Australia is the smallest of Earth's continents, with an area of 7.615 million km2. It has a diverse landscape including large deserts in the west and center, sweeping plains and plateaus in the center, and highlands in the east. Structurally, Australia was once part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. The climate is mostly tropical and subtropical, with low rainfall across much of the interior.

2. Of the Earth’s continents, Australia has the smallest land area, comprising
7615 million km2 . Much of Australia is very dry and the river network is very
sparse.
The Australia continent is situated in the southern hemisphere between 10
Sand 30 S and 113 and 153E. Several continental islands including
Tasmania, with an area of 68 400 km2 belong to it. Australia is the smallest
of the Earth’s continents. Its area comprises only 7.615 millions km2 .
Is is like an east-west extending Quadrangle. It is little smaller
than U.S.A. and more than double of India. It is the smallest
continent. Australia is the 6th largest country of the world.

3. Structurally Australia was a part of the Ancient landmass called Gondwanaland ,
as Peninsular India , Africa and South America were.
The Australian landscape has great diversity. It has large stony deserts and
plateaus in the west and Centre, sweeping plateaus and plains in the Centre and
highlands in the east. All the flanked by narrow coastal plain in the east, south,
west and north. Average elevation is 330m. Relief of Oceania can be divided into
three parts.

4. It occupies the Western half of the continent. it is
composed of sandstone and limestone which lie
in roughly horizontal layers over the igneous rocks
it is undulating with an average height of about
350 metres but is much higher in places where
isolated mountain ranges of hard rocks rise
above the general level. in general the Western
plateau drops steeply to the sea giving rise to and
even coastline with few inlets except in the
Northeast. here the sea is a shallower and there
are good harbours with high Tides- Darwin
Wyndham and Derby for example.

5. Central Plains extend from encounter bay in the south
to the gulf of carpentaria in the north .These plains
maybe divided into 3 main parts:-
The central
plains
The Murray-
Darling basin
The Lake Eyre
Basin
The
Carpentaria
Low lands

6. The Murray darling basin it is a rich agricultural area which depends for its
prosperity on an adequate water supply .The Murray, together with its tributaries -
Darling , Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Goulburn drains nearly the whole of south
Eastern Australia southwestwards into Encounter bay. The darling and the Murray
are shed by water from melting of snow on the southern alps .
lake Eyre basin is a vast saucer shaped area of inland drainage in which lie many
salt lakes among them lake Grainder, lake Torrens and lake Eyre itself are important
. Much of the region is a barren desert and is very sparsely peopled . lake Eyre
,which lies below sea level is no more than a vast depression of clay encrusted with
salt.
The Carpentarian Lowlands are drained by such rivers as the flinders and Mitchell
and are separated from the lake Eyre basin by the Barkly tableland and Selwyn
range.

7. These lie roughly parallel to the east coast of
Australia . They extend from Cape York in
Queensland to the state of Victoria and continue
on the southern side of the shallow Bass Strait in
Tasmania. they formed a formidable barrier to the
early settlers and came to be known as THE
GREAT DIVIDING RANGE. the original ranges
consisted of folded rocks but these have been so
weathered and eroded that the surface is now
plateau like in many places . Mt. kosciusko
reaches 2230m and is the highest peak in
Australia.

9. Oceania is a continent of few perennial rivers. because
od wide prevalence of aridity and high temperature , a
large part of the continent is a hot desert where there is
absence of surface flow of water or at the most there
are only inland drainage basins where ephemeral and
short rivulets drain into some salt pans or shallow salt
lakes. most of the rivers of continent rise in eastern
highlands. those flowing east are short and swift. in
their upper reaches , there are often waterfalls , but
near the sea they are liable to flood. Belyando is
important river of the eastern coast.

11. Broadly the climate of Oceania is tropical and sub -tropical. Tropic of Capricorn
passes through the middle of the country but about 60% of the area lies in the
south of the tropic . Northern areas experience monsoon winds. Of the whole
there is no great difference between the average summer and winter
temperatures.
In summer (january) when the sun is roughly over head in the Centre of the
continent temperature in this area reach between 27°c. The average january
temperature at Alice Spring is 27°c. Highest temperature of +32°c are found in
north-western parts of West Australia in Great Sandy Desert.
Pressure is low in northern areas of Oceania. It is below 1010 mb. It is
however, high over Sn. Oceania where it ranges between 1010 and 1015 mb.
The lowest pressure is over N.Wn. parts of the continent. Therefore winds are
drawn in from high pressure areas to the south , across the Dividing Range
from the east and from the Arafura Sea and Torres Strait in the north.

13. In the south the winds bring little rain for they do not cross any considerable expanse of
sea but in the north and north east the winds bring heavy monsoon rain .
In winter (July) Sun’s position shifts northwards and Sun’s rays are vertical at the
tropic of cancer in northern hemisphere on June 21. Therefore , sun’s rays in
Oceania during winter was slanting and are less hot. The temperature is below
10 degree C in Murray Darling Basin.
In winter pressure belts also move northwards and a high pressure area extends
across Oceania south of Capricorn. Here pressure is above 1020mb. From this cell
of high pressure, pressure decreases both north and southwards.
Tropical Australia has little rain except along the east coast. The south-west and
south-east receives rain in July from the belt of Westerly winds which now
extends well north of Tasmania.

15. The wetter parts of Oceania were originally covered with evergreen
forests mainly of various types of Eucalyptus tree. These forests thin out inland to
Savannah grasslands in the north and to temperate grassland called downs in
Murray Darling Basin. This can broadly be grouped into following categories:-

16. Mainly found in Northern an d North-eastern coastal areas
of the continent. These are palms , ash, cedar etc.
Temperate Forest:-
In Queensland, New South Wales , Victoria and
Tasmania in the mountainous and hill areas pine tree
abounds. It yields oil , gum and pulp for paper making.
Tropical Grasslands:-
The areas lying to the west of Great Dividing Range in
Queensland , Central parts of North Australia and
northern parts of west Australia. These are Savannah
Grasslands.
Palm Trees Pines

17. In the Murray-darling Basin because of
moderate temperatures and cool climate
temperate grasslands called Downs are found .
They form good pastures.
Mediterranean Scrub Lands:- In South-Western Australia and region
around Spencer Gulf with more rain
prevails the hard woods of Jarrah
&Karri.
Desert Vegetation:-
In the vast interior which is a hot desert rainfall is
too low . In these areas for miles together there
are sand dunes and in favourable areas grow
Cactus , Saltbush and other thorny bushes.
Downs Jarrah

19. Soils results from inter-action of climate and organic matter on
parent rocks and relief through time. As a result usually the
climatic regions, vegetation types and soil correspond each
other , through they deviate a little bit here and there.
Therefore , on the basis of climate and vegetation types of
soils of the vast interior hot desert are Grey and Red Desert
Soils with predominance of sand , bare rocks and coarse and
loose particles. The soils are dry. In the Murray Darling Downs
and Savannah grasslands of Queensland and North Australia
the soils pedocals and vary from Chestnut brown to
Chernozem . These are highly rich soils . The soils of more
rainy and hot eastern Queensland , Arnhem land and Cape
York Peninsula are acidic red and yellow and at higher places
are even lateritic. In river valleys alluvial soils predominate.

20. MINERAL AND POWER
RESOURCES
Oceania has a strong mineral base. Many of the
minerals- ferrous, Ferro-alloys, non-ferrous and
precious metals and stones are in surplus quantities
which it exports. Many new mining areas and minerals
were discovered particularly in the west, the areas
around Adelaide, Victoria, Tasmania, Western and
central N.S. Wales, coastal and western Queensland
and northern Territory. The following are the important
minerals of Oceania-

22. IRON ORE
It is an important mineral of Oceania which is exported also. It has
1.6% of world’s total reserves. However, production is large which is
third largest in the world. There are two types of iron ore producing
areas in Australia- old areas and new areas.
OLD AREAS
1. Middleback Range
Region
2. Yampi Sound Region
3. Koalyanobbing
NEW AREAS
In Western Australia in a
region called Pilbara Region.
1. Mt. Gold worthy Deposits
2. Newly developed
Hamersley Iron Province
3. Mt. Tom Price

23. URANIUM
This atomic mineral is found in Oceania in
large quantities. Oceania has the world’s
largest reserves of Uranium. The important
uranium deposits occur in :
1. Marry Kathleen
2. The Radium Hill
3. South Alligator River
4. Lake Frome
5. Brock’s Creek

24. NICKEL
Significant recent discoveries have
been made in finding Nickel Ore. The
important regions include-
1. The Kambalda Deposits
2. Old Gold Fields
3. Windarra Area
4. Musgrave Block

25. TUNGSTEN
It was discovered in Oceania since the end of 19th century.
But the contribution to world output of tungsten has remained
low since 1920. Tungsten is produced from wolframite and
sheelite found in Queenstown, New England, King Island in
Tasmania and Northern Territory.
Manganese
Oceania produced 16.14 m tons of manganese (7%
of world) in 2000. It is mined from many small
deposits. But now large production comes from
recently discovered deposits of Manganese in Groote
Eylandt Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

26. LEAD AND ZINC
Since long Oceania has been the world's principal
producer of lead and zinc. In 2000, Oceania produced
about 14.2 lakh metric tons of zinc. In 2000, Oceania
produced about 7.1 m. tons of lead ore. Following are
the major areas of production:
1. Broken Hill in Western N.S. Wales
2. Mt. Isa in Western Queensland
3. Mc Arthur River Area

27. COPPER
It is widely distributed in the Paleozoic and pre-
cambrain rocks of the continent. The principal
mining areas of Oceania lies at:
1. Mt. Isa and Mt. Morgan
2. Mt. Lyell in Tasmania
3. Tennant Creek
4. Copper mines of Wallaroo-Moonta and Burra
5. Kanmantoo copper mines

28. BAUXITE
Oceania is rich in Bauxite and is the world’s largest
producer. Largest Bauxite field of the world is at Weipa.
Gove Bauxite mines in Arnhem land of Northern Australia are
also important.
Gold
In 2000, Oceania was the world’s third largest producer of
Gold. Following are the important gold fields of Oceania.
1. Western Australia- Coolgardie, Norseman, Kalgoorlie,
Yampi mines
2. Charles Tower and Mt. Morgan
3. N.S. Wales gold- Bathurst and Mudgee highland.

29. POWER RESOURCES
Coal
Oceania has enough coal for domestic
purposes and substantial export surplus.
It has 2% coal reserves of the world. The
important coal fields of Oceania are:
1.Sydney- New castle Coalfields
2. Queensland Coal Fields
3. Other Coalfields

31. PETROLEUM
Oceania is a small producer of oil. Main areas of
production:
1.Commercial oil was discovered in Oceania in 1961 and
1964 in Moonie and Alton.
2. The Barrow Island oilfield
3.Bass Strait- Gippsland oilfield
Natural Gas
Fuel supply situation in Oceania changed drastically with the
discovery of Gas fields.
Gas Field Area Supplied
1. Roma area Gas Field -------------Brisbane
2. Gippsland---------------------------Melbourne
3. Gidgealpa-Moomba gas field---Adelaide
4. Dongara Gas fields-----------------Perth

32. HYDROELECTRICITY
Due to aridity, low rainfall, high
Evaporation and sandy soils water
resources in Oceania are small. There
are a few perennial rivers in the region.
Tasmania has almost the 50% of the
region’s hydroelectric resources. There
are Snowy River Project, Kiewa, Tamar
Valley in Tasmania

33. AGRICULTURE
Oceania is a farming country but due to
widespread aridity, sparse population and
remoteness only about 6.5% of the total land area
was arable land in 2000.
Wheat
It is the most important crop of Oceania. It has been
extensively grown in the temperate parts of Oceania for
over 100 years. Farming is highly mechanized in the region.
The wheat producing areas of Oceania can be grouped into
two regions namely-
1. Murray- Darling Region in south-east
2. Mediterranean Region in the south-west

34. MAIZE
Maize is also an important summer crop of Oceania. It is
mostly fed to the cattle for fattening. It is also exported. It is
mainly produced in the warm and humid regions of
Queensland and N.S. Wales.
Rice
Rice is monsoon lands crop. Oceania is a small producer
of rice in the world. But her rice yield is very high. It is
produced in the Murray- Darling basin with irrigation. It is
also produced in the coastal areas of Queensland.

35. SUGARCANE
Oceania is an important producer of Sugarcane. It
produced about 1.3% of the world’s production in 2010.
Here sugarcane is produced along 1,600 km of its
eastern coastline. Sugarcane supplies local demand as
well as being exported in the form of cane sugar mainly to
Japan.
Cotton
Next to wool cotton is the major fibre of Oceania. It is
produced in the tropical hot and sub-humid to semi- arid
areas of Queensland, N.S. Wales and West Australia.

36. BARLEY
Barley is also an important cereal crop of Oceania. It is
used primarily as feed crop and grain for the animals
and for making beer and liquor. Barley in Oceania is
cultivated in the marginal areas suitable for wheat
cultivation.
Other Food grains
Oats and Sorghum are the other important food
grains crops cultivated in Australia. Oats are
produced in large quantities in Tasmania and also in
Victoria and N.S. Wales

37. POTATOES
Oceania is also an important producer of potatoes.
In 2004 Oceania produced 12 l.m. tons of potatoes.
Tasmania is the largest producer of potatoes in
Oceania.
Fruits
A variety of fruits according to the climatic conditions are
produced in Australia. Grape vines are cultivated in
Mediterranean climate areas of western Oceania, N.S.
Wales, Victoria and south Australia. These areas also
produce citrus fruits.

39. DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF
OCEANIA
INTRODUCTION
Oceania consists of two major islands such as
Australia and new Zealand and some other minor
islands.
These are one of the oldest landmasses of the world
for an estimated period of over 60,000 years. Before
the Europeans arrived in Australia in 1788. Aboriginal
and Torres strait islander people lived in most areas
of oceania.

41. CONTRIBUTION OF OCEANIA TOWARDS WORLDS
POPULATION
Oceania has
small
population
which is about
1% of the
world’s total
population.

42. NUMBERS
10
14.78
18.75
20.85
22.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
1960 1980 1998 2006 2011
population
Years
population of oceania
population of
oceania
Linear
(population of
oceania )
The population of
Oceania in1980 was
14.78 million. The
population rose to 18.7
million in1998 and it
was 20.85 million as
per 2006 census. The
estimated population of
Oceania was 22.70 in
year 2011.

43. DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION
 The distribution of population in Oceania is sparse and
uneven. Australia and new Zealand contributes large
number of population of Oceania. State wise distribution
of population:
AUSTRALIA:
o New south Wales contributes one-third of the
population.
o Victoria state comes at the second.
o About 63.5% of the population is concentrated in six
cities namely
Sydney(4.15m),Melbourne(3.49m),Adelaide(1.11m),Pert
h(1.40m),Hobart(0.20m)in dec.2001.
95% of population lives in the temperate region,south of
the tropic of capricon.

44. MAP OF DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION OF
AUSTRALIA
This figure shows
the uneven
distribution of the
Australian population.
80% of the people
live in a narrow
coastal strip
stretching from
Brisbane to Adelaide.
This represents only
3% of the continents
land.

45. NEW ZEALAND
o North island has higher
population level than south
island.
o In north island most of
the people lives in
auckland, Wellington,
Hamilton etc and maori
peoplein villages.

46. DENSITY OF POPULATION OF OCEANIA
The density of population was
3 parsons per square km as
per census2001.
o Australia’s capital Canberra
had the highest density which
was 132 persons per square
km.
oAmong the state Victoria had
the highest density o 21
persons per square km.
oNew south Wales and
Tasmania had moderate
density of 8 and7 persons per
square km.

47. GROWTH OF POPULATION
Population of
oceania is
increasing
rapidly .
This is due
high birth
rate .
Reduced
death rate.

48. GROWTH AND MIGRATION
Migration plays
important role.
Many people from
European
countries
migrated towards
Oceania and
added to its
population .
Net overseas
migration was
177600 persons
in year 2007. and
172500 persons
in year 2011.

49. CULTURAL PATTERNS

51. •OCEANIA has small volume of world trade comprising mainly
agricultural products. But in recent years minerals have loomed
large in Oceania exports. Japan takes many mineral exports
from Oceania as well as wool. Oceania supplies some
manufactured goods to neighbouring countries in South east
Asia and Pacific Islands.
• For Oceania wool is the leading agricultural export.
Meat, hides and dairy products rank next in importance followed
by wheat, timber, cane sugar and fruits.
TRADE

52. • Of the mineral ores, iron, bauxite, copper, lead,
gold, and increasingly coal are extensively mined
and exported.
•With the rise in industrialization, Oceania made
goods such as automobiles, rail cars, machinery,
chemicals and textiles are also gaining ground in
international markets.
•The leading training partners of Oceania are Japan,
EEC members, USA, New Zealand, Canada, Hong
Kong, Malaysia, Korea, China, Indonesia,
Singapore, Taiwan, India and middle east countries.

53. EXPORTS OF OCEANIA
AGRICULTURE 19.43%
MINING 25.74%
MANUFACTURING
24.44%
MERCHANDISE 10.04%
SERVICES 20.35%

54. Industrial development began on a small
scale in the first world war. During the
second world war of 1939-45 the process
of industrialization was speeded up,
especially in the heavy steel industries.
Oceania has large mineral, coal, and
agricultural and pastoral raw material base.
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

55. Australia has large deposits
of iron ore in South Australia
and West Australia, sufficient
coal along the east coast in
North South Wales and
Queensland. Limestone is
brought from Tasmania.
Australia's major iron and
steel centers located on or
near the iron ore fields.
Joining in West Australia
whyalla near iron Kong in
South Australia or on the
coal fields of New Castle
and Port Kemble in New
South Wales. All these four
Iron and Steel Mills are
owned by the Broken Hill
Proprietary Co. LTD.
IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRIES
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
PIG IRON(m.m.
Tons)
STEEL (m.m.
TONS)

57. AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
It is the most important engineering industry of Oceania. The industry
employs about 15%of nation's work force and contributed 19% to total
manufacturing value of the country. The important automobile
manufacturing centres are Melbourne, Sydney, Geelong and Adelaide on
imported chasis. Australia produce 3.35 lakh passengers cars in 2007.
Production in 2010 declined to 1.30 lakh passenger cars.
SHIPBUILDING
It is also an important industry of Oceania. In 1993 Australia manufactured
ships of 10.31.m.t. The industry is primarily set up along the eastern coast
at Maryborough and Brisbane in Queensland, Newcastle and Sydney in
North South Wales and southern coast at Melbourne in Victoria, Adelaide
and whyalla in South Australia.
Aircraft manufacturing is done at Melbourne and Sydney.

58. PAPER, PAPER BOARS
AND PULP INDUSTRY
Australia and Tasmania have large
temperature and sub-tropical humid
forests, chemical industry base and
streams. The paper, paper board
and pulp manufacturing
industries are located along the
south-eastern coast in Queensland
and N. S. Wales and Victoria and in
Tasmania. There are 44 such
industry in country. 21 are in
Victoria, N. S. Wales 7,Tasmania 6,
Queensland 2,S. Australia 4 and
West Australia 4.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
199920042010
PAPER AND
PAPER
BOARD(l.m.T
ONS)
NEWSPRINT(i
.m.TONS)
YEAR

59. WOOLLEN TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Australia is the world's largest producer and exporter of raw wool.
Because of warm climate, lack of good water in wool producing areas,
lack of textile machinery manufacturing industry woolen textile has
much not developed in Oceania. Adelaide, Melbourne and Geelong in
Victoria, Sydney in N.S.Wales, Brisbane, Ipswich and Hobart in
Tasmania are important centers of woolen textile industry.
OTHER INDUSTRIES
Chemical industry is widespread in the country and important centers
are Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Cane sugar refining is important along eastern coast of Queensland
particularly at Carnis, Mackay and Bundabery. In 2001 Australia
produces 41.81m. tons of sugar.
Cement manufacturing is also important. In 1999-2000 production of
cement was 79.41m.tons production in 2007 it was 93.80m.tons.

60. MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
In comparison to population means of transportation are well developed in
Oceania. The continent Australia has only one East - West extending railway
line that too in the south. Only the eastern coastal plain and well- developed
south east has much development of roads and railways. However, air
transportation play valuable role in knitting the country of continental
proportions.
ROADS
RAILWAY TRANSPORT
WATER TRANSPORT
AIR TRANSPORT

61. • Oceania has the 5th
largest roads in the
world.
• Australia has total
Road length of
8,18,356km.
• Local Road in urban
centers are 93,677km
and rural Road
measures 5,37,278km.
ROADS
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
LENGTH (IN
KM.)

62. • Railways extension to
the north and west of
Sydney. ,Brisbane,
Melbourne and
Adelaide has caused a
large scale of
migrations of people in
North and West.
At the time of formation
of common wealth
Australia in 1900 A.D.
each state has
developed its own
railway system
RAILWAY TRANSPORT
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
1970 1980 1990 2001 2003
LENGTH IN
(KM.)
YEAR

63. WATER TRANSPORT
It is most suitable to carry out bulky material. Inland
water transportation is not important as there is lack of
perennial river in Australia. However coastal shipping is
of great value. The regular services link the isolated ports
round the coast:
FREMANTLE – ADELAIDE – MELBOURNE - SYDNEY – BRISBANE
BRISBANE – MACKAY – TOWNSVILLE – CAIRNS
FREMENTLE – PORT HEADLAND – BROOME – DERBY –WYNDHAM
-DARWIN

64. AIR TRANSPORT
Australia is a large country with distances
between the costal and interior settlements
are long. Regular air services link the state
capitals. Long distance planes arrive
regularly at Darwin on their way to Sydney,
Melbourne are Adelaide.
In June 2001, there was 281 licensed
airports in Australia. 10 were operating as
international airports.