The Culture of Australia

Australia is a multicultural nation with a vibrant national culture. As a former British colony, its strong sense of identity and strong “mateship” culture have evolved over time. Urban centers predominate Australia’s landscape.

Australians place great value on respect, humility and humor; as well as enjoying social gatherings such as barbecuing – or “barbiering” with friends.

Beach culture

Australia’s beach culture is an integral component of its national identity and celebrates millions across this vast continent. From surfing carnivals and cultural events to family vacations by the sea, beachgoing is a regular feature of Australian life.

Landscape artists used images of Australia’s bushland to promote nationalism during the 19th century, but as urban centres expanded and factory jobs increased, beaches took on an entirely different significance for Australians living in urban centres. Here, beachgoing was both semi-sacred and profane at once: an expression of leisuretime fun under sun and surf.

Surf lifesaving clubs dotted along Australia’s coastlines form the core of Australian beach culture, drawing together young children as they build lifesaving skills alongside older veterans who cherish its beauty and share its spirit of community.

Vegemite

Few products or brands have captured Australians’ hearts as wholeheartedly as Vegemite has. Made with yeast extract and vegetables, this dark-brown spread is loved by nearly everyone here and often smeared onto buttered toast or stirred into recipes to add an umami-rich umami taste.

In 1922, Fred Walker asked Dr Cyril Callister, his chief scientist, to develop a spread for his company that would rival Marmite in terms of thickness. What emerged was something called Vegemite; an acronym combining Marmite and vegetable extract. Through an official naming competition held to name this new spread product; Vegemite soon gained widespread acclaim before earning endorsement by the British Medical Association as a source of vitamin B.

Vegemite can now be found in nine out of ten Australian pantries and is exported worldwide. You can find it at many specialty shops or online retailers.

Fish ‘n chips

Fish and chips have long been an Australian favourite. Enjoyed during family picnics, beach trips, or as an easy Friday night takeaway meal, this popular treat typically comes complete with salt, malt vinegar or tomato sauce (known in America as tomato ketchup).

Traditional frying used beef dripping or lard, while vegetable oils such as palm, rapeseed and peanut oil now dominate. For optimal results the best chippy shops combine multiple oils in order to achieve balance between taste and texture.

Australia’s premier chippers specialize in local seafood. Family-run Hursey Seafoods in Stanley, Tasmania serves fresh reef cod, striped trumpeter, crumbed flake and marinated calamari from its fleet of red fishing vessels.

Sausage sizzle

A sausage sizzle (or “snag”) is a barbecued pork or beef sausage served on white bread with tomato sauce and grilled onions, and often held as part of fundraising events for community groups such as schools and sports clubs. They’re also often held as fundraising events by Bunnings or feature at Australian elections as an essential fundraiser.

Australians were shocked and dismayed to witness a viral video displaying a Bunnings sausage sizzle offering chicken sausage, creating outrage at such an act that would threaten Australia’s beloved sanga culture.

Australians take great pride in celebrating a sausage sizzle as it represents our national identity and represents everyday personhood; thus politicians don’t dare turn away a chance for one!

Slipper lobster

Slipper lobsters (Scyllarides) are marine crustacean species found worldwide and comprise 22 species. Also referred to as flat, locust, shovel-nosed and bulldozer lobsters, they resemble spiny lobsters but lack their large claws; typically found in warm ocean environments.

Flattened lobsters, known as flatworms, can blend in well with their surroundings by concealing themselves with dull colors such as grey. By day they often hide away in caves and crevices until nightfall when they emerge to forage on reefs for food such as molluscs.

Australian Bay Lobster Producers specialize in farming and fishing a range of species of slipper lobster, such as Thenus australiensis (commonly referred to as Moreton Bay bugs). Its meat has a firm texture with strong fishy flavour, perfect for poaching, grilling or frying. According to our research findings, juvenile slipper lobsters thrived when fed high protein formula feed, providing us with an initial factorial model which may assist with optimising protein digestibility and energy provision in their diets.