Manly, NSW, Australia, was named after the local indigenous people who the governor thought were very…. manly.
When Australia celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first…
When Australia celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first European settlement in 1938, officials tried to hide the fact that it was a prison colony by using the terms “transportees” or “deportees” instead of “convicts”.
Because rabbits are an invasive species, it’s illegal in Queensland…
Because rabbits are an invasive species, it’s illegal in Queensland (Australia) to own a pet rabbit unless you can prove that you’re a magician.
An episode of Peppa Pig had to be banned in Australia…
An episode of Peppa Pig had to be banned in Australia because it showed Peppa being friendly to spiders, which was not considered safe for kids due to the toxicity of many Australian species.
In 2005, security guards at Australia’s Parliament…
In 2005, security guards at Australia’s Parliament House were banned from calling people ‘mate’. The ban lasted one day.
On Feb 14, 1916, a group of 15,000 Australian soldiers went…
On Feb 14, 1916, a group of 15,000 Australian soldiers went on a drunken rampage through the streets of Sydney, hijacking trains and drinking pubs dry of beer.
There’s a mountain in Australia called Mt. Disappointment…
There’s a mountain in Australia called Mt. Disappointment. It was named such because the explorers who first reached its summit found the view to be sub par and wanted to reflect their feelings in the name they chose for the mountain.
When the space station Skylab fell to Earth in 1979, it landed…
When the space station Skylab fell to Earth in 1979, it landed in Esperance, Western Australia. The Shire of Esperance fined NASA $400 for littering, which went unpaid for 30 years until a radio host raised the money and paid it on behalf of NASA.
In 1859, English settler Thomas Austin released only 24 rabbits…
In 1859, English settler Thomas Austin released only 24 rabbits onto his property in Australia, stating “The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting.” By the 1920’s the population reached 10 billion. The situation was so dire that a […]
There are Target stores in Australia with the exact same logo…
There are Target stores in Australia with the exact same logo, name, and branding that have no affiliation with the actual Minneapolis-based retailer all because Target didn’t trademark their name in Australia.