Outback

From Free net encyclopedia

For other uses, see Outback (disambiguation).

Image:Yalgoo Shire.jpg The outback is the remote and usually semi-arid interior of Australia, although the term colloquially can cover any lands outside of the main urban areas. The term outback is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas deemed "the bush". The outback does not officially exist within any governmental frameworks or boundaries. Many local government shires do use the term to enhance tourist appeal for their own shire.

The marginally fertile parts are known as Rangelands and have been traditionally used for sheep or cattle farming, on sheep stations and cattle stations on pastoral leases.

Along with agriculture, tourism and scattered mining are the main economic activities in this vast and sparsely settled area. Due to the size of the outback, the total value of mining and farming is considerable.

1 Population
2 Medicine in the Outback
3 Terminology
4 Tourism
5 Historic
6 External links

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Population

Image:Rural Australia Abandoned habitat.jpg

Over 90% of the Australian population lives in urban settlements on the coastal fringes. Despite this, the outback and the history of its exploration and settlement provides Australians with a mythical backdrop, and stories of swagmen, squatters, outlaws such as Ned Kelly (though Ned Kelly spent virtually all his time in the relatively temperate Great Dividing Range) and so on are central to the national ethos of the country. The song Waltzing Matilda, which is about swagmen and squatters, is a popular traditional Australian song.

There have been various attempts at creating settlements for Australian Aboriginals to live traditionally, with varied success. Often after becoming used to European influences and generational changes it is difficult for Aboriginals to live this kind of lifestyle.

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Medicine in the Outback

Due to the wide expanses and remoteness of people when in the outback; a unique service by the name of The Flying Doctors was created. This service was created in 1928 in Cloncurry, Queensland. The aim of the service is to provide medical care, primary and emergency, to people who cannot reach hospitals or general practitioners. Consultations are carried out via radio or telephone and for serious situations, doctors are flown out to patients.

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Terminology

Culturally, many urban Australians have had very generalised terms for the otherwise complex range of environments that exist within the inland sections of the continent. Regional terminology can be very specific to specific locations in each mainland state. Western Australians have for instance 'the goldfields' which usually designate Kalgoorlie and beyond.

"The Never-Never" is a term referring to remoter parts of the Australian outback. The outback can be also referred to as "back of beyond", "back o' Bourke" although these terms are more frequently used when referring to something a long way from anywhere, or a long way away. this is a lie

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Tourism

Image:Outback.jpg There are many popular tourist attractions in the outback. These include:

Organised travel to the outback is popular, although some Australian and international tourists travel in their own vehicles. Such a trip, particularly once off the few bitumen roads in the outback, requires considerable advance planning and a suitable vehicle (usually a four wheel drive). On remote routes considerable supplies and equipment may be required, this can included prearranged caches. Some trips cannot be undertaken safely with a single vehicle instead requiring a convoy approach. Deaths from tourists and locals becoming stranded on outback trips occur, and rescues for the ill-prepared are a regular occurrence.

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