Queensland
By Justice Hoffman
Landforms
Landforms include: the Great Barrier Reef, sandy beaches, river plains, elevated plateaus, dry deserts, and agricultural belts.
Rivers: there are hundreds of rivers but major ones are the Flinders, Mitchel, Fitzroy, Mary, and Bisbane rivers.
There are no large natural lakes on the mainland.
Mountains: the Great Driving Range is the main mountain.
Climates
- Far North and Coastal areas: Hot and Humid
- Coastal elevated areas: Warm and humid
- Central West: Hot and dry
- Inland: temperate
Plants and Animals
Plants:
There are over 9,000 native plants some include:
Eucalyptus, wattles, fireweed, water chestnuts, cats creeper, and prickly pear cactuses.
Animals:
Bats, kangaroos, cassowaries, brush turkeys, crocodiles,snakes, humpback whales, possums, box jellyfish, blue ringed octopus
Natural Resources
Natural resources include:
- coal, petroleum, copper, lead, silver, zinc, and bauxite
- Economy relies on these natural resources
History
- Aboriginal Australians arrived around 50-60,000 years ago, by boat or land bridge.
- 1606- first European contact with aboriginal Australians.
- 1770- Captain James Cook sails the coastline and makes a a map.
- 1848- first newspaper in Queensland is printed.
- 1865- first rail line in Queensland opens.
- 1870- free primary education (first in Australia)
- 1898- severe drought begins and lasts until 1903 (5 years)
- 1905- women in Queensland granted right to vote
- 1914 WW1 declared (ends in 1918)
- 2008- global finincal crisis
People and Languages
- Queensland has no official languages but English is widely spoken.
- Has a reputation for being most conservative state in Australia
- It has been deemed Australia’s “Deep North,” in reference to the “Deep South” of the United States.
Land Use
- Nature conservation
- Farming
- Residential
- Grazing
- Mining
Religion and Education
Religion:
- Christianity
- Catholic
- Buddhism
- Islam
- Hindu
- No religion
- Other
- All people have access to an education
Tradition, Customs, and Food
Tradition:
- Celebrate Anzac Day- a day to celebrate those who have served in war.
- Fruits include: mango, lychee, rambutan, mangoes papaya, banana, sweet pineapple, lime, pumelo, jackfruit
- Seafoods include: Coral Trout, Banana Prawns, Endeavour Prawns, Tiger Prawns and King Prawns, Moreton Bay Bugs, Mudcrab, Threafin, Saddle-tail Snapper, Mackerel
- Australians are not very formal so greetings are casual and relaxed
- Australians prefer to use first names, even at the initial meeting
- Use good table manners
- Typically say "G'day mate" when greeting fellow Aussies.
Current Issues and Challenges
- Cost of basic services
- Lack of road maintenance
- Under funding in education
- Lots of flooding