Australia,The Great South Land
The Great South Land, the largest island continent on the planet. From the tropical north to the temperate areas in the south. The west coast, isolated, remote, with pockets of people and huge areas of spectacular landscapes. The east coast, where most people live on a narrow band of land. The traditional owners, the Aboriginies, settled some 70,000 years ago. Many of the new comers, arrived as convicts from the 1780's. In just over 200 years Australia has become a proud nation of 23 million people from many, many countries and cultures. These Galleries provide a tiny insight to its diversity, its land and its people.
The Beach Life
Like ants, people cover the sand at Tamarama, a city beach close to Sydney. Many beaches around the country are patroled by Lifesavers, many thousands are not or are remote. Yes, there are risks, any beaches are dangerous with rips, that can sweep swimmers out to sea and there are the occasional shark attack. But Australians love their beach life!
Aboriginies, The Traditional Owners
When the white settlers arrived in 1788, most were convicts from the British Isles. The traditional owners, the Aboriginies, have occupied Australia for perhaps 70,000 years. Nomadic and small in numbers they were treated shamefully. Today Australia is attempting to redress it's mistakes. Most Aborigines still live in isolated communities where opportunities are few.
The Pubs and Hotels
In the early days of the Colony when money ran out troops were paid in rum. Every town across the country had one or more hotel. In the gold mining towns of the 1840's thirty to forty hotels in a town was not uncommon. Even today the smallest community has its hotel, pub, drinking hole, the local.
The drinkers and the characters
In the hot dry outback a beer with your mates is part of life and living. In the towns and cities a 'schooner' after work is a God given right. Although women were not allowed in Public bars until the 1960's and in some states the pubs closed at 6pm, to force the men to go home. Today bars and pubs open early close late and women are most welcome.
The Sydney Opera House
It took years to build admist political controversy and lack of funds. Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973 it is now considered one of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century. Perched on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour where a tram depot used to stand. The precinct now of culture, restaurants, hotels and cafes.
Graffiti, Street Art?
Street talk, message walls, or art, or is it desecration of public space? Messages for all to see, warnings and love notes.
1988 Reenactment of the arrival of the First Fleet 1788.
Tall ships of all sizes, from all around the World sail north along the east coast of Australia, destination Sydney to celebrate Captain Cook's epic voyage in 1788.
Ubirr rock-art Kakadu, NT
Aboriginial rock paintings, some many thousands of years old, others more recent. The Ubirr galleries are in the East Alligator River in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory.
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