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Aussie Inventions #2 Trivia Quiz

An inventive bunch, the Aussies! The following questions relate to some of the weird and wonderful time saving/life saving devices from Down Under!

A multiple-choice quiz by Engadine. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Engadine

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
105,085

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
620

Last 3 plays: Bourman (8/15), Guest 1 (11/15), bernie73 (6/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. The Owen Submachine Gun was an Australian invention. In which New South Wales town was the idea for the gun originally developed? Hint

Melbourne

Sydney

Wollongong

Newcastle

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Question 2 of 15

2. Did Australia have the first system of pre-paid postage in the world?

Yes

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Question 3 of 15

3. What was invented by an Australian company in 1984 in the interests of child safety? Hint

Kidsafe Car Locks

Kidsafe Pool Fencing

Baby Safe Highchair

Baby Safety Capsule

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Question 4 of 15

4. In what year was the inflatable aircraft escape slide invented, in Australia? Hint

1956

1965

1960

1955

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Question 5 of 15

5. In which Australian city is the largest aluminium object in the world, as at 2002? Hint

Canberra

Melbourne

Sydney

Darwin

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Question 6 of 15

6. From what animal has a Melbourne laboratory been able to extract a compound that helps fight acne? Hint

Snake

Kangaroo

Shark

Koala

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Question 7 of 15

7. Australia's Aerial Medical Service is better know as what? Hint

Queensland and Northern Territory Air Service

Aerial Flying Doctor Service

Royal Flying Medical Service

The Royal Flying Doctor Service

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Question 8 of 15

8. Was Australia the first country to adopt plastic banknotes?

Yes

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Question 9 of 15

9. The cochlear implant, first tested in Australia in 1978, helps people who are what? Hint

Partially blind

Hard of hearing

Profoundly deaf

Dyslexic

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Question 10 of 15

10. The Cooperative Research Centre for Waste Management and Pollution Control in Sydney has developed which of the following? Hint

A process to remove contaminants from sewerage

A process to remove arsenic from water

A process to remove asbestos from fibro

A process to reduce airborne pollution

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Question 11 of 15

11. The Australian Dual Flush Toilet was invented in what year? Hint

1982

1972

1962

1992

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Question 12 of 15

12. Developed between 1985 and 1989 and first produced in Australia in 1990 was what machine used by those classified as legally blind? Hint

Braille-o-rama

Perkins Brailler

Quantum Braille Typewriter

Mountbatten Brailler

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Question 13 of 15

13. Who invented the Splayd? Hint

John McArthur

William McArthur

Arthur McArthur

Arthur McWilliam

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Question 14 of 15

14. Did Lance Hill invent the first Australian rotary clothes hoist?

Yes

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Question 15 of 15

15. In what year did an Australian design engineer invent the Staysharp Knife? Hint

1975

1960

1970

1965

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 23 2024 : Bourman: 8/15
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 1: 11/15
Nov 01 2024 : bernie73: 6/15
Oct 26 2024 : Guest 1: 9/15
Oct 26 2024 : Guest 185: 9/15
Oct 26 2024 : Guest 65: 10/15
Oct 26 2024 : playerpalfo: 6/15
Oct 26 2024 : Guest 110: 7/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Owen Submachine Gun was an Australian invention. In which New South Wales town was the idea for the gun originally developed?

Answer: Wollongong

Aged in his mid twenties, Evelyn Owen invented the submachine gun in the late 1930's in Wollongong. He took his prototype to the army but was told that it could not be accepted because it was only .22 calibre and the gun was, at that time, rejected!

2. Did Australia have the first system of pre-paid postage in the world?

Answer: Yes

The world's first pre-paid postage system, a type of stamped letter sheet, was introduced by the then Post Master General, James Raymond, for delivery throughout Sydney's metropolitan area, in 1838.

3. What was invented by an Australian company in 1984 in the interests of child safety?

Answer: Baby Safety Capsule

In the 1970's the Australian government made wearing seat belts in cars compulsory but there was no real protection for babies. Since 1984 millions of babies in Australia have been protected by the Baby Safety Capsule.

4. In what year was the inflatable aircraft escape slide invented, in Australia?

Answer: 1965

The inflatable aircraft escape slide becomes a raft if an aeroplane ends up in the water and was invented by Jack Grant, a QANTAS employee!

5. In which Australian city is the largest aluminium object in the world, as at 2002?

Answer: Canberra

The flagpole at Parliament house in Canberra is the largest aluminium object in the world! In August 2002, three Greenpeace Climate Campaigners, climbed the flagpole in a peaceful protest - what a view!

6. From what animal has a Melbourne laboratory been able to extract a compound that helps fight acne?

Answer: Shark

The laboratory has helped isolate, develop and patent an anti-acne treatment that was discovered originally by a Japanese researcher. The compound, from shark bile, reduces oil production, instead of simply cleaning the oil away!

7. Australia's Aerial Medical Service is better know as what?

Answer: The Royal Flying Doctor Service

Distance and lack of communication made medical emergencies even more life threatening in Australia and in 1928, the Reverend John Flynn realised that an aerial service with radio communication could save lives and the Royal Flying Doctor Service was born!

8. Was Australia the first country to adopt plastic banknotes?

Answer: Yes

In 1988, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the CSIRO combined to release the world's first counterfeit resistant, long lasting, polymer banknote. By 1996, Australia was the first country to have a full series of these banknotes that can last up to ten times longer than paper notes!

9. The cochlear implant, first tested in Australia in 1978, helps people who are what?

Answer: Profoundly deaf

The receiver and the stimulator of the cochlear implant have been made as small and as simple as possible. Needing no battery, the bionic ear, as it is known, is designed to last a lifetime!

10. The Cooperative Research Centre for Waste Management and Pollution Control in Sydney has developed which of the following?

Answer: A process to remove arsenic from water

An innovative process removes arsenic from water very cheaply and very quickly without the use of expensive additives by increasing the rate of natural change using sunlight or ultraviolet lamp light!

11. The Australian Dual Flush Toilet was invented in what year?

Answer: 1982

In 1982 the design, with two flush levels, was released onto an Australian market keen on water saving devices - sure beats the old way, a brick in the cistern to displace some of the water and lower the level!

12. Developed between 1985 and 1989 and first produced in Australia in 1990 was what machine used by those classified as legally blind?

Answer: Mountbatten Brailler

The Mountbatten Trust (an English charity) and a Sydney company developed the prototype of the world's first portable, electronic brailler - a small machine that types in braille!

13. Who invented the Splayd?

Answer: William McArthur

In 1946 William McArthur invented the Splayd, a combination fork and spoon with a cutting edge. By 1991, over four million Splayds had been sold worldwide!

14. Did Lance Hill invent the first Australian rotary clothes hoist?

Answer: No

Lance Hill did invent the Hills Hoist, but he was not the first Aussie to invent a rotary clothes hoist. In 1926 in Adelaide, Gilbert Toyne patented one which sold in very small numbers for the following thirty five years or so.

15. In what year did an Australian design engineer invent the Staysharp Knife?

Answer: 1970

A US market survey in 1964 showed that over three-quarters of Americans didn't know how to sharpen a knife. So, Dennis Jackson, a design engineer for Wiltshire Cutlery in Melbourne, designed a knife that sharpened itself!

Source: Author Engadine

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