What are some weird things you've heard about Australia and it's people?

Question

I just seem to here alot of really odd things that aren't true, haha.

PS. I'm Aussie (and it's pronouced O-zee not ***-ee like I've heard too...)

To answer a few -
1) Public bathrooms are not like phone booths, they're normal sized for public bathrooms

2) There are spiders and snakes but not really in the cities. (Most of the time) They aren't really seen unless you disturb their hiding place

3) Kangaroos are too small to ride and get pretty peeved even if you just try and touch them, they'd probably kill you if you tried to ride one (yes, there are reported deaths from kangaroos)

4) Yes we have a 'funny' accent but so do you...

5) Our dead are buried/ cremated like most western cultures

6) Our toilets flush in the opposite direction cos we're in the southern hemisphere and we drive on the left hand side of the road

7) Ken & Barbie are dolls. If there are surfers of the same name, it's chance

8) Australia (Darwin) was bombed by the Japanese in WWII...

9) We don't have alligators in Australia unless they're in a zoo

10) Australia WAS started as a convict colony by the British. The general gist was 'use the criminals so decent people don't have to work in such harsh conditions' - it totally worked and most integrated to become Australians

11) Proper Aussie Burgers DO have beetroot in them, whether you like it or not

12) I've NEVER heard of black people having natural blonde hair - that's a newy!!!

13) Yes, there's a town called Alice Springs but you're thinking of Cooper Pedy. It's an opal mining town near the border of SA and NT and most people live in dug out caves under the ground (Mad Max was filmed there)

14) Steve Urwin, like Crocodile Dundee, we appreciate what they'ev done for us but are kind of annoyed at the stereo type they've produced. Steve was a good guy though

15) We age like everyone else

16) We don't tip unless we're trying to impress someone or the service was above and beyond the best

17) I don't know why they chose not to wear anti-persperent

18) Vegemite is AWESOME (small doses people, not scoops). Road trains are used to transport goods among other ways. Aboriginals were, shockingly, only given the ability to vote in 1963.

Answer 1

there are black people there with natural blond straight curls

Answer 2

I heard that Aussies didn't really like the Croc Hunter because he misrepresents Australian people to the rest of the world. I thought Steve Irwin was a completely unique individual and his Aussieness only contributed to it.

Answer 3

There is a town called Alice Springs where everything is underground. The whole town lives in the old mine shafts because it gets to hot to survive on the surface.

Answer 4

A guy named Steve Iowa who picks up snakes from the tail. Also has anyone noticed the mail carriers these days, they drive on the passenger side.

Answer 5

For some reason I've heard that Steve Irwin's spirit is always seen around alligators and crocodiles, sometimes snakes, but not as frequently.

Answer 6

That several years ago, when they were looking for minerals to mine in the west, they found a huge outcropping of almost pure...iron (i think, maybe another metal)

Also, that there is a forest or grove of trees somewhere in either the south or east that has like 12 foot long earthworms?

Answer 7

I've heard they're water in the toilets flush the opposite way thane in America and they drive on the opposite side of the car.(in the passenger's seat in America)

Answer 8

I don't think they're weird at all. The ones I've met are friendly, kind, and helpful. I love visiting their country but I do watch out for all the poisoness creatures which they seem to have a lot of.

Answer 9

Australians love Vegemite. (Now THAT is weird! ;) They use road trains (huge semi trucks) to deliver goods... The Aboriginal people didn't become Australian citizens til the late 40s.

Answer 10

Everybody is a surfer named Ken or Barbie.

Answer 11

The streets and roads are alive with snakes, spiders and other lethal vermin. And that people ride kangaroos.