Australia exports many natural resources, especially iron ore and coal, to China. China provides finished goods in return and is also a leading source of international tourists to Australia due to its proximity. Australia's mining industry is a major part of its economy, with the country being the top exporter of resources like iron ore, coal, bauxite, and diamonds. Gold mining attracted many immigrants in the 1800s.

1. How Australians Trade
Australia Notes

2. Location
» China is Australia’s neighbor to the
north
» Australia exports tons of natural
resources to China
» 1/2 of iron ore goes to China
» In return, China provides Australia
with affordable finished goods
(cars, kitchen appliances, etc.)

4. Location
» Australia’s location makes it
expensive for people to visit from
other countries
» Most international tourists come
from New Zealand and China

5. Location
» Foreign tourists create 1/4 of
Australia’s $81 billion tourist
industry
» Australians do the majority of
tourism within their own country
» Remote location in the Southern
Hemisphere makes it expensive for
Australians to leave & visit other
countries

6. Climate
» Tourists from the northern
hemisphere visit Australia’s warm
beaches when it is winter in their
country
» Tourists usually wait until spring or
fall to visit the rural areas & the
outback--not too hot then

7. Climate
» In the non-desert regions, Australians
grow many grains
» Grown in inland regions of the coastal states
(not too hot/dry here)
» Grains include a wide range of different
crops:
» Wheat, barley, sorghum, rye, rice, chickpeas,
lentils, & oilseeds

8. Natural Resources
» Across much of Australia, the ground is
barren & not ideal for farming (outback)
» Many minerals are found here: gold, silver,
uranium, coal, copper, & iron ore
» Australia has exported nearly $400 billion
worth of metals, minerals, & fuels in the
past 20 years
» Natural resources account for 1/3 of the
country’s economy!

9. Natural Resources
» Australia exports more coal & iron
ore than any other country
» Leads the world in mining bauxite,
titanium, & diamonds
» No other country has more
reserves of lead, cadmium, or
nickel

10. Natural Resources
» Have always been important to
Australian trade:
» In the mid-1800s, Australia had a
gold rush in the southern region
» Thousands of immigrants moved to
Australia to find gold
» Many came from England, Ireland,
Germany, & China

11. The Super Pit
Th e wo r l d ’ s l ar g e s t

12. Questions to Consider:
» Which nation’s citizens visit
Australia more than any other?
Why?
» What resources attracted
thousands of immigrants in the
mid-nineteenth century?
» Which country is most important to
Australia for trade?