Australia and New Zealand Background

– basic kinship between Australia and New Zealand– similarities of population, cultural heritage, and

type of economy– products of British colonization– speak English, live under parliamentary forms of

government, schools patterns after British model– both have aboriginal minorities surviving from

prewhite times– close political and economic relations with US,

Japan, and Europe

– both prosperous nations with per capital incomes comparable to those of the small states of Europe

– Commonwealth ties with UK

Australia’s Physical and Climatic Characteristics– Australia is country and island continent– sparsely populated– very arid climate with high temperatures and rapid

evaporation

– Only 6% of Australia if cultivated today– 14% classified as forests or woodlands– 50% suitable for grazing– 20% total wasteland in the interior– despite small proportion of arable land, ratio of

crop-producing land to total population is favorable– Australia is the size of the continental US but only

has 19 million people, fewer than live in California– distribution of population follows arable land– most Australians live in humid eastern highlands

and coastal plains and humid grasslands

Natural Regions of Australia– humid eastern highlands

only major highlands on east coast from Cape York to Tasmania

elevation under 3,000 feet only part of country with no drought Pacific winds bring much rain but rugged relief

prevents much agriculture south of Sydney has marine west coast climate north of Sydney has humid subtropical climate

– tropical savannas of north Australia north Australia receives heavy rainfall in summer with

dry conditions in winter monsoon winds blow onshore in summer and offshore

in winter produces savanna vegetation with coarse grasses,

scattered trees, and patches of woodlands arid conditions, poor soils, and lack of rivers make

agriculture difficult

– Mediterranean lands of southwest and south southwest corner of Australia and land around the

Spencer Gulf have a Mediterranean climate winter rain and summer drought Mediterranean crops do well here lack of highlands to catch moisture limited irrigation

– dry interior huge interior of Australia is desert surrounded by a

fringe of semi arid grassland (steppe) covers half of the continent general elevation between 1,000 and 1,500 feet few mountain ranges too low to influence climate lowest part of interior around Lake Eyre Basin is driest

part of the country Murry-Darling Basin only area of river systems with

some irrigation possible

Australia: Physical Map

Australian Economy– Country’s leading exports are mining, grazing,

and agriculture– large and dependable markets for Australian

primary products in Japan, US, and Europe– cheap and efficient transportation by sea– sheep and cattle raising important

penal colony near Sydney in 1788 difficult to grow crops but sheep did well by 19th C Australia was largest supplier or wool

sheep industry concentrated on western slop of eastern highlands, border of New South Wales, and western border of Victoria

exports of wool have declined due to synthetics cattle ranching in north around Queensland exports of meat to Japan, US, and Europe construction of rural roads to coast aided exports

– wheat farming wheat is major export of Australia originally developed to help feed population around

Sydney State of South Australia now most important wheat

area

Adelaide is major port for wheat exports mechanization, railroads, scientific plant breeding,

and new markets helped wheat exports wheat and sheep often occupy same areas southwest corner near Perth second area of growth small labor force, large acreage, good yields per

worker make this an efficient industry for Australia

– dairy farming largest industry in terms of employment humid coastal plains of Queensland, New South

Wales, and Victoria

– sugar production sugar industry begun on coastal plain of Queensland

in 19th C laborers imported from Melanesia to work fields formation of Commonwealth of Australia in 1901

led to repatriation of imported black labor in the interests of preserving a “white Australia.”

high protective tariffs on sugar preserved the industry

large estates divided up into family farms producing sugar

Urbanization and Industrialization– most Australians are city dwellers– Sydney 3.7 million; Melbourne 3.1 million;

Brisbane 1.3 million; Perth 1.2 million and Adelaide 1 million

– 40% of Australian population live in two largest cities

– 85% of total Australian population live in urban areas

– largest cities are all seaports

– much of Australian internal trade moves by coastal steamer

– problems with internal rail system because each state built it own system with different gauge tracks

– work underway to standardize rail gauge– Australian government has encouraged

industrial development to diversify economy– concern about national security, adequate

defense, self-sufficiency in case of war

Mineral Wealth– mineral resources of continent relatively rich– adequate supply of minerals for internal

development and export– ample supply of coal in New South Wales and

Queensland– steel plants near coal mines at Newcastle north

of Sydney and Wollongong to south– coal is major export to Japan– iron ore deposits close to coast facilitating

exports

– Major reserves of bauxite near north Queensland coast, Darling Range near Perth, and on coast of Amhem Land

– Australia is world’s leading producer of bauxite for aluminum production

– processed alumina exported overseas– gold mining played large role in Australia’s

history as it did in California in 1849.– Australia also source of copper, lead, titanium,

zinc, tin, silver, manganese, nickel, tungsten, uranium, and diamonds.

– Broken Hill Proprietary Company, Australia’s largest private company, began as a mining company now produces steel and other related businesses

– deficiency in petroleum and natural gas though small fields were developed in the 60’s and 70’s

– Australia dependent on overseas manufactured products from Japan and US

– domestic manufacturers dependent on government protection

– manufacturing encouraged to provide jobs and security for Australian people

– Government has encouraged immigration of white, skilled, English-speaking people

– discriminatory policies against blacks and Asians criticized by world community

– immigration more dependent on education and English speaking ability since 1973

New Zealand– located 1,000 miles southeast of Australia– New Zealand consists of two large islands- North

Island and South Island separated by the Cook Strait with a combined population of 4 million

– North Island smaller with larger population

New Zealand: Physical Map

– population of New Zealand 4 million– rugged terrain characterizes much of New

Zealand– mountains of South Island dominated by the

imposing Southern Alps with many glaciated summits above 10,000 feet

– mountains of North Island less imposing with some peaks over 5,000

– lowland areas received more than 30 inches of rain per year, evenly distributed throughout the year.

– rain shadow east of Southern Alps– moderate temperatures with pervasive

maritime influence– temperatures average 60-70 in summer and 40-

50 in winter

New Zealand Economy– climate idea for growing grass and raising

livestock– pastures and meadows support a thriving sheep

and cattle industry

– meat, wool, dairy products and hides account for half of New Zealand’s exports

– pastoral exports have provides New Zealander’s with a comfortable life with per capital incomes equivalent to smaller European countries

– UK used to be the main market for NZ products– UK decision to join the EEC hurt New Zealand– NZ has tried to open new markets in Asia, US, and

Australia– 1983 Agreement with Australia opened these

markets to NZ products

– industrial and urban development growing as the NZ government has tried to diversify the economy

– modest reserves of coals, iron, and other minerals.

– excellent hydroelectric potential– good forest product exports– urbanization somewhat smaller than in

Australia– six urban populations with more than 100,000

people including Auckland 890,000; Wellington 375,000; and Christchurch 335,000

– 1840 Treaty of Waitangi- supposed to protect indigenous Maori people from land grabs

– Different interpretation of this treaty have worked against Maori tribes who were deprived of their historic territories

– NZ government set up the Waitangi Tribunal to investigate land claims. Some compensation provided to the Maoris, but not much.

– “Whale Rider”- NZ Maori girl seeks to learn her traditions.