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Things to know
Industry and Trade Major Industries: Mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel and motor vehicles.
Exports: Metals, minerals, coal, wool, cereals, meats and crops.
Imports: Consumer goods, manufactured raw materials and capital equipment.
CurrencyThe national currency is the Australian dollar ($A); $1 = 100 cents. Coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2. Dollar bills are in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
Things To KnowPopulation: 17,576,400
Capital: Canberra
Flag: The Australian flag is blue with the flag of the UK in the upper lefthand corner (hoist side); below this is a large seven-pointed star. The right side of the flag is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white.
Shop Hours: Generally, shop hours are 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 9pm Friday and 9am to 5pm Saturday. Some stores will close Saturday at 12pm.
Bank Hours: Most banks open from 9:30am to 4pm Monday to
Thursday and until 5pm on Fridays.
Holidays:
January 1 - New Year's Day
Last Monday in January - Australia Day
April - Good Friday and Easter Monday
April 25 - Anzac Day
Second Monday in June - Queen's Birthday
First Monday in October - Labor Day
First Tuesday in November - Melbourne Cup
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Boxing Day
Time: Three different zones operate within Australia. Eastern Standard Time (EST) operates within Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. Central Standard Time (CST) operates in South Australia and Northern Territory. Western Standard Time (WST) operates in Western Australia. CST is 30 minutes behind EST.
WST is two hours behind EST. Therefore, if it is 10pm in Sydney or Melbourne, it is 9:30pm in Adelaide, 8pm in Perth, and the time in San Francisco would be 4am and in New York it would be 7am. During the summer months, daylight savings operates in all states except Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory.
Tipping:
Tipping is not an expected practice in Australia and is at your discretion. If you do tip, use the following as a guideline:
Restaurants: Waiting staff may be tipped 10-15%.
Porters: $1 per bag
Taxis: Round the fare up to the nearest dollar.
Useful PhrasesHello, welcome - G'day
Afternoon - Arvo
Barbecue - Barbie
Friend - Mate
Man - Bloke
Umbrella - Brolly
Fries - Chips
Aboriginal assembly - Corroboree
Swimming costumes - Cozzie
Sick - Crook
Appetizer - Entree
Honest, genuine - Fair dinkum
Sidewalk - Footpath
Alcoholic drink - Grog
Very good - Bonza
Goodbye - Hooroo
Baby Kangaroo - Joey
Sweets, candy - Lollies
Girl or woman - Sheila
Thank you - Ta
Can of beer - Tinnie
Weather Conditions
The weather conditions within Australia are as diverse as within the United States. It is important to remember that the seasons are reversed, as Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia's summer is the American and European winter.
The northern section of Australia has a tropical climate, hot and humid in the summer, and hot and dry in the winter. The south is generally more temperate to warm (with some colder pockets). For example, the maximum summer temperature in Sydney or Melbourne is around 79°-86°F (26°-30°C), and in the winter it is around 56°-61°F (13°-16°C).
Cairns Real Estate - Queensland Real Estate - Canberra Real Estate - Brisbane Real Estate - Sydney Real Estate - Surfers Paradise Real Estate - Melbourne Real Estate - Adelaide City Real Estate - Darwin Real Estate - Gold Coast Real Estate - Perth Real Estate - Coffs Harbour Real Estate - Katoomba Real Estate - Barrier Reef Real Estate - Alice Springs Real Estate - Katoomba Real Estate - New South Wales Real Estate - Tasmania Real Estate - North Wollongong Real Estate - Palm Meadows Real Estate - Port Douglas Real Estate
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