DATED INFORMATION - Archive Only

Pemulwuy

An aboriginal leader who between 1790 and 1802 united the tribes of the Sydney region in a guerilla campaign against the invading forces of Governor Phillip. He demoralised the fragile settlement so much there was a reward for his capture of ‘20 gallons of spirit, two suits of clothes for a free man, or a pardon and a recommendation for a passage back to England for anyone already on a conditional emancipation’. He was captured and beheaded in 1802. His head was preserved and sent to London as a specimen of ‘local fauna’. The location of the head is still unknown.

Phonecards

An option to make international and local calls is to use a Telstra Phonecard. The cards store $5, $10, $20 or $50 worth of calls. Retailers have PhoneCard signs. Most phones take coins. Local calls are 40 cents and are not timed. Some will take credit cards, however the minimum charge for a call on one of these phones is $1.20.

Platypus

(Ornithorhtncus anatinus) The platypus, unique to Australia, is a monotreme, which means that it is a marsupial that lays eggs. It’s covered with thick brown fur, has a broad bill, a pouch and four webbed feet with claws to dig. The Platypus is one of only two monotremes in the world. The other is the Echidna and this is also only found in Australia. The Platypus is on the 20 cent coin.

For a further introduction
Anderson's Creek Primary School page
Environment Australia - Biodiversity Group Website

Also see related A-Z listings: Animals.

Population

19,000,000 (reached on 18th August 1999) with an increase rate of 1 every 2 minutes/7 seconds. The death rate is calculated at one every 3 minutes/54 seconds.
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 2,023,147; female 1,926,206),
15-64 years: 66% (male 6,251,159; female 6,105,381),
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,005,196; female 1,301,998) (July 1998 est.).
Nationality: noun: Australian(s), adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Population - Country of birth, Bureau of Statistics

Postal Service

Australia Post Website

International mail is quite efficient and usually takes from 5-10 days to reach Europe, Asia and the United States depending on where it was posted. Printed Aerograms cost 70 cents to anywhere in the world, postcards are $1 to Europe, 95 cents to the United States and Canada, a regular letter costs $1.05 to the United States and Canada and $1.20 to Europe. A standard card or letter to any destination in Australia costs 45 cents. A postage calculator is available at: http://www.auspost.com.au/pac/. If you are interested in Australian stamps, go here: http://www.auspost.com.au/stamps/default.asp

Australia Post also has a new services where you can order sheets of Australian stamps with a personalised photo of your choice printed on it. Details and how to order are at: http://www.auspost.com.au/stamps/default.asp
You can receive post from any post office if you address the letter to Poste Restante followed by the post office, town, state and postcode. Mail will be held for up to a month and ID such as passport will be needed when you arrive to collect your mail. Get the sender to put your surname first because it should then be filed in the right place and more easily found eg.

PEARCE, Sally
Poste Restante
GLEBE NSW 2037
AUSTRALIA

Search for Post office locations
Sending money within Australia via Post Office Money Orders

Money Orders can be cashed on-the-spot at any of Australia Post`s 3,900 plus Post Offices Australia-wide.

With an Express Money Order, up to $10,000 can be transferred across Australia, from Post Office to Post Office, within one hour!

Ordinary Money Order Costs Only $2.50
Maximum Value $1,000
Express Money Order Costs Only $20
Maximum value $10,000 Cost includes transmission to the nominated paying Post Office.

Plus 10c State Stamp Duty in Western Australia

For more on money orders on the Australia Post Website

Prices (sample)

Public Phone Local Call - 40 cents AU
Milk 1 litre - $1.30 AU
Sliced White Bread - $2.90 AU
Eggs 55g 1 doz - $2.60 AU
Potatoes 1 Kg - $1.50 cents AU
Newspaper (Daily Telegraph) $1.00 AU
Petrol 1 litre - $0.90 - $1.00 AU (city)
Cup of Coffee - $1.50 - $2.70 AU
Sydney bus trip (single - cash) $1.30 - $4.00 AU
Airport Express bus from airport to city $6.50 AU
Sydney Explorer (all day) Bus Ticket - $30.00 AU
Taxi from the Airport into the centre of the city - about $25 to $30 AU

Sydney 2000
Access Guide

Things you
must know

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