AUSTRALIA

Australia is a new continent that was not discovered long ago. The credit of its discovery
goes to Captain James Cook who explored the Eastern coast of Australia and landed at
Sydney. The first British settlement was established at this place in 1786 AD. At first
convicts were settled here. Afterwards new separate settlements were established for free
people and prisoners. In the middle of 19th century the gold mines of Victoria and South
Wales were discovered and many people from England came here to reside. In this way
population began to increase in short period of time. Australia was divided into 6
settlements and a governor was nominated for their administration. In 1900 these
settlements were named as States and these states became the Common Wealth of the
Queen of England. Australia’s status changed into a Federation and Canberra is its
Capital.

LOCATION AND EXTENT:

Australia is located between the Pacific and Indian Ocean from 114oE to 154oE longitude
with an east west distance of 4023 Km. Tropic of Capricorn almost passes through its
middle. 40o S latitude passes through Bass Strait, which separates the mainland Australia
from Tasmania. 40% Northern area of Australia is located within Tropical Zone and
Southern Areas are mostly in Temperate Zone. Australia is the smallest continent of the

Translated by Syed Yasir Usman, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, GC

University Lahore.
03340147123, 03004168066 syedyasirusman@gmail.com
world with an area of 7,882,300 Sq. Km.

PHYSICAL FATURES:

On the whole the surface of Australia is not much high. It has neither High Mountains
nor high plateaux. Generally it has low plateaux and vast plains.

Australia is divided into three major physical divisions.

1- Western Plateau which is in western Australia

2- Central plains that have some areas below sea level
3- Eastern Mountains which are located parallel to the Eastern coast

1- WESTERN PLATEAU

This is an extensive plateau that has Limestone and Sandstone on its surface and the
underlying rocks are of igneous type. This plateau covers more than half of the area
of Australia. From ancient times this land mass has been stable and has evidences of
lesser impact of the internal forces. Most part of the plateau is about 180 Meters to
300 Meters above sea level with vast plain area within it. There are some highlands in
these plains for example the Arnhem Land plateau, Kimberley plateau and hammers
lay highlands. In the eastern part of western plateau there are Mc Donnell and
Musgrave highlands. These mountains run parallel to each other in the central parts of
the continent. Inmost parts of it there are lowlands for example Gibson Desert in
middle of the plateau and Great Victorian Desert in the south.

The western plateau of Australia is has steeper slope towards the coastal plain. In
southwest this steep slope is called Darling Scarp. There is scarcity of water in the
plateau. The perennial rivers are absent here and water is not available. Only on its
Northern and western margins small rivers are flowing. Whenever it rains the waters
accumulates in the flat-bedded depressions and playa lakes are formed. After the
process of evaporation these salt lakes change into salt marsh that have salt layers
several meters thick. There are numerous slat pans and playa lakes in the
southwestern part of the plateau.

2- Central Plain
This is located between the eastern mountains and western plateau and Lake
Carpentria to the north and to the mouths of Murray in the south. This region is
divided into three lowlands.
1- Gulf of Carpentria Basin
2- Lake Eyre Basin
3- Murray-Darling Basin

Translated by Syed Yasir Usman, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, GC

University Lahore.
03340147123, 03004168066 syedyasirusman@gmail.com
The Gulf of Carpentria basin has undulating surface with very gentle slope, the rivers
flow in marshland along the coast of gulf. Many of these rivers don’t reach the sea. Some
of these are seasonal that flow only in rainy season.

2- Lake Eyre basin is a flat plate like region which is separated by Barkly Tableland and
Selwyn Range from Carpentrian lowland. The lake Eyre basin has an area of 1243000 Sq.
km. This region is considered as a major inland drainage area of the world. There are
many salt lakes and slat pans with several meters thick salt layers. Lake Eyre is the
largest of them that is 12 meters below sea level.

3- Murray-Darling basin is the most important in the three basins of Australia. It is a vast
plain that is drained by Murray and Darling rivers and their tributaries. Trees are absent
in this plain. In Murray and Marrum Bujji water flows throughout the year and these
rivers provide water for irrigation. Murray river is not navigable near it mouth because it
falls into Alexandria Lake which has sand bars and coastal lagoons, but its middle course
provides a route for navigation for local transportation.

(3) EASTERN MOUNTAINS

These mountain ranges run parallel to the Eastern Coast of Australia from Cape York
(Queens land) to Victoria state. Some part of this mountain range is located in Tasmania.
Its greatest heights are on the boundary of South Wales and Victoria that is 2000 Meters.
Mount Kosciusko is its highest peak with an altitude of 2228 Meters. The eastern side of
Eastern Mountains is more steep compared to the gentle western side which merges into
the plains. Rivers flowing towards the East are short and rapid while the rivers that flow
towards west are longer and flow on a gentle gradient. The eastern sides of the mountains
receive more rainfall and foothills are covered with forests.

CLIMATE: Australian continent is located between 10o S and 40o N. The tropic of
Capricorn crosses it almost in middle 40% of the continent’s area is located in Torrid
Zone while rest of the continent is located between the sub-tropical and warm temperate
zone.

TEMPERATURE: To study the climate of any region it is important to know about its
seasonal temperatures.

SUMMER SEASON: In the middle of summer season sun shines vertically on tropic of
Capricorn on 23rd of December. Therefore in most parts of Australia January is the
hottest month. The temperature rises above 25oC and in North Western part of Australia
temperature increases above 35oC. In summer season the Isotherms take a southerly bend
in the middle of the continent. This pattern shows that the interior of the continent is
hotter compared to the Western and Eastern parts. The average temperature in this part is
usually 38o C in these parts.

Translated by Syed Yasir Usman, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, GC

University Lahore.
03340147123, 03004168066 syedyasirusman@gmail.com
The summer temperature remains between 20o C to 25o C in most of the southern parts of
Australia. Only in the extreme southern parts in which Tasmania is also included the
temperature remains less than 20oC.

WINTER SEASON: On 21st of June the sun shines vertically on tropic of Cancer in
northern hemisphere and winter season prevails in Australia. Only in the northern parts of
the continent the temperature remains above 25o C. The temperature starts to decrease
gradually towards the south. In most parts of the continent temperature remains above 10o
C. In the extreme south of the continent the temperature drops rapidly. The southeastern
mountains and Tasmania experience temperatures less than 10o C.

WINDS AND RAINFALL: Australia is called the driest continent, there are many
reasons for this, and the most important is the Tropic of Capricorn that runs through this
continent, secondly the location of the continent is away from Equator there for the
continent of devoid of convectional type of rainfall. Towards the north of 30 o S latitude
the continent is under the influence of South easterlies that are dry winds and cause
rainfall only on the eastern coast. The eastern mountains stop the winds blowing from the
sea. Towards the south of 30o S latitude the rain bearing westerlies influence the southern
coast only in winter season except the Tasmanian island which receives the rainfall
throughout the year. The main reason for this is its location farther to the south.

In summer season (from November to April) the northern and North Western part of
Australia becomes very hot generating a low-pressure area. Therefore humid monsoon
winds blow from the sea and bring abundant rainfall on the northern coast. These winds
don’t penetrate deep into the interior of the continent. In fact these areas are under the
influence of easterlies that run dry reaching this interior part of the continent. Therefore
most parts of Australia remain dry. In summer season only the marginal areas on north
and east of the continent receive more rainfall. In westerlies belt rainfall is received in
both winters and summers.

In winter season (May to October) the sun shines vertically on tropic of cancer in
northern hemisphere and the westerlies belt shifts towards the north. Most of the southern
part of the continent comes under the influence of the westerlies and southern and
southwestern parts receive rainfall in winters. These areas have Mediterranean type of
climate where summers are dry and winter experiences rainfall. Towards the north of
Mediterranean type of climate region an extensive high pressure area appears and dry
south easterlies blow towards the sea. Except the southern and eastern coast rest of the
continent remains dry in winters.

AREAS OF ALL YEAR RAINFALL: in very limited parts of the continent rainfall
throughout the year. These areas 1- towards the north of 30o S and 2- Tasmania that
remains under the influence of westerlies all the year round 3- the south western corner of
the continent (most parts of New South Wales and parts of Victoria) where the tropical
cyclones bring rainfall in summer season and westerlies cause rainfall in winters.

Translated by Syed Yasir Usman, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, GC

University Lahore.
03340147123, 03004168066 syedyasirusman@gmail.com
CYCLONIC RAINFALL: In some parts of Australia the cyclones also cause rainfall.
Tropical cyclones bring rainfall in summers in northern and eastern parts of the continent.
They sometimes penetrate the interior also. Temperate cyclones cause rains in
Southwestern parts of Western Australia, coastal plains of southern Australia, most parts
of New South Wales and Tasmania.

QUANTITATIVE DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL: The highest amount of rainfall in

Australia is on Northeastern coast of Queens land where Deeral receives mean annual
rainfall of 4400 mm. The other area with high amount of rainfall is western coast of
Tasmania where mean annual rainfall is 3500 mm. Apart from these areas northern coast
also receives abundant rainfall. The interior parts of the continent that are located
adjacent to the high rainfall areas the amount ranges from 500 mm to 1000 mm. The
areas with meager rainfall are the western and central parts of the continent. The driest
area of the continent is the surrounding of Lake Eyre that includes Simpson Desert. The
amount of rainfall is less than 125 mm.

POPULATION: The total population of Australia is 18,338,000 (1996) that is the lowest
compared to the other continents. Most of the population is concentrated in New South
Wales and Victoria. The overall density of the population is 2 persons per square km.
Before the arrival of the British settlers the indigenous population was around 300,000
who settled here about 1800 years ago from Indonesia. British started to settle here in
1788 when a British explorer named Captain James Cook landed on the eastern coast of
Australia at Sydney. The first British settlement was established here. In the beginning
convicts were settled here, then separated settlements were established for prisoners and
free people. In the middle of 19th century the population of European people was
400,000. It rose three times within a period of ten years. In settling of population
discovery of minerals played a major role. In 1890 the discovery of gold mine at
Kalgoorlie increased the number of settlers. In the same way the discovery of mineral
deposits at Broken Hill in New South Wales attracted new settlers and population
increased.

DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION: Densely populated areas of Australia are as

follows.

1- Capital of Australia Canberra (37 persons per square km)

2- New South Wales (76 persons per square km)

3- Victoria (14 persons per square km)

The distribution of population is not uniform in the continent; most of the people live
on coast because the climate of these areas is suitable. These concentrations of
population have 99% European settlers, the rainfall is certain and water is available
for agriculture.

Translated by Syed Yasir Usman, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, GC

University Lahore.
03340147123, 03004168066 syedyasirusman@gmail.com
 Population is sparse in the interior parts of the continent, the main occupation of the
people is sheep herding and mining. The population density is very low in these areas
about one person in 20 square km. Water is scarce. The source of water is Artesian
Wells. The urban population of Australia makes up 82% while 18 % live in villages.
The population is attracted to the cities because of the facilities available there, with
chances for jobs and business, the life in villages is difficult, and agriculture cannot
be practiced because of non-availability of water, because of the usage of heavy
machinery and advanced technology in farmlands lesser labor is required further
more lesser number of people are required for sheep herding.

One thing worth mentioning is that 80% of the total population of Australia lives on
the South Western part of that line which connects Brisbane (Queens land) and Port
Augusta (Southern Australia).

Translated by Syed Yasir Usman, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, GC

University Lahore.
03340147123, 03004168066 syedyasirusman@gmail.com