Trivially Australian Trivia Quiz

Answer: John Boston

John Boston was Australia's first brewer. He concocted a brew he called 'beer' from corn and gooseberry leaves (yuk)! The first legal pub in Australia was built in 1796, the 'Masons Arms', in Parramatta and in 1804, hops were successfully grown in Australia.

Answer: Sydney

The first official international world surfing championship was held at Manly Beach in Sydney on 17 May 1964 and was won by Australia's 'Midget' (Bernard) Farrelly.

Answer: False

The longest fence in the world is Australia's 'Dingo Fence', at over 5,500km. It was built in an effort to keep wild dingos away from grazers' sheep. The 'Dingo Fence' is nearly 2m tall with gates, dotted at intervals of around 20km, along the entire length.

However, it is not as long as the Great Wall of China, which, if all its parts are included in the equation, is about 21,000km long.

Answer: 80%

Australia's original fifty cent piece, introduced with decimal currency in 1966, was a round shape and was a blend of 80% silver to 20% copper. Over time, the value of the metal in the coin was worth more than the face value of the coin itself! It was replaced with a dodecagonal (twelve sided) coin, made from a nickel blend, with a kangaroo and an emu either side of the Australian Coat of Arms on one side of the coin.

Answer: False

The world's largest monolith, or monadnock (a geological term) is aactually Mount Augustus in Western Australia. Management of Ayres Rock was returned to Australia's indigenous people, the Aboriginals, who prefer that people do NOT climb it! A monadnock is a lone hill or isolated mountain of bedrock, rising above the surrounding area and is geologically thought to be a remnant from a mountain chain.

Answer: Bronte Beach

Bronte Surf Club came into being in 1903. In the 1800s in Australia, surfing was forbidden by law, but at Bronte and many other beaches in those early days, this law was regularly flouted. Following a drowning in 1895, a Major Bond (who later served in the Boer War) wrote to the English Life Saving Society for all the information they had on life saving and the first group of life savers came together at Bronte in 1903.

The Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club was established in 1907 and pioneered the surf reel and line with their first rescue of note being that of a young boy, Charlie Smith, who went on to fame as an aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith!

Answer: True

The name opal comes from the latin word, upala, meaning precious stone. Most opal is over 50 million years old, from the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs roamed the planet. 95% of the world's gem quality opals are dug up in Australia, and the biggest opal found to date weighed in at nearly 7kg!

Answer: True

Australia has some of the greatest beaches and swimming spots in the world. But you don't have to travel any further than one thousand miles (approximately) from anywhere in Australia to have a swim at any of a number of them! Australia measures roughly 7,000 by 3,000 miles (east to west and north to south, respectively).

Answer: False

Qantas, which stands for 'Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services', is the world's second oldest airline, established in 1920. KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines, is one year older, founded in October 1919. The first around-the-world passenger service by an airline commenced in 1958, by Qantas.

Answer: Dutch

In 1606 a Dutch ship, the Duyfken (which means Little Dove) made the first landing in Australia at Cape York. In the same year the Spanish navigator, de Torres, sailed through the strait now known as Torres Strait. In 1642, Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania, which he named Van Diemen's Land and in 1770 the east coast of Australia was discovered by Captain James Cook, of the British Royal Navy.

Answer: 1953

The present day Australian flag was formally established under the Flags Act 1953. On a blue background, the Union Jack (upper left) represents Australia's link to Great Britain. The five stars of the Southern Cross (constellation) make up the main body of the flag, and, the Commonwealth Star, which has seven points and sits beneath the Union Jack, represents Australia's six states and territories.

Answer: False

Pavlova, which originated in either New Zealand or Australia (depending on whose story you believe). It was created as a tribute to the great ballerina, Anna Pavlova. The Australians claim this happened in Perth in 1935 by a chef at the Esplanade Hotel.

However, evidence suggests that it had existed in New Zealand several years prior to this. The recipe adds cornflour and vinegar to a basic meringue mix, which is then served with whipped cream and fruit.

Answer: Green and Gold

The official colours of Australia are green and gold and were set under the Governor General's Proclamation of 19 April 1984.

Answer: 1974

Australia voted in a public opinion poll in 1974 to change the national anthem from 'God Save the Queen (King)' to 'Advance Australia Fair'. Then, in 1977, a 'National Song Poll' was held and 'Advance Australia Fair' was voted as still the most popular choice for the national anthem. The first verse is mostly sung alone, however, the second verse is sometimes thrown in for good measure (even though some say the second verse, as I know it, is actually the third verse)!
"Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.
We've golden soil and wealth for toil; our home is girt by sea.
Our land abounds in nature's gifts, of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage, Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia fair!

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross, we'll toil with hearts and hands.
To make this Commonwealth of ours, renowned of all the lands.
For those who've come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share.
With courage let us all combine to advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia fair!"

Answer: Northern grey

The four species of kangaroos are red, eastern grey, western grey, and antilopine. Australia's most well-known animals are the kangaroo, koala, platypus, wombat and echidna (spiny anteater).