AUSTRALIA

INTRODUCTION

In 1788, the European colonists arrived in Port Jackson and settled down where Sidney is now, being impressed by the wonders and contrasts of those far-off lands: hot humid tropics, arid and semi-arid zones, flora and fauna that exist nowhere else on earth...
But the richness of the country does not just lie in its impressive geography of 7,686,884 Km2, 61% of which is agricultural surface and 5% forest; Australia is an ever expanding and growing country, with a democratic multicultural society and a strong economy, which makes it a competitive nation with great scientific and technical professionals recognized all around the world. On the other hand, Australia upholds some of the most ancient traditions of the World and its aboriginal population has a mystical relation with the Earth which is reflected in the country’s commitment to protect its natural heritage.
The population is concentrated around urban areas, and due to its being the driest inhabited continent in the world, the majority of Australians live on the coast, reaching from Queensland to Adelaide.
The Australian economy is defined by the large number of farms which cover its geography, as well as by the vineyards, which is why the country is an important wine producer and one of the main cattle and veal exporters.

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE AND FARMING

Farming and agriculture have a high specialisation level in homogeneous areas, which are determined by the geography of the zone, differing 4 exploitation types:
1- Most populated zones: small intensive areas.
2- Oriental zone: intensive cattle exploitation (milk and meat).
3- Occidental interior zone: Dry Farming, with any kind of unirrigated grain.
4- Dry interior zone: cattle extensive exploitation.

Likewise, the wineries extend all around the country, divided into different wine regions:
a- Hunter Valley, in New South Wales, is one of the most notable of the Australian wine regions
b- Sidney is developing its own wine region
c- Mudgee, in New South, is a small but established wine region with about 20 wineries
d- The Barossa Valley, in South Australia, claims to be the foremost wine region in the countryOther wine regions: Upper Murray region, Clare Valley, Coonawarra area, McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula.