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Victoria (state)

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Victoria is a state located in southeastern Australia.

Melbourne skyline sor
Melbourne skyline sor

It is the second-smallest state in the country by land area. However, it is the most densely populated state in Australia. This means many people live close together in a relatively small space. There are 31.1 people for every square kilometer of land. Victoria is also the second-most populous state in Australia. It has a population of over 7 million people.

ABS-3101.0-AustralianDemographicStatistics-EstimatedResidentPopulationStatesTerritories-EstimatedResidentPopulation-Persons-Victoria-A2060844K
ABS-3101.0-AustralianDemographicStatistics-EstimatedResidentPopulationStatesTerritories-EstimatedResidentPopulation-Persons-Victoria-A2060844K

The geography of Victoria is very diverse. It sits near the Bass Strait to the south. The Southern Ocean lies to the southwest. To the southeast, the state is bounded by the Tasman Sea.

Victoria Köppen
Victoria Köppen

The land changes as you travel through it. The northeast features the high Victorian Alps. The northwest is a semi-arid region, which means it is quite dry. Many people live in the central-south area around Port Phillip. This area includes Greater Melbourne, which is the state capital.

Melbourne at night from the International Space Station
Melbourne at night from the International Space Station

Indigenous Australians have lived in Victoria for tens of thousands of years. Some evidence suggests people lived near the Maribyrnong River 40,000 years ago.

State Library of Victoria - right side
State Library of Victoria - right side

These Aboriginal groups lived a semi-nomadic life. They engaged in fishing, hunting, and gathering. They also practiced farming eels. Many different nations occupied the land, including the Wurundjeri and the Gunditjmara. Before European arrival, more than 30 Aboriginal languages were spoken.

Melbourne University south lawn
Melbourne University south lawn

Environmental changes shaped the land over long periods. During the Ice Age, the area that is now Port Phillip was dry land. The Yarra and Werribee rivers flowed through it toward the ocean. As sea levels rose, the bay flooded between 8,000 and 6,000 years ago. Oral histories from the Wada wurrung and other groups describe this flooding.

Melbourne University south lawn
Melbourne University south lawn

Eventually, Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands became separated from the mainland. This happened about 12,000 years ago when sea levels were 50 meters lower than they are today.

European history in the region began in the early 1800s. The first settlement was at Sullivan Bay in 1803. In 1835, John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner founded Melbourne. Batman also signed a land use agreement with Wurundjeri Elders. This document is known as the Batman treaty. Today, people still debate its meaning and interpretation. In 1851, Victoria became a separate Crown colony. It was named in honor of Queen Victoria.

VIC Parliament
VIC Parliament

A massive gold rush changed the state forever in the 1850s. Gold was discovered near Ballarat and Bendigo shortly after the colony was formed. This triggered one of the largest gold rushes in history. Between 1851 and 1860, Victoria produced 20 million ounces of gold. This was one-third of the entire world's output. The population grew sevenfold in just ten years. It rose from 76,000 to 540,000 people.

This rapid growth led to social and political changes. In 1854, miners at Ballarat held an armed rebellion called the Eureka Stockade. They were protesting against mining taxes. While the rebellion was crushed, it led to political reforms. These included reducing mining license fees and extending voting rights. By 1901, Melbourne had become the largest city in Australasia. It served as the seat of the Federal government until 1927.

Today, Victoria has a very strong and diverse economy. The service sector is the largest part of the economy. Melbourne is a major cultural hub with many museums and art galleries.

Lane of Chinatown (6760133489)
Lane of Chinatown (6760133489)

In 2016, a sports marketing company called Melbourne the world's sporting capital.

2017 AFL Grand Final panorama during national anthem
2017 AFL Grand Final panorama during national anthem

The state is governed by a Parliament with two houses. These are the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

VIC Parliament
VIC Parliament

The state is also divided into 79 local government areas.

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🖼️ Images & Media (19)
File:Doudiet Swearing allegiance to the Southern Cross.jpg
Doudiet Swearing allegiance to the...
File:Melbourne at night from the International Space Station.jpg
Melbourne at night from the International...
File:Victoria Köppen.svg
Victoria Köppen.svg
File:ABS-3101.0-AustralianDemographicStatistics-EstimatedResidentPopulationStatesTerritories-EstimatedResidentPopulation-Persons-Victoria-A2060844K.svg
ABS-3101.0-AustralianDemographicStatistics...
File:Melbourne skyline sor.jpg
Melbourne skyline sor.jpg
File:Lane of Chinatown (6760133489).jpg
Lane of Chinatown (6760133489).jpg
File:VIC Parliament.jpg
VIC Parliament.jpg
File:Vic legislative council 1878.jpg
Vic legislative council 1878.jpg
File:Town Hall, Geelong.jpg
Town Hall, Geelong.jpg
File:Camberwell High School.jpg
Camberwell High School.jpg
File:Melbourne University south lawn.jpg
Melbourne University south lawn.jpg
File:Deakin University Burwood Campus.jpg
Deakin University Burwood Campus.jpg

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