b'JONATHAN VAN BILSENKoalas are among the cutest animals on the planet. Berrima Surveyor General Inn, the oldest pub in Australia.THE LAND DOWN UNDER Part 1Now that things seem to be opening up again, it will beI stood in awe as I stared at the magni cent opera house,not only for being a topless bathing area, but also because nice to ful ll a few of the trips I have planned, but put onan icon of the city, located on Circular Key. It took 30 years toits semicircular shape has frequently been described as a hold. Until then, it is all I can do to reminisce about recentcomplete, mainly due to bureaucratic arguments, butnally itperfect beach. The sunshine was amazing, but sunscreen is adventures. opened. It is home to a centre for the performing arts, with aa de nite must.A few months ago, I wrote about my treacherous climbconcert hall, a music room and movie theatres. I had an opportunity to visit a wildlife park and was greeted to the top of Ayers Rock, deep in the Australian outback. IAnotherlandmarkofthecityistheSydneyHarbourby a very hungry koala.These cute little marsupials tend received several emails, asking me to elaborate on my visitBridge, which opened in 1932. It was the worlds widest long- to spend up to 16 hours a day sleeping, mostly due to their to the rest of the country. I will do that today, in an effort tospan bridge, until the Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver wasintoxicating diet of eucalyptus leaves.bring back some greater memories. My May television show,completed in 2012. After a lengthy view of these beautifulI left beautiful Sydney and travelled to Australias capital photosNtravel, also features Australia, and is available onstructures, as well as an opportunity to see an opera, I contin- city of Canberra, located about three hours south. I stopped YouTube, for those who cannotthe listings on regularued my trek to one of Sydneys best-known beaches. at the small town of Berrima, best known for having the oldest TV.nd Bondi Beach is probably Australias most famous beach,Please turn to page 48Australia has an interesting history, similar to Canadas, as it went through a comparable settlement process. In 1788 Botany Bay was established as a convict settlement, but the sandy soil and poor water supplies would not support the community. It was relocated 15 km north; to what is now Sydney, the largest city in Australia.In 1851 when gold was discovered in the area, Sydneys population encountered quite a boost.The expansion of agriculture and industry, and the construction of roads and railroads, caused this area to lead the way in the countrys push for independence in the late 1880s.Commonwealth Avenue in Canberra, from City Hall with Parliament House in back, and inset.46 FOCUS - JUNE 2022'