1. Where Australians Live…
Location, Climate, & Natural
Resources in Australia

2. Location Of Australia
Both a continent & a country
Lies about 2,000 miles southeast of
Asia
In the southern hemisphere
– Literally the “land down under”!

3. Location
Coastal areas are the most populated
Most people live along east coast
Most populated city is Sydney, in New
South Wales
Another populated city: Brisbane,
Queensland

4. Location
Nearly 80% of Australians live in urban
areas
– Australia is one of the world’s most
urbanized countries
70% of all Australians live in cities of
more than 100,000 people
– Sydney has 3 and a 1/2 million people
– Melbourne has about 3 million people

5. Climate of Australia
Varies across the continent
It’s south of the equator, so climate is
opposite North America:
– Summer: December through March
– Winter: June through September

6. Climate: North Australia
Northern part of Australia is closest to
the equator
Tropical climate and is warm-to-hot all
year round
– Gets more rain than any other part of the
country
Winter: wet and cool
Summer: hot and dry

7. Climate: Central Australia
Desert is the largest part of Australia
Little rain falls here
– Most of this area gets less than 10 inches
of rain per year!

8. Climate: Coasts
Only the southeast and southwest
corners have a temperate climate
– Summers aren’t too hot & winters aren’t
too cold (similar to Georgia)
Climate in these regions is the one that
Australians prefer the most
– Most Australians live along southeastern
coast

9. Natural Resources of Australia
Outback refers to the dry interior
– Mainly open countryside, including vast
expanses of grazing land
Few widely scattered settlements in the
outback
– Many of them grew up around mining
operations…

10. Natural Resources: Mining
Australians mine for coal, iron ore,
copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel,
tungsten, mineral sands, zinc, oil, and
natural gas
– Lead the world in the production of
diamonds, lead, & bauxite (used to make
aluminum)!

11. Natural Resources: Mining
Minerals are often found in areas that
are difficult to reach
– Roads are expensive to build, but they are
needed to get workers & equipment to
remote locations
– Expensive equipment is needed to move
minerals to populated cities to trade

12. Natural Resources:
Arable Land
Land that is good for farming
Enough areas with good land and
rainfall to make farming an important
business in Australia
– Farmers here produce more than
Australians can consume, so the food is
traded and sold around the world

13. Questions to Consider:
Where do most Australians live?
What important business is done in the
outback?
Why do most Australians live in
southeastern Australia?

14. Postcard Directions:
Front: Illustration of your favorite Australian
destination (must be colorful!)
Back: Write a greeting to one of your friends
that describes Australia. Be sure to include:
• Location
• Climate
• Land
• Resources