Background: Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.
April 23rd 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770 After our greyhound bus journey we arrived in the small town of 1770. It had been recommended to us by our wee pal "B" who had stayed there previously and loved it.
Our hostel this time was called ... 5 photos[full story]
April 22nd 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770 We left Rainbow Beach, and motored on up the coast, arriving at a very laid back and thankfully rain-free little coastal hamlet with the bizarre name of 'Town of 1770', a bit north of Bundaberg.
Ap ... 14 photos[full story]
April 23rd 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770 Ok, wow.
I have spent the past few days here in Newcastle at Rachelle and Dean's place...I know Rachelle from Uni back in Victoria, her mother is also a school teacher, and her husband Dean and her a ... [full story]
March 20th 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770
Today was abit of a random day, as we got up and had no plans for the day at all. It was a little overcast when we was sat outisde doing our journals when a bus came for the free tour that goes ever ... [full story]
March 18th 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770
Today we did the Scooteroo Tour which was really good! At first I was a bit nervous, because I've never driven one before but it was pretty easy. There was about 35 of us that went out and it was fu ... [full story]
March 19th 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770 Today was attempt no. 2 at surfing on my trip. The last time didn't go too great, seeing as It left me scarred for life, but I was keen to give it a go and try improve my opinion of the sport this tim ... 1 photos[full story]
March 7th 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770 After mulling over the destinations on our Greyhound Bus Timetable we decide on Rainbow Beach, sounds nice, so this is our next stop. Surprisingly the coloured sands are not the most impressive featur ... 24 photos[full story]
January 7th 2008Oceania » Australia » Queensland » 1770 On the 7/1 we stopped of in a little known place named 1770 (the only place in the world to have numbers for its name - so we're told), and what a find it was! We stopped off to take a trip to the ree ... [full story]
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