Victoria,Australia: Facts & Statistics

Geography:
  • Area:
  • 227,600 sq kms
  • Relative Size:
  • 3% of the Australian continental landmass.
    •
  • Physical Features:
  • The Great Dividing Range runs across the state from east to west.
    •
  • Climate:
  • South of the ranges: Moderate temperature and rainfall
  • North of the ranges: High temperature and low rainfall.
    •
    • Population:
  • 4.5 million people
  • Over 70% of the population live in the greater Melbourne area.

    • DID YOU KNOW
    Melbourne has the largest Greek population of any city outside Athens.

    State Government:
  • Parliamentary democracy
  • British model
  • 4 year term of office
  • Voting is compulsory
  • Voting age is 18
  • Bi-cameral legislature (two houses of parliament)
  • House of Representatives
  • Legislative Council (Senate)
  • Head of State - The Governor
    The representative of the Monarch - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
  • Head of Government - The Premier
    Who is the leader of the political party with the majority in the House of Representatives.
  • Responsibilities
    Education, Health (hospitals), Local Government, Law and Order, Environment Protection.
    • Flag:
    • Victorian flag.
      • Union Jack (the British flag) - represents the past link with England.
      • Crown- represents
      • The Southern Cross - represent the southern cross a group of stars that can be see in the Australian night sky.

    DID YOU KNOW
    Victoria was the first Australian colony to have its own flag

    Major Cities:
    Economy:
    • Capitalist (based on manufacture, agriculture and minerals)
    • Manufacture: Food , Beverages and Tobacco; Chemicals, Petroleum and Coal, Motor Vehicles
    • Mining: Coal (largest brown coal deposits in the world), Gold, Oil and Gas (51% and 41% of Australian production)
    • Agriculture: Wheat, Oats,Barley, Cattle and Sheep.

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