialled, and exiled first to the island of Juan Fernández, and afterwards to Tahiti and in 1837 temporarily settled in Australia.

Ronald Eric Johnstone

Ronald Eric Johnstone (born 1949) is an Australian ornithologist who worked for the Western Australian Museum for many years.

Scott Alderdice

Scott Alderdice is a Shakespearean director, media producer and acting lecturer currently based at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Secessionism in Western Australia

Western Australia was grouped with Scotland, Wales, the Basque Country, and Catalonia as "places seeking maximum fiscal and policy autonomy from their national capitals" in an October 2013 opinion piece in The New York Times.

Simon Schama's Power of Art

It aired in Poland on TVP2 in February and March 2008, on PBS in the US and re -broadcast in September 2008 on TVOntario in Canada, ABC1 in Australia, Australia Network in the Asia-Pacific region, TV ONE in New Zealand and on ET1 in Greece.

Spidercam

It was used for the first time in a test match at The Gabba in Brisbane during the 2012 South African tour of Australia.

Star Stuff

StarStuff is a weekly half hour space and science program that airs on Australia's Government operated ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Stratos Boats

Stratos began building boats in 1984, and sells throughout a network of dealers throughout the United States, Australia, France, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Italy and Venezuela.

Talia Zucker

Talia played the role of Louisa Von Trapp in the Australia tour of The Sound of Music starring Lisa McCune and John Waters.

Thomas Austin

After farming near Ouse, Thomas and his brother James crossed Bass Strait in 1837 and settled as pioneer pastoralists in the Western District of the Port Phillip District (now called Victoria).

Travis Blackley

He debuted for Australia in the 2007 Baseball World Cup and went 0–1 and 1.64 ERA for the tournament, his only loss coming against the Japan national baseball team when Tadashi Settsu threw a shutout against Australia in the quarter-final, with Australia finishing 5th.

Tresco

Tresco, Elizabeth Bay, an historic residence in New South Wales, Australia.

UNSW Faculty of Engineering

George Savvides, Industrial Engineering - Managing Director, Medibank Private; Engineers Australia "Top 100 Influential Engineers, 2013"

WLR

Willandra Lakes Region, a World Heritage Site in New South Wales, Australia

World Safari

Includes a motorcycle trip across Australia, living with Buddhist monks, selling life insurance on the side of the road, and getting lost in a two-cylinder DAF van while crossing the Sahara desert.