Symbols of Australia

How did the kangaroo transform from a bizarre curiosity to an internationally recognised symbol of Australia? How did Vegemite, a waste product of beer, come to be the most popular spread in the country? How did the Opera House survive early controversy to become a national symbol equal to the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal? And does the pavlova belong to Australia or New Zealand? Australia is a land of symbols. From the curious, the folkloric, the official, the ancient, the inspiring, the commercial, the lovable, the feared, even the edible, these symbols make the abstract concept of the nation tangible and give us an identity by representing Australia to itself and the world. But how are national symbols created? What makes them popular? Do they unite or divide the nation? And what do they really mean? Symbols of Australia uncovers the stories behind Australia’s best-loved symbols. Entertaining, provocative and often surprising, it proves that while some may seem quirky or frivolous and others get taken for granted, they all have significance that goes beyond the surface.

Melissa Harper completed her PhD in History at the University of Sydney and now lectures in Australian Studies at the University of Queensland. Her book, The Ways of the Bushwalker: On Foot in Australia (2007), explores how bushwalkers have engaged with the landscape through leisure. She is currently working on a project that examines the rise of fine dining in Australia since the 1970s and is co-editor of the Journal of Australian Studies.

Richard White teaches Australian history and the history of travel and tourism at the University of Sydney. His publications include Inventing Australia, The Oxford Book of Australian Travel Writing, Cultural History in Australia and On Holidays: A History of Getting Away in Australia. Current research projects include a history of the cooee, Australian tourism in Britain and "touring the past" in Australia. He is co-editor of History Australia.