Who named the country Australia?

Who named the country Australia?

Matthew Flinders
It was the English explorer Matthew Flinders who made the suggestion of the name we use today. He was the first to circumnavigate the continent in 1803, and used the name ‘Australia’ to describe the continent on a hand drawn map in 1804. The National Library holds a reproduction.

What is Australia’s official name?

the Commonwealth of Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country by area in Oceania and the world’s sixth-largest country.

When was Australia officially named?

On 12 December 1817, Governor Lachlan Macquarie recommended to the British Colonial Office that the “Australia” be adopted as the name of the continent still being referred to as New Holland. Finally, in 1824, the British Admiralty agreed that the continent should be officially called Australia.

How did Australia get its nickname?

Australia is colloquially known as “the Land Down Under” (or just “Down Under”), which derives from the country’s position in the Southern Hemisphere, at the antipodes of the United Kingdom.

Is Australia called Oceania?

Oceania is a region made up of thousands of islands throughout the Central and South Pacific Ocean. It includes Australia, the smallest continent in terms of total land area. The name “Oceania” justly establishes the Pacific Ocean as the defining characteristic of the continent.

Why does Australia have a British flag?

The Union Flag is thought to symbolise Australia’s history as six British colonies and the principles upon which the Australian Federation is based, although a more historic view sees its inclusion in the design as demonstrating loyalty to the British Empire.

Is Australia a country or continent?

Australia is both a country and a continent. The country called Australia is a part of the continent that is also called Australia. Australia is also a part of the region called Oceania , which is not technically a continent. It is also a part of the region called Australasia ,…

What country is Australia in?

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania , and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world’s sixth-largest country by total area.

What is the island of Australia?

Australia is an island in the South Pacific , roughly 7.75 million square kilometres (about 3 million square miles) and the sixth largest country in the world. Greenland is an island that sits between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean .

What is the area of Australia?

Australia is as large as 2,988,901.76 square miles