Culture and Traditions AUSTRALIA
Culture
Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space*
There has always been a high concentration of urban and suburban dwellers, partly because the harsh physical environment has encouraged people to remain close to the fertile coastal areas. In 1991, 70 percent of Australians lived in thirteen cities that had more than 100,000 people and 39 percent of the population lived in Sydney and Melbourne.
Notions of national identity have long been framed around a distinction between the city and the bush, with urban and rural dwellers articulating different economic and social interests.
The cities are characterized by low–density housing and dependence on private cars. In recent decades there has been increased inner–city redevelopment aimed at attracting locals and tourists to central public shopping and recreational areas.
Across cities and towns, significant icons in public spaces include war memorials, sporting grounds, and prominent structures such as the new Parliament House in Canberra.
Uluru
Also of great importance are the natural icons such as Uluru, a huge sandstone monolith in Central Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches down the east coast of northern Queensland.
*Source: https://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Australia.html
Aboriginal culture
These videos ‘The men of the fifth world’ and ‘Celebrating First Nations Dance at Sydney Opera house are really great to watch. Get to know Australia a bit better!
Traditions
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide – Adelaide Central Market
A fresh food market (since 1869). The Market offers a huge range of fresh food including fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, cheeses, bakery, small goods and health foods, along with some of Adelaide’s most popular cafes and eateries.
With over 9.5 million visitors every year, the Adelaide Central Market remains the food Mecca for multicultural cuisine and fresh produce.
In 2019, the Adelaide Central Market celebrated 150 years of continuous operation, making it the oldest food retail market in its original location in Australia.
It is also a popular tourist attraction – accessible – in the heart of Adelaide and is often referred to as the Central Market.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Central_Market)
Traditional Indigenous art
There are several types of and methods used in making Aboriginal art, including rock painting, dot painting, rock engravings, bark painting, carvings, sculptures, and weaving and string art.
Australian Aboriginal art is the oldest unbroken tradition of art in the world. (Source: Wikipedia).
Stories are told in Aboriginal art. Learn more on this website.
Fringe Festivals, Street theater and more
In many Australian cities, buskers or street performers, are giving great shows for an always changing audience, of all ages. The Adelaide Fringe Festival is world famous and attracts millions of visitors every year.
