Place details
Place nameAustralia
Other namesCommonwealth of Australia, Australie, Australië, Australien, Austrália, AUS, AU, New Holland
Latitude-25
Longitude135
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Isolation allowed development of unique flora & fauna; "Aborigines" probably arrived from SE Asia; sighted by Portuguese, Spanish, & Dutch 17th cen.; claimed by Britain 1771, used as penal colony; free British settlers arrived 19th cen.; official language is English.