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Oceanic languages

(Encyclopedia)Oceanic languages, aboriginal languages spoken in the region known as Oceania. If Oceania is restricted to the Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian islands, the indigenous tongues spoken on these i...

Keating, Paul

(Encyclopedia)Keating, Paul, 1944–, Australian politician. A trade-union official and member of the Labor party, he was first elected to parliament in 1969. As federal treasurer (treasury minister) from 1983 to 1...

Prokhorov, Aleksandr Mikhailovich

(Encyclopedia)Prokhorov, Aleksandr Mikhailovich əlyĭksänˈdər mēkhīˈləvĭch prôˈkhərəf [key], 1916–2002, Russian physicist, b. Atherton, Queensland, Australia. In 1923 he was taken to the Soviet Union...

Hunter, Port

(Encyclopedia)Hunter, Port, or Newcastle Harbour, estuary of the Hunter River, New South Wales, Australia. It is 3 mi (4.8 km) long and 2 mi (3.2 km) wide. The coal-loading port of Newcastle, one of the largest por...

Furneaux Group

(Encyclopedia)Furneaux Group fûrˈnō [key], about 25 islands, c.900 sq mi (2,330 sq km), Tasmania, SE Australia, in Bass Strait between Tasmania and the Australian mainland. The largest is Flinders Island, and th...

Moreton Bay

(Encyclopedia)Moreton Bay môrˈtən [key], inlet of the Pacific Ocean, 65 mi (105 km) long and 20 mi (32 km) wide, Queensland, E Australia, nearly enclosed by Moreton and Stradbroke islands. Receiving the Brisbane...

Browne, Thomas Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Browne, Thomas Alexander, pseud. Rolf Boldrewood rōf bôlˈdərwo͝odˌ, rôlf [key], 1826–1915, Australian author. A squatter, a magistrate, and a commissioner in the gold fields, he wrote many bo...

West Island

(Encyclopedia)West Island, island (2016 pop. 140), capital of the Cocos Islands, an Australian territory. One of three inhabited islands in the group, its population is mainly Australians of European descent. The i...

Gordon, Adam Lindsay

(Encyclopedia)Gordon, Adam Lindsay, 1833–70, Australian poet, b. the Azores. In 1853 he went to South Australia, where he joined the mounted police and later became famous as a steeplechase rider and horse owner....

Gippsland

(Encyclopedia)Gippsland gĭpsˈlănd [key], geographical area, 13,655 sq mi (35,366 sq km), Victoria, SE Australia, E of Melbourne. There are deposits of coal, oil and natural gas (offshore), and limestone. Gold wa...