Australia: the land of kangaroos and koalas, of surf and sea, of scorching sun and (if you happen to stumble into Melbourne) of four seasons in one day. There’s something for everyone in Australia, whether you’re an art connoisseur, a hardcore techno enthusiast or an adrenaline junkie: but what parts of Australia’s rich culture have transcended their national context and become iconic on an international level?
“No Worries Mate” - The Subtle Art Of The Aussie Attitude
All over the world, Australians are known to be particularly chilled-out, easy-going, and laid-back: the epitome of hyphenated good vibes. A spirit of mateship has been central to the Australian national psyche for as long as anyone can remember - sharing a couple of cold ones in hot weather, some good-natured (even if it doesn’t always feel it) teasing, and an open, warm greeting (“G’day mate!”) are the pillars of the international Australian brand, and is something people everywhere try to emulate. After all, who wouldn’t want to take a step back, and appreciate all the blessings life has to offer?
Outstanding Natural Beauty
When people come to Australia, they are often looking to explore the great bounty of wilderness that Australia has to offer. The sheer size of the outback, for instance, weighs heavy in the European mind - the idea of sheep farms the size of Liechtenstein, navigable only by helicopter, has a special draw that often draws unsuspecting visitors into ill-advised “ute” trips through the great swathes of red desert. Beyond this, though, there are many famous Australian icons for the nature-inclined foreigner, whether that’s snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, surfing at Bondi Beach, taking in the floodplains and flatlands of Kakadu National Park, marvelling at the drama of the 12 Apostles and the Great Ocean Road, or attempting the trek up Mount Wellington, to name but a few.
Which Beautiful Game? Australian Sporting Culture
Four out of five Australians believe that sport is a significant part of their national culture - indeed to many it is “like a religion” - but how is this reflected in the wider world? Beyond Australia’s shores (and arguably the borders of Victoria) the phrase “Aussie Rules” is akin to “law of the jungle”: the sport to which a nation gives its name is looked up to in awe as one of the most arcane, physically intense, and downright ridiculous pastimes in the world. This, however, is not to its detriment - its obscurity only adds to its claim to totemic status in Australian iconography. In a more comprehensible vein, Australia’s cricket, rugby, and athletic prowess make the Wallabies a well-known (if not always well-loved) identity in global sporting culture.
Part Bird, Part Fish, Part Lizard
Perhaps the most iconic thing about Australia, however, is its remarkable fauna. From the kangaroo and emu on its flag to the inevitable killer spiders in its bathrooms, something about the pure, weird wildness of life in Australia has cemented itself in international consciousness - and rightly so. Marsupials, especially, are quintessentially Australian - this strange order includes koalas, kangaroos, and possums, all representations of Australia that permeate its global brand, from sports teams to children’s books. The strangest of all is the duck-billed platypus: an animal so unlikely that it was initially believed to be a cleverly crafted hoax. This egg-laying mammal, replete with a duck’s bill, a beaver’s fur, a mole’s claws, and even a poisoned spur on its heel, baffled colonists and scientists alike, and has since become an emblem of Australia’s unique and idiosyncratic natural history.
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Indigenous Culture
Australia has been inhabited for almost 65,000 years, since the first aboriginal people crossed the Torres Straits from Papua New Guinea, and in that time a rich cultural heritage and set of traditions has been developed and handed down from generation to generation. The clearest example of this culture perhaps, is Aboriginal rock art. These colourful, educational, and astonishingly resilient illustrations depict spiritual beliefs, foundation myths, hunting advice, laws, and even anatomical instruction - the unique epistemological systems, and the anti-consumerist nature of indigenous Australian culture have long been iconic of a less individualistic existence, from which we could all learn. Uluru, especially, is emblematic of a deep and perhaps little-understood Australian culture, and especially since the ban on climbing it and the introduction of regulations ensuring respectful tourism remains a proud symbol of aboriginal survival.
Overall, it’s very hard to define what makes Australia so Australian. Obviously, it changes significantly from person to person, and region to region (ask someone from Melbourne about Perth, if you don’t believe me), but in the eyes of the rest of the world, there are certain things about Australian culture that make it wonderfully distinct: its rich heritage; its beautiful landscape; its cruel and unusual sports; its people’s relaxed approach to life’s challenges; and, above all, its weird and wacky animalia.
