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Land Down Under

What is land down under?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Subject Australia[1]
Region Southern Hemisphere[1]
Reference point Equator[1]
Term type Colloquialism / nickname[3]
Common extension New Zealand[2]

Land Down Under is a colloquial nickname for Australia, referring to its location in the Southern Hemisphere below the equator and its appearance at the bottom of standard maps. [1] [2] [4]

Context

Land Down Under is a nickname for Australia, rooted in its position in the Southern Hemisphere below the equator and its placement at the bottom of conventional world maps [1]. It is a colloquial term rather than an official designation [3]. While Australia is the primary referent, some sources extend the phrase to include New Zealand [2]. The nickname gained wider recognition through the Men at Work song *Down Under* [2].

Documented claims

  • Australia is called the Land Down Under because it sits in the Southern Hemisphere and appears below most other countries on standard maps. [1]
  • The phrase is a colloquial expression, not an official name. [3]
  • The term can also refer to New Zealand, though Australia is the main referent. [2]

Questions and answers

Why is Australia nicknamed Land Down Under?

Australia is nicknamed Land Down Under because it is located in the Southern Hemisphere, below the equator, and appears at the bottom of most standard maps [1].

What is the meaning of Land Down Under?

Land Down Under is a colloquial nickname for Australia, referring to its geographic position south of the equator and its appearance below other countries on maps [1] [3].

Who originally sang 'Land Down Under'?

The phrase gained wider recognition through the song *Down Under* by the band Men at Work [2].

Sources

  1. Down Under (1981)Share — aso.gov.au (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Learn English with Music: I Come from a Land Down Under (Men at ... — reallifeglobal.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. What Is The Meaning Of Down Under - Opal Auctions — opalauctions.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Down Under - Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Culture