Unusual & Interesting Facts About Australia

1.  Australia was the second country to give women the right to vote. 
2.  In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia. 
3.  Until 1984, Australia's National anthem was "God save the Queen" 
4.  Australia Day (January 26) is the anniversary of ships arriving in Sydney carrying convicts from England. 
5.  In 2007, it was estimated that 22 per cent of living Australians had a convict ancestor. 
6.  Australia's first police force was a band of 12 of the most well behaved Convicts. 
7.  Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid. Almost three-quarters of the land cannot support agriculture in any form. 
8.  A baby kangaroo at the time of its birth measures 2 centimetres. 
9.  Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason. 
10.  Box Jellyfish - The Box Jellyfish is considered the world's most venomous marine creature.The Box Jellyfish has killed more people in Australia than stonefish, sharks and crocodiles combined. 
11.  Four out of 10 Australians are migrants or the first-generation children of migrants. 
12.  The day of the Melbourne Cup (a horse race!) is a public holiday in Melbourne. 
13.  Dropbears - Dropbears are an evil species of koala that fall from trees and attack humans. This evil strain of koala doesn't actually exist. The story was created to fool Americans.