Which Country Is Referred To As "Down Under"? (2024)

Which Country Is Referred To As "Down Under"? (1)

The term ‘Down Under’ refers to Australia but sometimes the term is also used with reference to New Zealand. The term is often used by outsiders, but not Australians. Officially, Australia is known as the Commonwealth of Australia. The capital of the country is Canberra while the largest city is Sydney. It is a monarchy led by Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor General is Sir Peter Cosgrove. Australia’s population in 2018 is estimated to be about 24 million.

Why The Name “Down Under?”

The nickname ‘Down Under’ came as a result of the European explorers who were looking for a land located below the continent of Asia. One of the famous explorers at the time was Matthew Flinders. He was part of the team that coined the name “Down Under” with reference to Australia. At the time, nothing much was known about this unknown land. When it was found, the explorers named it ‘Terra Australis Incognita’ meaning the “unkown southern land.” Australia wholly lies in the Southern Hemisphere of the global map- within the Antarctica continent. Its location is truly below many countries. More specifically, Australia is located below the western countries and the Asian continent.

How Did This Unknown Land Find Itself “Down Under?’

Over 200 million years ago, Australia was not in the position it is now. It was part of a continent that no longer exists called the Gondwana Supercontinent. This continent was made up of all the continents as known by us today. However, about 180 million years ago, the continent began splitting apart. The first continents to break away were Africa and South America. The last ones to break off were Antarctica and Australia. It is out of this split that the country “Down Under” came forth.

It is believed that Australia is still on the move. The movement is as a result of the bedrock fact. Every year the continent drifts towards the equator by 70 mm. The rate of movement is equivalent to that of the growth of the human hair or fingernails.

Uses Of The Term “Down Under”

Besides being the country’s nick name, the term “down under” has been used in different contexts. First, the Men at Work music group composed a song “Down Under” in praise of the Australian nation as a sign of patriotism. Several Australians have also been nicknamed “Down Under.” This includes the famous boxing champion Kostya Tszyu who is called ‘The Thunder from Down Under.'

The Uniqueness Of The Land “Down Under”

The presence of the oceans surrounding Australia leads to circulation of oceanic winds. As a result, the country has humid and dry temperatures. The country has many unique flora and fauna, many of which are not found anywhere else in the world. In fact, 80% of all the fauna and flora are unique to Australia only. The country is famously known for kangaroos. 91% of the land in Australia is covered by vegetation.

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Which Country Is Referred To As "Down Under"? (2024)

FAQs

Which Country Is Referred To As "Down Under"? ›

Australia is known as 'the land Down Under' for its position in the southern hemisphere. The discovery of Australia began when European explorers searched for a land under the continent of Asia.

What countries are called Down Under? ›

The term Down Under is a colloquialism and refers to Australia and New Zealand. It comes from the fact that these two countries are located in the Southern Hemisphere, 'below' many other countries on the globe.

Why is Austria called Down Under? ›

Not much was known South of Asia, so when explorers discovered Australia, they coined it “Down Under.” The reasoning is simple: the location was unknown, and located in the Southern Hemisphere, below most known countries. Australia is under the equator, another factor contributing to the nickname.

Why do we say "down under" for Australia? ›

The term originally referred solely to Australia and gradually expanded in scope. It comes from the fact that Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, “below” almost all other countries on the usual arrangement of a map or globe which places cardinal north at the top.

What is the old name for Australia? ›

Until the early 19th century, Australia was best known as New Holland, a name first applied by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1644 (as Nieuw-Holland) and subsequently anglicised.

What do you call Australia and New Zealand? ›

Australasia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising Australia, New Zealand, and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Do Australians like the song "Down Under"? ›

The song also went to No. 1 in Denmark, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland, and was a top 10 hit in many other countries. "Down Under" is perceived as a patriotic song in Australia; it remains popular and is often played at sporting events.

Is New Zealand down under? ›

New Zealand and Australia: The People Down Under.

What was Australia used to be called? ›

After Dutch navigators charted the northern, western and southern coasts of Australia during the 17th Century this newly found continent became known as 'New Holland'.

What is the nickname of Australia down? ›

Australia is colloquially known as "the Land Down Under" (or just "Down Under"), which derives from the country's position in the Southern Hemisphere, near the antipodes of the United Kingdom.

What do Australians call Christmas? ›

Then when July finally rolls around, this is when Australians celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense since it's colder. Although we know it as Christmas in July, Australians call this second celebration Yuletide or Yulefest.

What do indigenous people call Australia? ›

Aboriginals had over 200 different languages. According to the place, they often call their land uthuru in the Midwestern portion of Australia; barna in the Murchison region; biik in the Woiwurrung language of Melbourne; and kurrek in the Wemba Wemba language of Victoria.

Why is Australia called Oz? ›

Why is Australia called Oz? The word Australia when referred to informally with its first three letters becomes Aus. When Aus or Aussie, the short form for an Australian, is pronounced for fun with a hissing sound at the end, it sounds as though the word being pronounced has the spelling Oz.

Why Australia and New Zealand are called Down Under? ›

Australia is also known as the “Land Down Under” because it was discovered when explorers were searching for the land under Asia in the Southern Hemisphere.

Is South Africa land down under? ›

We all know that Australia is an island nation located in the southern hemisphere, so it's often referred to as 'down under'. However, there's more to the story than just its location. Because if it was just the location, then many countries like South Africa or New Zealand, could also be known as lands down under.

What is the down under in Freak the Mighty? ›

The first domestic social setting, which refers to the places where the characters live examined in Freak the Mighty is the basem*nt bedroom that belongs to Max, which he refers to as down under.

What is the opposite of down under? ›

There is no proper 'opposite' of 'down under. 'down over' or 'up over' would be a grammatical "opposite" (I guess), but it is not used as you question calls for. The problem comes with the obvious illogic of 'down' and 'under' being in the same prase. The two words are of somewhat similar meaning.

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