So what is it about Australia that draws so many people from all corners of the world to its shores? Well, may be it is because it has incredible beaches, plenty of sunshine, the most unusual animals and an ancient landscape dating back millions of years that captures your imagination and spirit of adventure. Whatever your personal reasons for visiting, here are just some of the many interesting facts about Amazing Australia...

Australia is both the smallest continent and the largest island on planet earth.

It is the 6th largest country after Russia, Canada, China, USA and Brazil.

If you don’t like crowds then this is definitely the place for you. Figures from 2005 give Australia’s population to be around 2.5 people/km2. Compare that to 244 people/km2 in the UK and 29 people/km2 in the USA.

Dingoes cannot bark - they can only howl.

QANTAS, Australia’s national airline, was started as a private operation in 1920 by 2 former World War I pilots. W Hudson Fysh and Paul McGuiness financed their enterprise with the help of a wealthy farmer. The new company was christened the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services limited. In 1947 the Australian government bought into the company creating the national airline we know today.

“Advance Australia Fair”, the upbeat national anthem, was not adopted until 1984. Until then, “God Save the Queen” was still the official anthem.

Ever heard of the bionic ear? More correctly called a cochlear implant, the bionic ear was invented in Australia. The first person to receive one was a man from Melbourne in 1978. To date, over 50,000 cochlear implants have been successfully performed. You will find a "Bionic Ear Lane" in Melbourne.

The green and gold sporting colours of Australia are taken from the Golden Wattle Tree, the floral emblem of the country. The green reflects the leaves and the gold its bright yellow flowers.

Until 1901, when Australia became a federation and formed The Commonwealth of Australia, it was made up of 6 largely self governing colonies.

Did you know that the Great Barrier Reef stretches for over 2600 kilometres (over 1600 miles) off the coast of Queensland. This natural wonder of the world can be seen from space and is the world's largest single structure made by living organisms. Parts of the coral reef dates back over half a million years.

The Commonwealth of Australia has had two capital cities. First Melbourne until 1928, then Canberra. Canberra was chosen as the site of the new federal capital in 1908. An international competition for its design was won by Chicago architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin with construction commencing in 1913. From Federation in 1901 until the Parliament moved into its purpose built capital in 1927, Melbourne, not Sydney, held the title of the capital city.

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