Australian Culture

Australia’s culture is the result of a unique combination of heritage and geography. Australia was first settled by the British in 1788 and was used as a penal colony until the middle of the next century. Australia’s remote location and the harshness of its environment transformed the British culture of its settlers and shaped the Australian national character.
When British settlers first arrived in Australia, they faced the always daunting task of taming a new land. Those who ventured beyond the coastal areas found vast deserts full of poisonous snakes, and crocodiles inhabiting the rivers.
In Australian folk songs like “Bound for Botany Bay” and “The Wild Colonial Boy,” we can see the bushranging archetypal Australian epitomized by the 19th century Australian outlaw Ned Kelly. While most of today’s Australians live in cities, much of the spirit of the early settlers has been preserved.As a result of these various influences, Australians are said to be gregarious, open, and self-effacing. Their manners are for the most part informal.
Australians are some of the most active people in the world. The most popular activities in Australia center around sports. Swimming, boating, and other watersports are especially popular.
As a remote, formerly British colony, Australia has a lot in common with America, but there are also many differences. Australia is still part of the British Commonwealth, although independent, and retains a number of British customs that are no longer found in the United States. While some of these may be considered trivial, such as driving on the left, they are indicative of Australia’s more recent and continuing relationship with Britain.