Australian Travel and Business Directory
A Nation Grows 
Australia continued to grow and inhabitants spread themselves across the country. Due to poor water supplies, most of the population opted to stay close to the coast, and still now the coastline is home to most Australians. However, some ventured inland in search of pastures to raise stock, and some tried their hand at mineral exploration. Australia turned out to be one of the most resource-rich nations on earth, soon gaining a reputation for the quality of diamonds, emeralds, gold, silver, industrial minerals and rare earths found here.
The largest open pit gold mine in Australia known as the Super Pit, in the gold-mining town of Kalgoorlie
While it can be argued on whether the Aborigines had such a huge impact on the Australian landscape with their fire practices. It is evident that from the onslaught of white occupation that there has been an ex potential impact. Considering the small percentage of habitable land on the continent, it is conceivable that Australians are the most urbanized people int he world. Most problems arose due to the lack of forethought in colonizing the nation. Settlers relied on using European standards that were inappropriate for the nutrient poor soil. This coupled with the ringbarking of trees and the over ambitious clearing practices, lead to soil salinity and erosion problems. Sheep and cattle changed the vegetation on which they grazed. They were the first hoofed mammals in Australia, and native vegetation had not evolved in such a way to endure them. They also ate different vegetation to that of native animals, therefore, changing the composition of native pastures.
The release of rabbits and foxes by early Europeans for hunting in Victoria caused devastating effects across Australia, with the destruction of plant life and the consumption of small native animals. These are only an example of the destructive forces that early Europeans introduced to the continent. The effects are still being discovered. Introduced plants were often left to grow unchecked, domestic pets were abandoned and they turned feral, pack animals such as donkeys, camels, etc were let loose to run free when no longer required. Also was the introduction of many pests and diseases that neither the land of the first inhabitants were equipped to deal with.
