1. In 1954, Bob Hawke, who later became the Prime Minister of Australia, drank 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. This feat won him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
2. Australia’s first police force, the New South Wales Police Force, was made up of the 12 best-behaved convicts.
3. Australia is home to more camels than Egypt; most are sold to Saudi Arabia, where they form part of popular local cuisine.
4. Keep your furry friends close – Australia is one of the only countries in the world where the animals on the coat of arms are eaten: Both kangaroo and emu meat are considered to be healthy and lean.
5. Craving spanakopita, baklava or souvlaki? Head down to Melbourne, home to the world’s largest Greek population outside of Athens.
6. Even though Australia has over 10,000 beaches, it was illegal to swim during the day before 1902.
7. While most people think of the land Down Under as being dry and dusty, the Australian Alps receive more snowfall than Switzerland.
8. According to some old state statutes, it is technically illegal to walk on the right-hand side of a footpath. This is supposed to ensure orderly pedestrian traffic. Don’t expect a police ticket for doing so, though.
9. Celebrating a creature most see as a pest, each year a hotel in Brisbane hosts the Australia Day Cockroach races – considered the world championships of cockroach racing. Yes, really.
10. Australia is home to some of the world’s most deadly creatures, including 20 of the 25 most deadly snakes in the world.
View the remaining 10 strange facts about Australia here!
