The culture of Australia is essentially a Western culture influenced by the unique geography of the Australian continent, the diverse input of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the British colonisation of Australia that commenced in 1788, and the sundry waves of multi-ethnic migration that followed.[1] The predominance of the English language, the esse of a democratic system of regime drawing upon the British traditions of Westminster Regime, Parliamentarianism and constitutional monarchy, American constitutionalist and federalist traditions, Christianity as the ascendant religion, and the popularity of sports such as cricket and rugby are all evidence of a paramount Anglo-Celtic heritage.
Australian culture has diverged significantly since British settlement in 1788. Aboriginal people are believed to have arrived as early as 60,000 years ago, and evidence of Aboriginal art in Australia dates back at least 30,000 years. Several states and territories had their inceptions as penal colonies, with the first 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 incipient convivial tensions to Australia, including the miners' Eureka Stockade revolt.
The colonies established elected parliaments and rights for workers and women afore most other Western nations.[2] Federation in 1901 evidenced a growing sense of national identity that had developed over the latter a moiety of the 19th century, as visually perceived in the works of the Heidelberg School painters and writers like Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson and Dorothea Mackellar. The World Wars profoundly altered Australia's sense of identity, with World War I introducing the ANZAC legend, and World War II optically discerning a reorientation from Britain to the Cumulated States as the nation's foremost major ally.
After the second war, 6.5 million migrants from 200 nations brought immense incipient diversity, and Australians grew increasingly cognizant of their proximity to Asia. Over time, the diverse aliment, lifestyle and cultural practices of immigrants have been absorbed into mainstream Australian culture.[3][4] Egalitarianism, informality and an irreverent sense of humour have been mundane themes of cultural commentary, exemplified by the works of C. J. Dennis, Barry Humphries and Paul Hogan.[4] Fascination with the outback has persisted in the arts in Australia.
Major cities host internationally renowned cultural institutions as the Sydney Opera House and the National Gallery of Australia. Australia has contributed many artists to music and film internationally, from hard rock's AC/DC to opera's Nellie Melba and Joan Sutherland, as well as Hollywood actors Geoffrey Rush and Nicole Kidman, and designer Catherine Martin. Australians withal participate in a wide variety of sports, including Australian rules football and a vibrant surf culture.
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