Australia

Australia is the smallest continental landmass on the planet Earth, home to one of that world's former nation-states. In the mid 22nd century, the Vulcans had a consulate in the Australian city of Canberra. 20th century-era maps of Australia and the eastern hemisphere were stored in the U.S.S. Enterprise library computer in 2254. These maps were among the materials viewed by the Talosians when they scanned the Enterprise computer.

Several areas of Australia have been noted by having starships or planets named after them

• U.S.S. Melbourne, named after the city,
• U.S.S. Sydney and New Sydney, named after the city on Australia's east coast,
• U.S.S. Jenolan, named after the caves of Jenolan,
• S.S. Botany Bay, named after the penal colony at Botany Bay,

Sydney

The largest and most important city on the continent of Australia, Sydney was founded approximately 600 years ago as a penal colony. Despite this inauspicious beginning, it has grown to become a major world metropolis and center of commerce. Fortunately for its inhabitants, Sydeny was spared the brunt of World War III; almost no buildings in the city were damaged or destroyed. As such, it offers visitors, especially those from nonhuman planets or cultures, the change to see many historically significant buildings in their original forms.

Although it is an excellent location for a vacation, brief study break for cadets, or "evening on the town," it is more probable that you will visit the city because of the Starfleet and Federation facilities located there. These include the Southern Cross Shield Research Laboratories (where scientists work to improve shields and other starship defensive systems) and the Lor'Vela Medical Facility (a large hospital for Starfleet personnel). Many engineering and medical cadets find themselves serving out an internship here at one of these facilities.

If you are interested in Earth's performing arts, primarily the form known as "opera," you should pay a visit to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney's most recognizable landmark. The Opera House, built in what humans call the "Modernist" style of architecture, graces Sydney Harbor. It holds several magnificent performances every year.

The Opera House celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2373. The celebration, designed as a decade-long affair which ended in 2383, featured not only the best of Earth opera, but, in tribute to the Federation, the operas (or related art forms) of many other species as well. The famed company K'maath, a Klingon opera troupe, performed there in 2378 for the first time. Engineers actually had to reinforce the Opera House's structural framework for the event.

Reference(s)

• Isaacs, Ross A., et al. A Cadet's Guide to Sector 001, New York: Last Unicorn Games, 1999.