Anislandcountry,awholecontinent,Australiahasaremarkablycohesivepersonalityandonewhich,muchtooursurprise,ismarkedlyforeign.Itisnolongertheinfantcolony,peopledbyBritishconvicts2andpioneers,butamaturing,perhapsstillsomewhatadolescentindividual,ruggedlysteeringavitalnewcourseinlife.
Australiaisasprawlofrockanddesert,fringedwithlushvalleys,snowfields,coralspectaculars,storm-stabbedcliffsandrollingbeaches,alandrichinminerals,colors,curiousflora3,230speciesofmammals4,700ofbirds,400ofreptiles,70ofamphibia,2,200offishand50,000speciesofinsects—andseeminglyinfinitespace.Australiaisbecomingtherichestcountryintheworld,materially.
TotalareaofthecontinentisabouthalfasbigasEurope,or25timesthesizeofBritainandIreland.Populationisbunchedmainlyincoastalcities,thebiggestofwhicharecapitalsofthecountry’sstatesandthefederalcapitalCanberra5.Canberraisamodelofaplannedgardencityandistheseatofamajoruniversity.Itissmallishinsize,butbiginimportance.Sydneyisthelargestcity,andcommercialcapitalofthecountry.
Throughoutthecountry,thebasicaccommodationunitisthemotel,aflatprefabricated6sprawlofbedrooms.Butpricesarereasonableand,mostimportant,theroomsareexcellentandequippedusuallywithair-conditioning,arefrigeratorandteaandcoffeemakingfacilities.Bathtubsarerare,asAustraliansprefertheconvenienceandhygieneofashower.Porterageandotherservicesarerare,asAustraliansdon’tlikedoingajobwhichsmacksof7servility.Afterall,thisisthelandofequalityandopportunity.
