Australia

Australia
Location information
Location	Southern Hemisphere
Affiliation	Thundelarra Thunderers Woollongong Warriors Australian National Quidditch Team

Australia, formerly known as the Antipodes, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. The capital city of Australia is Canberra.

Magical games and sports

A 1994 Quidditch World Cup attendee waving an Australian flag

Quidditch is believed to have become popular in Australia in the 18th century. Because large parts of the Australian outback is remote and uninhabited, they make ideal locations for Quidditch pitches. Australia also has its own National Quidditch team and National Quidditch Stadium. The Australian Quidditch League also includes teams from other countries of Oceania.

Emblem of the National Quidditch team

Australian, just as many other Antipodean Quidditch players are characterised by their speed and showmanship. Two dominating teams had so much enmity to each other that a popular response to an unlikely claim or boast arose in Australian wizarding community: "Yeah, and I think I’ll volunteer to ref the next Thunderer–Warrior game."

Australian Quidditch teams

• Thundelarra Thunderers, a team having his home in Thundelarra, dominated the Australian Quidditch League.
• Woollongong is home to the Woollongong Warriors, along with Thunderer's dominated the League.

Magical creatures

An Antipodean Opaleye flying above some kangaroos in the Australian wilderness.

• Gilderoy Lockhart claimed to have defeated the Wagga Wagga Werewolf. Wagga Wagga is an inland city/town in Australia.
• The Billywig is native to Australia.
• The Antipodean Opaleye is a dragon breed native to New Zealand though it is said to have migrated to Australia when room is scarce in its native land.

Magical history

• Hermione Granger, in an effort to protect her Muggle parents from Lord Voldemort, altered their memories to give them different identities making them want to move to Australia. Mr and Mrs Granger stayed there temporarily under the aliases Wendell and Monica Wilkins until the Second Wizarding War ended and Hermione restored their memories.

Known locations

Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney.

Australian desert

Cities

• Sydney
  • Grangers' sweet shop
• Thundelarra
• Wagga Wagga
• Woollongong

Landforms

• Blue Mountains
• Kata Tjuta

Behind the scenes

• Nina Young who plays the Grey Lady is an Australian actress.
• In Wonderbook: Book of Potions, Zygmunt Budge refers to Australia in a manner implying it was well known in Britain during his lifetime. This is either an anachronism (the first recorded European discovery of Australia was in 1606, roughly a century after Budge's work) or an indication that wizarding Britain discovered Australia earlier than the Muggles.
• J. K. Rowling has confirmed that there is a wizarding school Australian wizards may attend, and confirmed that information on the School will be revealed.

External links

• Australia on Wikipedia

Appearances

• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Seen on flag)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Seen on television)
• Quidditch Through the Ages
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Illustrated Edition