Difference between revisions of "South Australia"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
Before white settlement, South Australia was occupied by [[Australian Aborigines|Aborigines]], whose ancestors are believed to have arrived around 40 000 years ago. The specific groups included the ''Kaurna'' on the Adelaide Plains, ''Peramank'' in the Mount Lofty Ranges, ''Ngarrinjeri'' around the [[Murray River]] and Coorong and ''Pitjantjantjara'' in the far north of the state. | Before white settlement, South Australia was occupied by [[Australian Aborigines|Aborigines]], whose ancestors are believed to have arrived around 40 000 years ago. The specific groups included the ''Kaurna'' on the Adelaide Plains, ''Peramank'' in the Mount Lofty Ranges, ''Ngarrinjeri'' around the [[Murray River]] and Coorong and ''Pitjantjantjara'' in the far north of the state. | ||
| − | + | ===19th century=== | |
South Australia was settled as a planned British colony in 1836. It is the only state of Australia to never have received convicts transported from Great Britain. Settlement started in the capital city, [[Adelaide]] and gradually moved out to the rest of the state. | South Australia was settled as a planned British colony in 1836. It is the only state of Australia to never have received convicts transported from Great Britain. Settlement started in the capital city, [[Adelaide]] and gradually moved out to the rest of the state. | ||
Exploration began before settlement with [[Charles Sturt]]'s expedition down the [[Murray River]] in 1830 and [[Matthew Flinders]]' and [[Nicolas Baudin]]'s expeditions exploring the coastline, both in 1802. Flinders and Baudin met in what is now known as Encounter Bay, and many coastal features have French names given by Baudin. | Exploration began before settlement with [[Charles Sturt]]'s expedition down the [[Murray River]] in 1830 and [[Matthew Flinders]]' and [[Nicolas Baudin]]'s expeditions exploring the coastline, both in 1802. Flinders and Baudin met in what is now known as Encounter Bay, and many coastal features have French names given by Baudin. | ||
[[File:Adelaide2.jpg|thumb|390px|South Australia paid travel for immigrants and gave out free land; 1878 announcement]] | [[File:Adelaide2.jpg|thumb|390px|South Australia paid travel for immigrants and gave out free land; 1878 announcement]] | ||
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| + | Both entrepreneurs and laborers were recruited in Britain, but the respectability required of all was distinctly that of the middle class. The society that recruiters described was the one the middle class would have liked to create rather than the actual state of affairs. The record shows that church attendance in the town was fairly low and that more public houses than churches operated. Drunken and disorderly behavior persisted but never became a major problem. Colonial officials licensed both producers and purveyors of alcohol, both to prevent illegal and unregulated trade and for the tax revenue it generated.<ref> Daryl Adair, "Respectable, Sober, and Industrious? Attitudes to Alcohol in Early Colonial Adelaide," ''Labour History'' [Australia] 1996 (70): 131-155. </ref> | ||
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Adelaide typified New Urban Frontier cities of the American West and Australasia in which high average worker incomes and effective public transport enabled most of the population to live in a suburban setting. Comparison of infant mortality rates in the city of Adelaide, Unley, and Port Adelaide, however, reveals that suburban living did not guarantee healthy infants. "Black spots" with high infant mortality rates existed near similar pockets of streets with older, higher-density housing that experienced lower infant death rates. Socioeconomic status, mother's education, and family size had more impact on levels of infant mortality than did the external physical environment. Levels of crowding and cleanliness within individual homes also affected infant death rates.<ref> Philippa Mein Smith and Lionel Frost, "Suburbia and Infant Death in Late Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Adelaide." ''Urban History'' 1994 21(2): 251-272. </ref> | In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Adelaide typified New Urban Frontier cities of the American West and Australasia in which high average worker incomes and effective public transport enabled most of the population to live in a suburban setting. Comparison of infant mortality rates in the city of Adelaide, Unley, and Port Adelaide, however, reveals that suburban living did not guarantee healthy infants. "Black spots" with high infant mortality rates existed near similar pockets of streets with older, higher-density housing that experienced lower infant death rates. Socioeconomic status, mother's education, and family size had more impact on levels of infant mortality than did the external physical environment. Levels of crowding and cleanliness within individual homes also affected infant death rates.<ref> Philippa Mein Smith and Lionel Frost, "Suburbia and Infant Death in Late Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Adelaide." ''Urban History'' 1994 21(2): 251-272. </ref> | ||
Revision as of 04:54, June 18, 2009
South Australia is a state of Australia occupying the south central portion of the continent.
Geography and climate
South Australia has a total area of 984,377 square kilometres.[1] Most of South Australia has a temperate climate with Summer from December to February and winter from June to August. Snow is rare, with falls occurring some years in the Mount Lofty or Flinders ranges, but usually having melted by lunchtime the same day.
The northern part of the state is arid in central Australia with little rainfall, and consequently also little population. The areas that are not complete desert are used in large pastoral properties running sheep or cattle on low stocking rates, limited by availability of feed and water.
Eyre Peninsula, the mid north region and Yorke Peninsula are predominantly used for grain (especially wheat and barley) and more intensive sheep and cattle production. The southern and eastern areas receive sufficient rainfall for more intensive cropping and farming, including dairy farms and vineyards.
History
Before white settlement, South Australia was occupied by Aborigines, whose ancestors are believed to have arrived around 40 000 years ago. The specific groups included the Kaurna on the Adelaide Plains, Peramank in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Ngarrinjeri around the Murray River and Coorong and Pitjantjantjara in the far north of the state.
19th century
South Australia was settled as a planned British colony in 1836. It is the only state of Australia to never have received convicts transported from Great Britain. Settlement started in the capital city, Adelaide and gradually moved out to the rest of the state.
Exploration began before settlement with Charles Sturt's expedition down the Murray River in 1830 and Matthew Flinders' and Nicolas Baudin's expeditions exploring the coastline, both in 1802. Flinders and Baudin met in what is now known as Encounter Bay, and many coastal features have French names given by Baudin.
Both entrepreneurs and laborers were recruited in Britain, but the respectability required of all was distinctly that of the middle class. The society that recruiters described was the one the middle class would have liked to create rather than the actual state of affairs. The record shows that church attendance in the town was fairly low and that more public houses than churches operated. Drunken and disorderly behavior persisted but never became a major problem. Colonial officials licensed both producers and purveyors of alcohol, both to prevent illegal and unregulated trade and for the tax revenue it generated.[2]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Adelaide typified New Urban Frontier cities of the American West and Australasia in which high average worker incomes and effective public transport enabled most of the population to live in a suburban setting. Comparison of infant mortality rates in the city of Adelaide, Unley, and Port Adelaide, however, reveals that suburban living did not guarantee healthy infants. "Black spots" with high infant mortality rates existed near similar pockets of streets with older, higher-density housing that experienced lower infant death rates. Socioeconomic status, mother's education, and family size had more impact on levels of infant mortality than did the external physical environment. Levels of crowding and cleanliness within individual homes also affected infant death rates.[3]
Demographics
The population of South Australia is slightly over 1.5 million people, almost three quarters of whom live in the Adelaide area. The median age is 38.8 years, the highest of any Australian state.[4]
Government
South Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament. The leader of the party with a majority in the lower house, the House of Assembly is known as the Premier. The upper house is called the Legislative Council. The monarch, Queen Elizabeth II is represented directly by the Governor of South Australia. Since 1901, South Australia has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia.
References
- ↑ South Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed 19 May 2007
- ↑ Daryl Adair, "Respectable, Sober, and Industrious? Attitudes to Alcohol in Early Colonial Adelaide," Labour History [Australia] 1996 (70): 131-155.
- ↑ Philippa Mein Smith and Lionel Frost, "Suburbia and Infant Death in Late Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Adelaide." Urban History 1994 21(2): 251-272.
- ↑ Population by Age and Sex, South Australia -- Electronic Delivery, Jun 2005, Australian Bureau of Statistics, accessed 19 May 2007