But nothing says convict more than leg irons, which represent Australia’s long relationship with violence. Other disturbing items include a ball and chain and cat-o’-nine tails.

By now, we’ve all seen images of Australia’s giant cow that’s neither a cow nor a giant. The 7-year-old steer named Knickers might be tall, but he’s not the standout when it comes to ...

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who represent about 3.2% of Australia's nearly 26 million population, are not mentioned in the constitution. Sign up here.

In honour of its 50th anniversary, Sydney-based correspondent Nick Bryant explains how the building came to symbolise Australia, and why its original architect never saw it in person.