Australia: Just Smile and Give Me a Vegemite Sandwich

Australia has a well-deserved reputation for being larger than life. It’s the only country in the world that covers an entire continent, and it’s home to hundreds of thousands of native animals and plants. (We’re looking at you, platypuses and koalas!) The snapshots of Australia in your imagination (perhaps from watching the ‘80s movie 'Crocodile Dundee’ at an impressionable age)? They’re pretty accurate. Sparkly beaches, surfers, and snorkeling. Red rocks and scrubby brush. The Sydney Opera House. Jeeps in the Outback. And yes, many Australians do say ‘G'day mate.’ (Though not ‘throw a shrimp on the barbie.’) Australia is home to two libraries on the list of the world’s ten most beautiful, in Melbourne and Adelaide. But if you really want to get to know the land down under, head outside. There are 516 national parks, excursions led by Aboriginal guides, rainforest and desert, plus 22,000 miles of coastline for all manner of splashing. In this episode, we learn the true story of a war fought against an animal opponent and meet the architect of the Sydney Opera House. We daydream about traversing the continent in style aboard the glamorous Ghan Luxury Train. Then we recommend five great books that took us to Australia on the page: a Gothic coming-of-age story set on a Queensland estate, a gripping murder mystery from a beloved Aussie author, a science book that delves into the cute-and-weird of the platypus and other Australian mammals, a compelling memoir that defies categorization, and a dream-like classic set at a mystical rock formation. The White Earth by Andrew McGahan The Dry by Jane Harper Platypus Matters by Jack Ashby Question 7 by Richard Flanagan Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes. Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other lovely readers who are curious about the world. Transcript of Australia: Just Smile and Give Me a Vegemite Sandwich Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you! Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio. Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices