Australia doesn't have one single national "sacred" animal, but Indigenous Australian cultures hold many animals sacred as totems, deeply connected to spirituality, creation (Dreaming), kinship, and Country, with the Kangaroo, Dingo, Emu, and Rainbow Serpent being highly significant examples across different groups, often representing ancestors or spirit beings.
Curiosity to official emblem
Hunted for meat and for sport, and used as a motif in the decorative arts, the kangaroo was finally recognised as an official symbol of Australia when it was included on the nation's coat of arms in 1908.
Arguably the most famous Aussie animal of all, the kangaroo can be spotted just about anywhere across the country, but how can we go past a location named after these iconic creatures?
More than 80% of our plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are unique to Australia and are found nowhere else in the world. Some of our Australian animals are very well known like kangaroos, dingos, wallabies and wombats and of course the koala, platypus and echidna.
Some examples of Aboriginal totems include a hawk, a kangaroo, a koala, an emu, and an owl, to name a few. Each First Nations person has at least four totems, including inherited ones for each national, clan, and family group, plus an assigned or personal totem. Totems are split between moieties.
The standard three-part test for Aboriginality in Australia requires a person to meet three criteria: descent (biological ancestry), self-identification (identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander), and community acceptance (being recognized as such by their Indigenous community). This definition, adopted by the Commonwealth government, is used for many government programs and services, although the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) uses a simpler two-part test (descent and self-identification) for general data collection.
First recorded in 1840 by the collector John Gilbert, from whom it takes its scientific name, Gilbert's Potoroo was once thought to be extinct. Today, it holds the critical distinction of being the world's rarest marsupial and Australia's rarest mammal.
Weird Things about Australia
Most scientists believe the chimpanzee is the “smartest animal in the world,” behind humans.
It's rare to see a quokka without a big 'smile' on their face! This, along with their friendly and endearing personalities, has earned them a reputation as the happiest animal in the world.
15 interesting facts about Australia
The Australian Bunyip – Wemba-Wemba region, Victoria
Over time, descriptions of the legendary Bunyip have taken many forms, from a mythical beast, to a nocturnal amphibian that lurks in swamps, billabongs and riverbeds.
The Dingo is sacred to many Indigenous tribes across Australia❗️ Dingoes are Totem and regarded as one of their spirit protector animals, and are in fact part of the Australian Indigenous Dreamtime.
Australia: No official motto. Formerly Advance Australia.
Australia's national symbols that have been officially chosen (via vote, legislation or proclamation) to represent Australia and its states and territories include the Australian National Flag; the Commonwealth Coat of Arms; our floral emblem, the golden wattle; the celebratory national colours of green and gold; and ...
Australia's rarest natural phenomena
Australians say hello informally with "G'day," "Hi," "Hey," or "How ya goin'?" (meaning "How are you doing?"). "Mate" is a common term of address for friends or even strangers, used with "G'day" or as a standalone greeting. While "G'day" is classic, more common modern greetings in cities are "Hey, how's it going?" or just "Hi," often not expecting a detailed answer.
Uniquely Australian things include its distinct wildlife (kangaroos, koalas, quokkas), iconic foods like Vegemite, Tim Tams, Lamingtons, and Fairy Bread, natural wonders (Great Barrier Reef, Uluru), the laid-back culture ("true blue" attitude, barbie culture, casual dress like stubbies), sports (Aussie Rules), and indigenous art, along with items like Akubra hats, UGG boots, and boomerangs.
Koalas. No one can resist the cuddly allure of koalas. These iconic Australia animals are marsupials, a kind of mammal that is born undeveloped and is carried in a pouch. Like all marsupials, including kangaroos, wombats and Tasmanian devils, baby koalas are called joeys.
The vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world. With as few as around 10 left, the species will become extinct without a fully enforced gillnet ban throughout their entire habitat.
The most popular pet in Australia is the dog, found in nearly half of Australian households (around 49%), followed by cats, with about 34% of households owning them, making dogs the clear favourite, although fish and birds are also very common. These figures come from recent surveys, showing a strong and consistent preference for dogs as companions across the nation.
The Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme provided ex-gratia payments to Stolen Generations survivors. The reparations aimed to acknowledge historical injustices faced by Stolen Generations survivors. The amount provided to each recipient was $75,000.
No, standard Centrelink payments (like JobSeeker, Age Pension, etc.) are the same for Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Australians with identical circumstances, but Indigenous Australians have access to specific, targeted programs and extra support, like enhanced child care subsidies and dedicated services, that can provide additional financial or service benefits.
'Aborigine' is generally perceived as insensitive, because it has racist connotations from Australia's colonial past, and lumps people with diverse backgrounds into a single group. You're more likely to make friends by saying 'Aboriginal person', 'Aboriginal' or 'Torres Strait Islander'.