Australia

Australia is an island continent in the Pacific Ocean. With a population estimated at 25,714,700 as of 2020, it is also the largest country in Oceania. The capital city is Canberra.

History
Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James Cook took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World War I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

Apple and Australia
Apple Computer first entered the Australian market in August 1982.

Apple Stores in Australia
Apple previously relied on independent dealers, such as Mac Alert in Adelaide, South Australia. However, Apple has been opening corporate-owned retail stores across Australia, since the first one in Sydney opened on June 19, 2008. All 22 stores in Australia were closed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but 21 were reopened that same year on May 7. The store in Sydney remained closed for refurbishment and reopened on May 28.

Macintosh User Groups in Australia

 * Coffs Harbour Macintosh Users Group
 * South Australian Apple User's Club