Australasia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising Australia, New Zealand (overlapping with Polynesia), and sometimes including New Guinea and surrounding islands (overlapping with Melanesia). The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecologically, where the term covers several slightly different but related regions.
Derivation and definitions
Charles de Brosses coined the term (as French Australasie) in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes (1756). He derived it from the Latin for "south of Asia" and differentiated the area from Polynesia (to the east) and the southeast Pacific (Magellanica).
In the late 19th century, the term Australasia was used in reference to the "Australasian colonies". In this sense it related specifically to the British colonies south of Asia: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria (i.e., the Australian colonies) and New Zealand.
Australasia found continued geopolitical attention in the early 20th century. Historian Hansong Li finds that against the backdrop of British colonialism, German geopoliticians considered "Australasia" as a counterweight to the former German South Sea Edge (Südseerand), both of which form the "Indo-Pacific" region.
The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary gives two meanings of "Australasia". One, especially in Australian use, is "Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the neighbouring islands of the Pacific". The other, especially in New Zealand use, is just Australia and New Zealand. Two Merriam-Webster dictionaries online (Collegiate and Unabridged) define Australasia as "Australia, New Zealand, and Melanesia". The American Heritage Dictionary online recognizes two senses in use: one more precise and the other broader, loosely covering all of Oceania.
Demographics
| Arms | Flag | Name of region, followed by countries | Area (km2) | Population (2021) | Population density (per km2) | Capital | ISO 3166-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australasia | |||||||
 |  | Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Australia) | 199 | — | |||
| | | Australia | 7,686,850 | 25,921,089 | 3.1 | Canberra | AU |
| |  | Christmas Island (Australia) | 135 | 1,692 | 12.5 | Flying Fish Cove | CX |
| |  | Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia) | 14 | 593 | 42.4 | West Island | CC |
| | | Coral Sea Islands (Australia) | 10 | 4 | 0.4 | — | |
 |  | New Zealand | 268,680 | 5,129,727 | 17.3 | Wellington | NZ |
 |  | Norfolk Island (Australia) | 35 | 2,302 | 65.8 | Kingston | NF |
 |  | Papua New Guinea | 462,840 | 9,949,437 | 22 | Port Moresby | PG |
| Total | |||||||
| Australasia | 8,418,763 | 42,836,966 | 5.1 | — | |||
See also
- All pages with titles beginning with Australasia
- Asia-Pacific
- Australasian realm
- Australasia at the Olympics
- Austral-Asia Cup
- Down Under
- Sundaland
- Trans-Tasman
- Zealandia
References
- de Brosses, Charles (1756). Histoire des navigations aux terres Australes. Contenant ce que l'on sçait des moeurs & des productions des contrées découvertes jusqu'à ce jour; & où il est traité de l'utilité d'y faire de plus amples découvertes, & des moyens d'y former un établissement [History of voyages to the Southern Lands. Containing what is known concerning the customs and products...] (in French). Paris: Durand. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
- Douglas, Bronwen (2014). Science, Voyages, and Encounters in Oceania, 1511–1850. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 6.
- Lee, Joseph (1889). "Anti-Chinese Legislation in Australasia". The Quarterly Journal of Economics. 3 (2). p. 220. doi:10.2307/1879468. JSTOR 1879468.
- Li, Hansong (2021). "The "Indo-Pacific": Intellectual Origins and International Visions in Global Contexts" (PDF). Modern Intellectual History. 19 (3): 20–23. doi:10.1017/S1479244321000214. S2CID 236226422. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- Deverson, Tony; Kennedy, Graeme, eds. (2005). "Australasia". New Zealand Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195584516.001.0001. ISBN 9780195584516.
- "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- Richards, Kel (2006). "Australasia". Wordwatch. ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on 2007-03-18. Retrieved 2006-09-30.
External links
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Media related to Australasia at Wikimedia Commons
Australasia is a subregion of Oceania comprising Australia New Zealand overlapping with Polynesia and sometimes including New Guinea and surrounding islands overlapping with Melanesia The term is used in a number of different contexts including geopolitically physiogeographically philologically and ecologically where the term covers several slightly different but related regions Australia s concept of Australasia which includes Australia New Zealand and in this case MelanesiaDerivation and definitionsCharles de Brosses coined the term as French Australasie in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes 1756 He derived it from the Latin for south of Asia and differentiated the area from Polynesia to the east and the southeast Pacific Magellanica In the late 19th century the term Australasia was used in reference to the Australasian colonies In this sense it related specifically to the British colonies south of Asia New South Wales Queensland South Australia Tasmania Western Australia Victoria i e the Australian colonies and New Zealand Australasia found continued geopolitical attention in the early 20th century Historian Hansong Li finds that against the backdrop of British colonialism German geopoliticians considered Australasia as a counterweight to the former German South Sea Edge Sudseerand both of which form the Indo Pacific region The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary gives two meanings of Australasia One especially in Australian use is Australia New Zealand New Guinea and the neighbouring islands of the Pacific The other especially in New Zealand use is just Australia and New Zealand Two Merriam Webster dictionaries online Collegiate and Unabridged define Australasia as Australia New Zealand and Melanesia The American Heritage Dictionary online recognizes two senses in use one more precise and the other broader loosely covering all of Oceania DemographicsArms Flag Name of region followed by countries Area km2 Population 2021 Population density per km2 Capital ISO 3166 1AustralasiaAshmore and Cartier Islands Australia 199 Australia 7 686 850 25 921 089 3 1 Canberra AUChristmas Island Australia 135 1 692 12 5 Flying Fish Cove CXCocos Keeling Islands Australia 14 593 42 4 West Island CCCoral Sea Islands Australia 10 4 0 4 New Zealand 268 680 5 129 727 17 3 Wellington NZNorfolk Island Australia 35 2 302 65 8 Kingston NFPapua New Guinea 462 840 9 949 437 22 Port Moresby PGTotalAustralasia 8 418 763 42 836 966 5 1 See alsoGeography portalOceania portalAll pages with titles beginning with Australasia Asia Pacific Australasian realm Australasia at the Olympics Austral Asia Cup Down Under Sundaland Trans Tasman ZealandiaReferencesde Brosses Charles 1756 Histoire des navigations aux terres Australes Contenant ce que l on scait des moeurs amp des productions des contrees decouvertes jusqu a ce jour amp ou il est traite de l utilite d y faire de plus amples decouvertes amp des moyens d y former un etablissement History of voyages to the Southern Lands Containing what is known concerning the customs and products in French Paris Durand Retrieved 2013 12 08 Douglas Bronwen 2014 Science Voyages and Encounters in Oceania 1511 1850 Palgrave Macmillan p 6 Lee Joseph 1889 Anti Chinese Legislation in Australasia The Quarterly Journal of Economics 3 2 p 220 doi 10 2307 1879468 JSTOR 1879468 Li Hansong 2021 The Indo Pacific Intellectual Origins and International Visions in Global Contexts PDF Modern Intellectual History 19 3 20 23 doi 10 1017 S1479244321000214 S2CID 236226422 Retrieved 30 July 2022 Deverson Tony Kennedy Graeme eds 2005 Australasia New Zealand Oxford Dictionary Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acref 9780195584516 001 0001 ISBN 9780195584516 World Population Prospects 2022 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division Retrieved July 17 2022 World Population Prospects 2022 Demographic indicators by region subregion and country annually for 1950 2100 XSLX Total Population as of 1 July thousands United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division Retrieved July 17 2022 Richards Kel 2006 Australasia Wordwatch ABC News Radio Archived from the original on 2007 03 18 Retrieved 2006 09 30 External linksWikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Australasia Media related to Australasia at Wikimedia Commons 28 06 32 S 146 18 00 E 28 10889 S 146 30000 E 28 10889 146 30000
