You will find numerous weird factual statements about Australia that you might or might not have been aware of. From quirky politicians, to obscure and archaic laws and some of the biodiversity that is strangest in the world… the Land Down Under has it all.

The art in nation Australia is strange, too.

Here are a few other weird facts about Australia, which may be worth storing in some far recess of one’s mind, to create out at the next dinner celebration.

Weird Facts About Australia

1. Australia had been almost Dutch

Although James Cook reportedly “discovered” Australia in 1770, the Dutch had known about the country’s existence for a long time – in fact, because the early 1600s.

Dutchman Abel Tasman stumbled upon Van Diemen’s Land (that has been later on named Tasmania after him in 1856) in 1642 and passed the coastline of Australia two years later, dubbing it New Holland. If they’d beaten the English to settlement, I’d be sitting here typing this down in Dutch, which is a thought that is weird.

Let’s love aholics.com not forget that Australia was at reality already settled well before either of those countries that are european lay claim to it – by the Indigenous Australians who arrived on the area continent many thousands of years back.

2. Melbourne ended up being almost called “Batmania”

A strange reality about Australia that we rather enjoy. Before Melbourne ended up being Melbourne, it in fact was a settlement that is small the Yarra River, that has been created by a guy called John Batman. He found your website which can be now referred to as Central Melbourne in 1835, decided it will be a fine spot to begin a town and declared it “Batmania”, which we are able to all agree is an awesome title for a city.

In 1837 nonetheless, it absolutely was officially named Melbourne, after the then British prime minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. This title unlike Batmania, stuck.

Don’t feel too harmful to Batman – remnants associated with settlement that is first be located over the town, in Batman Bridge, Hill, Street, Park and more.

Read more: 59 uncommon and things that are unique Do in Melbourne

Urgh, Melbourne – why are you therefore awesome?

3. And it’s probably the most liveable city in the planet

The EU ranked Melbourne as the most city that is liveable the planet for six years in a row – from 2010 ’til 2016. Let’s see if it could ensure it is seven years in 2017 (update: it did).

4. AND it’s the sporting money associated with world

Melbourne normally the sporting money associated with globe, with activities like the Formula 1 Grand Prix and Australian Open held annually, as well as it being fully a city packed with people who are utterly enthusiastic about the overall game of Aussie Rules.

Quietly, it’s possibly the only thing I actually don’t like about the destination, but then I’ve never ever been much into recreations.

5. Yet, Australia possesses quickly growing obesity level

Therefore, with all these recreations fanatics banging about, how are Aussies so darn fat?

A unfortunate reality about Australia – over 63 % of Australians are thought to be overweight, with one Aussie developing diabetes every five full minutes.

A great deal for the image of this skinned that is golden with all the sun-bleached hair – similar to a pasty Aussie, watching some kind of cooking reality show on the television.

Browse more: Just What To Not Do When Visiting Australia

It’s pretty but deadly, like a lot of things in Oz.

6. Australia gets the highest risk of skin cancer worldwide

Melanoma is one of the most typical cancers in Australia. Two in three Australians will soon be identified as having cancer of the skin by the time they’ve been 70. That is because of the intensity for the sun that is australian which includes quite a bite to it.

How could you avoid this happening for your requirements? remain in the color as much as possible, wear a cap and protective clothes. Usage sunscreen (non-toxic is best, as some creams can bleach ocean coral) and don’t tan extremely. In case a mole begins to change in in whatever way, see your GP straight away.

7. Australia’s size is approximately the same as through the side of west shore Ireland to Russia

An undeniable fact about Australia – it’s actually the sixth biggest nation in the world.

Yep, Australia is big. Like, as huge as Europe big. Don’t trust in me? Take a look at this site.

8. Therefore the nation provides the longest fence on earth

The Dingo Fence or Dog Fence was constructed in the 1880s, to keep Australia’s native dog the Dingo out of the south-east an element of the continent and away from sheep. It stretches 5,614 kilometres (3,488 kilometers) from Southern Australia along the Western edge of NSW, into Queensland.

Lake Macquarie, called after Lachlan Macquarie like almost everything.

9. Much of New South Wales is known as following the very first few governors of this state

And so on and so forth.

Numerous places around the continuing state had been known as following the 2nd Governor of this state John Hunter plus the fifth, Lachlan Macquarie. In many cases, they ran around naming things after on their own. I can’t even imagine that known degree of ego and nor do I would like to.

10. It absolutely was the second nation in the world to provide ladies the vote

Here’s a known fact about Australia that any Aussie is happy with.

Suffragettes in Australia emerged triumphant in 1902, once they got the right to vote in federal elections, along with the right to be elected to parliament on a national foundation. We had been narrowly beaten by New Zealand, who gave women the right to vote in 1893 however they could never be elected to your homely House of Representatives until 1919, therefore we type of won. Maybe Not that it’s a competition (it totally is).

This is certainly impressive, when you consider that exactly the same could not be stated for america until 1920 therefore the UK and Ireland in 1928 (and Saudi Arabia in 2011). We also beat all the countries that are scandinavian. Victory is sweet.

This is certainly less impressive if you think about that native Australians, male and female alike, didn’t have equal voting rights in all states and regions until 1967.