Australia and the Way of Life Down Under

Australia, officially called the Commonwealth of Australia is both a continent and an independent county. It's located between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a land of different cultures and geographical areas. There are six states in Australia and two territories on the mainland. One state is the island state of Tasmania. The 5 mainland states are Victoria, Queensland, South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia. The Australians in the city, country, and Outback all have different ways of life. Most Australians live closer to the coast in the southeast, south, and southwest part of the county.

The city people live in cities that can be compared to any other modern city, such as San Francisco. The capital of Australia is the city of Canberra. The state capitals are Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. These cities are the main centers of the population. Their life here is like life in any other major modern city. People leave for their jobs to go to their offices and factories in the morning. The children leave for school. Generally most have a five day work week. Music and the arts are popular. Almost every large city has symphonies, concerts and other musical events along with ballet companies and art galleries. Sports are also very popular with city people. The people living near the sea can enjoy swimming, surfing and yachting year round. The cities also have tennis courts, golf courses and bowling facilities which are enjoyed. Spectator sports such as cricket, football and tennis matches are widely attended to, along with horse racing.