Australia
Australia
- Capital
- Canberra
- Population
- 25,687,041
- Region
- Oceania
- Languages
- English
Australia is the only nation on Earth that once declared 'war' on its flightless birds during the Great Emu War of 1932. Military personnel armed with Lewis guns were deployed to curb the emu population in Western Australia, but the agile birds proved surprisingly difficult to hit. Ultimately, the birds retreated on their own terms, and the event remains a humorous part of the country's idiosyncratic historical folklore.
Currency
The official currency is the Australian Dollar, identified by the ISO code AUD. Australia made financial history in 1988 by becoming the first country in the world to introduce polymer banknotes to prevent counterfeiting and increase durability. These plastic notes are now used across all denominations and have inspired many other nations to adopt similar technology.
Flag symbolism
The flag features the British Union Jack in the upper left corner to acknowledge the country's history as a former colony. Below it sits the large seven-pointed Commonwealth Star, representing the six original states plus the northern and external territories. The right half of the blue field contains five white stars of varying sizes that form the Southern Cross constellation, a celestial signature visible from the southern hemisphere.
Emblem history
The national coat of arms features a red kangaroo and an emu, chosen because neither animal can easily move backward, symbolizing a nation moving forward. These figures flank a central shield divided into six sections, each containing the badge of an Australian state. A background of flowering Golden Wattle serves as the national floral emblem, while the seven-pointed Commonwealth Star rests atop the design as the crest.