Discover the Outback: Top 11 Fun Facts About Australian Culture You Need to Know!
1. Railway Resilience in Aussie Heat
While the Brits are known for their "keep calm and carry on" attitude, it seems they've met their match when it comes to railway resilience under hot weather: Australia's rail system is better designed for scorching heat, with a stress-free temperature range between 35-40C and electronic monitoring sensors on Melbourne Metro Train lines to measure track temperatures and adjust speeds accordingly during extreme heat events.
Source => abc.net.au
2. Anthem Showdown: Goodbye Queen, Hello Roo
While Australians may no longer ride kangaroos to work, they did once hold a nationwide competition to replace "God Save the Queen" with a more 'down under' tune: The song "Advance Australia Fair" first tickled ears in 1878, courtesy of composer Peter Dodds McCormick, and after winning the hearts of Aussies during the 1973 contest, it officially hopped its way to national anthem status in 1984—with a few lyrical tweaks, of course.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
Did you know the siesta tradition, inspired by Islamic Law, is still practiced in various countries to escape the hottest part of the day? Discover its evolving role in modern culture!
=> Fun Facts about Culture
3. No Pants Driving? That's a No-Go!
Crikey! Planning to put the "down under" in "Down Under" by driving pants-free, mate? HOLD YOUR KANGAROOS: Driving without pants in Australia is indeed considered obscene exposure and is punishable by law across all states and territories, with fines and even criminal charges being a possible outcome if the exposure is deemed intentional. Better hop back into your budgie smugglers before hitting the road!
Source => carsguide.com.au
4. Flat White Coffee: A Frothy Feud
A frothy feud brews between Australia and New Zealand: Both nations have been locked in a heated battle over the true origin of the flat white coffee. The Australian contender, Alan Preston, claims to have crafted this slightly-less-foamy delight in his Sydney café back in 1985, while New Zealand's Fraser McInnes allegedly stumbled upon the recipe in 1989, when he accidentally served a cappuccino with not enough foam in Wellington, leaving him to sheepishly apologize for the "flat white." Despite the spilled coffee beans, this caffeinated caper remains unsolved, as both countries passionately cling to their respective claims.
Source => coffeeordie.com
5. Boxing Day: Aussie Cash Register Showdown
Crikey, cash registers boxing with each other in the land Down Under: Australia celebrates Boxing Day on December 26th as a major shopping event when retailers aim to knock out old stock with massive discounts, and it has roots in the historical practice of gifting boxed presents to servants as a token of appreciation. In 2021, over 3.7 million Aussie households joined this retail rumble, according to Australia Post.
Source => news.com.au
6. Surf's Up at The Right: Russian Roulette Style
Ever wished you could play Russian Roulette, but with your surfboard instead of a revolver? Welcome to Western Australia's The Right: a monstrous, bone-crunching wave known for its unpredictability and do-or-die attitude, making it an un-paddled, liquid dare for professional surfers seeking the ultimate thrill.
Source => surfertoday.com
7. Tom Wills: Cricket Hero or Controversial Figure?
Before we start throwing stones, let's give bat-tling Tom Wills a sporting chance: The creator of Australian Rules Football not only excelled at cricket but also played a pivotal role in Australian history by captaining the first Aboriginal cricket team to tour England in 1868, despite having previously gotten marred in a controversial land war with Indigenous Australians.
Source => onlymelbourne.com.au
8. Witchetty Grub: Tasty Underground Delight
Ladies and gents, behold the wiggly, jiggly, all-you-can-eat protein buffet found underground – bon appétit!: The witchetty grub, a traditional Aboriginal Australian food source, is a large, white larva boasting high protein and found in the roots of the witchetty bush across Northern Territory and parts of Western and South Australia, also making cameos in Aboriginal Dreamings through paintings.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
9. Aussie Slang: A Playful, Secretive Riddle
G'day mates, ever realized that sometimes when you try to have a "Captain Cook" at some "fair dinkum" Australian slang, it sounds like a mix between a playful kid playing "telephone" and a secret code invented by people with shrimp on the barbie? Well, here's a bonzer revelation: The origin of this linguistic riddle lies in the clever union of Cockney rhyming slang and Aboriginal languages, birthed as the convict settlers and native tribes shared a few Vegemite sandwiches and tales from Down Under.
Source => trafalgar.com
10. Christmas BBQ: Prawn Paradise
Contrary to popular belief, Aussies don't spend their Christmas tossing shrimps on the barbie while hoeing into some Vegemite: Instead, they celebrate with an epic, mouthwatering BBQ feast including grilled meats, seafood, salads, and of course, big juicy prawns slathered in garlic oil or sizzled straight on the hot plate.
Source => plumdeluxe.com
11. Quokka Selfies: Photogenic Protection
Say cheese and marsu-smile: The adorable Australian quokka, known for gracing social media selfies with their impossibly photogenic grins, are actually a vulnerable species native to Western Australia's Rottnest Island. With an estimated population of 8,000 to 12,000, they've been hopping their way through island life for 7,000 years, charming tourists and reminding them to follow proper etiquette - including not feeding them snacks that make their tummies rumble for all the wrong reasons.
Source => westernaustralia.com
