The culture of Australia is essentially a Western culture influenced by the unique geography of the Australian continent and by the diverse input of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and various waves of multi-ethnic migration which followed the British colonisation of Australia.The predominance of the English language, the existence of a democratic Westminster systemof government, Christianity as the dominant religion and the popularity of sports such as cricketand rugby evidence a significant Anglo-Celtic heritage, but Australia today hosts a great diversity of cultural practices and pursuits.
Aboriginal people are believed to have arrived as early as 60,000 years ago, and evidence ofAboriginal art in Australia dates back at least 30,000 years. Several states and territories had their origins as penal colonies, with the First Fleet of British convicts arriving at Sydney Cove in 1788. Stories of outlaws like the bushranger Ned Kelly have endured in Australian music,cinema and literature. The Australian gold rushes from the 1850s brought wealth as well as new social tensions to Australia, including the miners' Eureka Stockade rebellion. The colonies established elected parliaments and rights for workers and women in advance of most other Western nations. Federation in 1901 evidenced a growing sense of national identity - with theHeidelberg School painters and writers like Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson and Dorothea McKellar. The World Wars profoundly altered Australia's sense of identity - with World War Iintroducing ANZAC, and World War II seeing a reorientation from Britain to the United States as a major ally. After the second war, 6.5 million migrants from 200 nations brought immense new diversity, and Australians grew increasingly aware of proximity to Asia.
Egalitarianism, informality and an irreverent sense of humour have been common themes of cultural commentary - exemplified by the works of C J Dennis, Barry Humphries and Paul Hogan. Fascination with the outback has persisted in the arts in Australia and agriculture has been an important economic sector, but the demographics of Australia show it to be one of the most urbanised populations in the world, with more than 75 per cent of people living an urban lifestyle, largely in the capital cities along the coast. These comprise the melting pots of what has become known since the 1970s as multicultural Australia.
The capital cities host such internationally renowned cultural institutions as the Sydney Opera House and National Gallery of Victoria, and Australia has contributed many artists to international pop and classical culture, from hard rock's AC/DC to opera's Joan Sutherland. Australians also support or participate enthusiastically in a wide variety of sports, including Australian Rules Football and a vibrant surf culture.-------------------------------------------
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