SOUTH AUSTRALIA

central state extended acro continent from N. to 8. till 1911, when Northern Terr. was ceded to Commonwealth; bounded E. by Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria; S. by the Indian Ocean; W by Western Australia. In 8S. EH. are estuary of Murray R. at Encounter Bay, Gulf of St. Vincent (with Kangaroo I. at its mouth), and Spencer Gulf; the last runs inland for over 200 m., and from its head northward are the basins of Lake Torrens and Lake Eyre; to W. of Lake Torrens is Lake Gairdner. Interior forms part of great central plateau of continent; very largely desert; cro ed by various mountain ranges (Flinders, Gawler, Stuart, Musgrave). There is a considerable variation in temp. and rainfall: mean summer temp. is 73° F., winter mean 53°; ann. rainfall at Adelaide averages c. 21 in., in interior is as low as 5 in. Agriculture is the principal industry; livestock largely raised; wheat, oats, and barley produced; oranges, olives, and other fruits are grown. Minerals include copper, iron, silver-lead, gold; manufactures wines, olive oil, flour; there are nearly 1,300 factories, with c. 27,000 workers; exports wool, wheat, flour, copper, skins and hides, frozen meat, livestock, gold, wine, dairy produce, fruit. Over 3,400 m. of railways - (state) are in operation; laying of Transcontinental Ry. from Port August a to W. Australia (Kalgoorlie) was completed Nov., 1917; N. to S. trans-Australian ry. is projected. State administration is carried out by a governor, nominated by Brit. Government and a isted by an executive council; there is a Parliament consisting of a Legislative Council and a House of A embly (elected by adult suffrage). Cap. is Adelaide. Education is secular, free, and obligatory. S. Australia first permanently colonized by the British - in 1836; the discovery of copper in 1843 led to increased prosperity, and the colony became an autonomous state in 1856; joined Commonwealth of Australia, 1900; sends 6 senators and 7 representatives to Federal Parliament. Area, 380,070 sq. m.; pop 450,000. See Map AvusTRALASIA.