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Africa Guides

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Asia Guides

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Caribbean Guides

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Central America

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Europe Guides

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Middle East Guides

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North America

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Pacific Guides

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South America

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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited the country for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the European settlers. The Europeans first made contact with these people in the 1500s, but it wasn’t until much later that the British decided to use the continent as a penal colony to ease the overcrowded jails in Britain.

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Australia was the new land of opportunity and promised the immigrants a new life based on farming, mining and trade. However, during this time the indigenous Australians suffered tremendously as their land was taken away from them and new diseases introduced into the island to which they had no immunity. The indigenous Australians were soon a race of displaced and very angry people.

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Thousands of migrants and refugees sort residence in Australia after WWII as they were attracted to the space and opportunities the country offered. The economy began to strengthen and industry developed. During this time, the government began working on several major schemes including hydro electric power.

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