Australia

Brindabellas ACT/NSW

Australian Broadcasting Corporation [ABC].

Bureau of Meteorology [BOM].

History

45,000-65,000 years ago, Aboriginal Australians arrived from S.E. Asia.

As of 2026, scientific opinion is tending towards the 65K figure.

1770: Captain James Cook mapped the east coast of Australia, naming it New South Wales and claiming it for Britain.

26 January 1788: The 'First Fleet' arrived in Sydney Cove to found a penal colony.

1829: Perth was founded on the Swan River.

1 January 1901, Federation: The six states – NSW, Queensland, SA, Tasmania, Victoria, WA – joined together to form the (Commonwealth of) Australia.

Since 1935, 26 January has been celebrated as 'Australia Day'. Understandably, some call it 'Invasion Day' and seek to change the date.

See the National Museum of Australia [www]

Highest Peaks

State/Territory	Peak	Height
New South Wales	Mt. Kosciusko, Snowy Mountains	2228m
Victoria	Mt. Bogong, Victorian Alps	1986m
ACT	Mt. Bimberi	1913m
Queensland	Bartle Frere, Sth Peak, Bellenden Ker Range	1622m
Tasmania	Mt. Ossa, Cradle Mt - Lake St Clair N.P.	1617m
Northern Territory	Mt. Zeil/ Urlatherrke, Macdonnell Ranges	1531m
South Australia	Mt. Woodroffe/ Ngintaka Pilpirpa, Musgrave Ranges	1435m
Western Australia	Mt. Meharry/ Minjiyanha/ Wirlbiwirlbi, Hammersley Range	1253m

The Goughs climbed the highest peak in each Australian state or territory, between 1999 and 2002. See: Nick and Ben Gough, A Lofty Challenge, Wild magazine (issn:1030-469X), 87, pp.22-26, summer (Jan-Mar) 2003.